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This Creamy Tomato Basil Soup is a quick and easy meal that’s bursting with flavor. Made with simple ingredients like crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, heavy cream, and grated Parmesan cheese, this velvety smooth soup is the perfect option for a cozy night in.
Why We Love This Recipe!
- Easy Recipe: With its simple ingredients and easy preparation, it’s a recipe that anyone can master.
- Crowd Pleaser: From the ravings of friends to my family’s stamp of aproval, It’s safe to say that this tried and tested soup recipe is a crowd-pleaser. Make a batch for game day, to warm up in the fall, or an easy Sunday supper. Any way you serve it, this pot of soup gets gobbled up in a hurry!
- Natural Flavor: The combination of rich tomato flavor, creamy texture, and aromatic basil makes for a comforting and satisfying meal.
This recipe is a must-try for anyone looking for a delicious and comforting meal.
Whether you’re a beginner cook or an experienced chef, this easy tomato basil soup recipe is sure to satisfy your cravings and keep you warm any time of year.
So, grab a ladle and get ready to enjoy some delicious and comforting hot soup!
Ingredient Notes
Variations and Substitutions
How to Make Creamy Tomato Basil Soup Recipe
✱ Be sure to see the recipe card below for exact ingredients and full recipe instructions!
- Satuté Onions, Garlic and Carrots: In a large dutch oven or large soup pot, heat butter and oil over medium-high heat, then add onion, garlic, and carrots. Stir and cook for 5 or 6 minutes.
- Add tomato paste and stir it in, cooking for another 3 minutes.
- Add tomatoes, broth and cook: Next, add canned tomatoes with their juice and chicken or vegetable broth into the pot. Stir together and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat, cover the pot, and simmer for 30 to 45 minutes, longer if you have time.
- Blend: Once the soup has finished simmering, use an immersion blender to puree to blend the soup until smooth or desired consistency is reached.
- Add Cream, Parmesan & Basil: After blending the soup; add cream, salt, and pepper. Once the cream is stirred in and warmed then add in parmesan cheese and basil and simmer (do not boil) for another 5-10 minutes.
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Tips
- Blend the soup until smooth: To achieve a velvety smooth texture, blend the soup with an immersion blender until there are no chunks of tomato or onion left. If you don’t have an immersion blender, you can use a regular blender, but make sure to blend the soup in small batches and let it cool down a bit before blending. If you enjoy bites or chunks of tomatoes then leave them. This is easily adaptable when blending to your personal preference.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese: For the best flavor, use freshly grated Parmesan cheese instead of pre-grated cheese. Pre-grated cheese contains anti-caking agents that can affect the texture and taste of the soup.
- Add the heavy cream after blending: To avoid curdling the cream, add it to the soup after blending and heat it through before adding the Parmesan cheese.
- Adjust the seasoning to your taste: Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Depending on the salt content in the tomatoes, butter and parmesan cheese you may need more or less. You can also add more herbs or spices if you like.
Recipe FAQs
Use a high-quality canned tomato: Since the main ingredient in this soup is canned tomatoes, it’s important to choose a high-quality brand that has a rich and deep tomato flavor. San Marzano vine-ripened tomatoes are a great choice if you can find them. Tuttorosso Peeled Plum tomatoes are another good choice.
Yes, you can omit the heavy cream and substitute it with half-and-half or milk to make the soup lighter. However, the soup will be less creamy and rich in flavor without the heavy cream. In order to keep it on the light side you can omit the cream.
Yes, you can use other hard cheeses like Pecorino Romano or Asiago instead of Parmesan cheese. Just make sure to use freshly grated cheese for the best flavor.
If you want to be a thicker consistency, I recommend letting it simmer a while. If you don’t have time or want to speed up the process you can mix in a cornstach slurry to thicken the soup.
Storage and Reheating
Storage: Once completely cooled, place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 3 days.
Freeze: Completely cool, then pour it in a freezer safe container or zip bag and freeze for up to 4 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
You can also freeze in individual servings for a great make-ahead meal prep recipes.
Reheat:
Microwave: To reheat individual servings, place desired amount on a microwave-safe dish and reheat in 30-second intervals until heated to your liking.
Stovetop: To reheat, warm the soup on the stovetop over medium-low heat. Stir regularly to make sure it heats evenly all the way through. TIP: Add little water in the bottom of the pan, just enough to cover the bottom, before pouring in the soup. This will ensure the soup doesn’t burn the bottom of the pan.
What to Serve with Creamy Parmesan Tomato Soup
Tomato Basil Soup is one of my favorite ways to warm up on a chilly day while the fresh tomato flavor is also the perfect taste of summer! It such a delicious lunch or quick and easy weeknight dinner. Here are a few ideas that it is especially good served with:
- Grilled cheese sandwiches: A classic pairing, a grilled cheese sandwich made with your favorite bread and cheese is the perfect complement to the rich and creamy tomato soup.
- Garlic bread: Warm and toasty garlic bread is a great option for dipping into the soup and soaking up all the delicious flavors. Try it with this cheesy green chile bread.
- Salad: A fresh and crunchy salad is a great way to balance out the richness of the soup. Try a simple mixed greens salad with a tangy vinaigrette or a Caesar salad with homemade croutons.
- Bruschetta: Toasted baguette slices topped with chopped tomatoes, garlic, and basil make a perfect appetizer or side dish to serve with tomato basil soup.
- Croutons: Add a bit of crunch to your soup by making your own croutons with your favorite bread, garlic, and herbs.
- Focaccia: A soft and fluffy focaccia bread is a great choice for soaking up the soup and adding some extra flavor and texture to your meal.
More Delicious Soup Recipes to Try
There’s nothing quite like a warm and comforting bowl of soup to nourish the body and soul, especially during the cooler months of the year. If you’re on the hunt for more easy soup recipes to add to your repertoire, look no further. From classic chicken noodle soup to warm chili recipes, there are endless options to choose from.
- Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup
- Creamy Potato Soup Recipe
- Keto Chili Recipe (Low Carb Chili)
- Zuppa Toscana Soup
- Pasta Fagioli Soup
- Smoky Ham & Split Pea Soup – from Life, Love and Good Foof
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Tomato Basil Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced fine or grated
- ¼ cup onion, diced
- 2 cups carrot, shredded
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 84 ounces whole tomatoes, (3 – 28-ounce cans)
- 32 ounces chicken broth or vegetable broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
Instructions
- In a large dutch oven or large soup pot, heat butter and oil over medium-high heat, then add onion, garlic, and carrots. Stir and cook for 5 or 6 minutes.
- Add tomato paste and stir it in, cooking for another 3 minutes.
- Next, add canned tomatoes with their juice and chicken or vegetable broth into the pot. Stir together and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat, cover the pot, and simmer for 30 to 45 minutes, longer if you have time.
- Then, once the soup has finished simmering, use an immersion blender to puree to blend the soup until smooth or desired consistency is reached. TIP: A regular blender can be used if you do not have an immersion blender, but make sure to blend the soup in small batches and let it cool down a bit before blending.
- Finally, add cream, salt, and pepper. Once the cream is stirred in and warmed then add in parmesan cheese and basil and simmer (do not boil) for another 5-10 minutes.
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Nutrition Information
Nutritional Disclaimer
Soulfully Made is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
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