Tomato Soup

The BEST tomato soup recipe! It's rich, flavorful, and made with pantry ingredients. Pair it with a grilled cheese for a delicious, comforting meal!

Tomato soup

Homemade tomato soup is like a hug in a bowl, which, when the weather is as gray as it has been here lately, is exactly what I need.

This tomato soup recipe is a cold weather staple in our house. It couldn’t be simpler to make, and the ingredients are largely pantry basics that I always keep on hand. But more importantly, this tomato soup is creamy, comforting, and full of rich flavor. The tomatoes make it tangy, balsamic vinegar adds sweetness, and red pepper flakes give it a warming kick of heat. You could serve it on its own, topped with a swirl of olive oil, black pepper, and fresh basil leaves…or you could pair it with a grilled cheese sandwich. If you’re craving cozy comfort food as much as I have been recently, I definitely vote for the latter.

Tomato soup recipe ingredients

Tomato Soup Recipe Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make this homemade tomato soup recipe:

  • Tomatoes, of course! Canned diced tomatoes, to be exact. If you’d prefer to make a tomato soup recipe that calls for fresh tomatoes, check out this tomato basil soup recipe instead.
  • Olive oil and butter – They create the soup’s rich base. To make this recipe dairy-free, feel free to use additional olive oil instead of the butter.
  • Carrots, onion, and garlic – These aromatic veggies give the soup savory depth of flavor.
  • Balsamic vinegar – It adds sweetness and tang.
  • Vegetable broth – Use store-bought, or make your own. Water works here too!
  • Full-fat coconut milk or heavy cream – Honestly, both are fantastic! They make the soup equally creamy. If you go the dairy-free route, I promise, you won’t taste the coconut one bit!
  • Dried thyme – For warm, earthy flavor.
  • Red pepper flakes – For heat.
  • Fresh basil leaves – You can’t beat the combination of tomatoes and basil! I shower the basil over the soup to add bursts of fresh flavor.
  • And salt and pepper – To make all the flavors pop!

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.

Sauteed carrots, onion, and garlic in a pot with balsamic vinegar

How to Make Tomato Soup

This homemade tomato soup recipe is so simple to make! Here’s how it goes:

First, sauté the veggies. Melt the butter in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, and add the olive oil. Add the onion, carrots, garlic, and a pinch of salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the veggies soften, about 8 minutes.

Stir in the vinegar.

Hand using spatula to stir cream into pot of homemade tomato soup

Next, add the remaining ingredients and simmer. Add the canned tomatoes, water, coconut milk or heavy cream, thyme, red pepper flakes, salt, and several grinds of pepper. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the carrots are tender, 20 to 25 minutes.

Homemade tomato soup in a blender

Then, blend part of the soup. This step makes it sooo creamy! Scoop 4 cups of the soup out of the pot and set aside. Transfer the remaining soup to a blender, and blend until smooth. If you like, you could use an immersion blender for this step, though I prefer the smoother texture I get when I use my upright blender. Return the pureed soup to the pot, along with the 4 cups of chunky soup. Stir to combine.

Finally, season to taste and serve. That’s it!

Pot of homemade tomato soup with silver ladle

Homemade Tomato Soup Serving Suggestions

When you’re ready to eat, top your bowl with a swirl of olive oil, a drizzle of coconut milk or heavy cream, lots of fresh black pepper, and fresh basil. Enjoy the soup with a side of crusty bread, or top it with homemade croutons for crunch. And of course, you can’t beat pairing it with a grilled cheese sandwich.

Want something lighter on the side? A cup of this tomato soup is delicious with a simple green salad, my kale Caesar salad, or a classic Caesar salad.

Leftovers keep well for up to 4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. For longer storage, freeze the tomato soup for up to 3 months!

Tomato soup recipe

More Favorite Soup Recipes

If you love this tomato soup recipe, try one of these homemade soups next:

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Tomato Soup

rate this recipe:
4.93 from 123 votes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Serves 6
Our favorite tomato soup recipe! Made with pantry staples, this simple homemade tomato soup is creamy, rich, and flavorful. Serve it with a grilled cheese sandwich for a delicious, comforting meal!

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, or an additional 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 medium yellow onions, chopped
  • 2 medium carrots, chopped
  • 6 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 2 (28-ounce) cans diced tomatoes
  • 3 cups water or vegetable broth
  • 1â…“ cups full-fat coconut milk or heavy cream, plus more for drizzling
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt, plus more to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Fresh basil leaves, for garnish

Instructions

  • Heat the olive oil and butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, garlic, and a pinch of salt and cook, stirring occasionally, for 8 minutes, or until softened.
  • Stir in the vinegar, then add the tomatoes, water, coconut milk, thyme, red pepper flakes, salt, and several grinds of pepper. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the carrots are tender.
  • Scoop 4 cups of the soup out of the pot and set aside. Transfer the remaining soup to a blender. Puree until smooth. Return the pureed soup to the pot with the reserved 4 cups of chunky soup. Stir to combine and season to taste.
  • Ladle into bowls and serve with a drizzle of coconut milk, a drizzle of olive oil, freshly ground black pepper, and fresh basil leaves for garnish.

186 comments

4.93 from 123 votes (49 ratings without comment)

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Rate this recipe (after making it)




  1. Christine Baek
    02.17.2023

    5 stars
    The most delicious tomato soup recipe ever! I think the carrots and balsamic vinegar help to bring out the tomato flavor. So good, especially with a grilled cheese!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      02.20.2023

      Hi Christine, I’m so glad you loved it!

  2. Lisa
    02.17.2023

    5 stars
    I’ve never made tomato soup, it’s just always been one of those items I’ve purchased packaged. Well, after making this recipe, I am a convert. So easy and much tastier than any store bought tomato soup. Highly recommend with a fancy grilled cheese–I like mine with fig jam.

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      02.20.2023

      Oh yum, I love a grilled cheese with fig jam. I’m so glad you enjoyed the soup!

  3. Claire Hopper
    02.15.2023

    Our whole family loved this recipe! Thanks for sharing.

  4. Leonie from positivelymed.com
    02.15.2023

    5 stars
    This was a phenomenal tomato soup recipe! I reduced the amount of cream in half and increased the amount of vegetable broth in order to make the recipe a little lighter, and it was DELICIOUS. I found that the soup was rich, well-balanced, and perfect for the winter season.

    I also love that soups freeze well, so I went ahead and froze 2 portions so that I can enjoy this recipe later too!

  5. Susan Donohue
    02.15.2023

    5 stars
    Best tomato soup ever! I’m not usually a big fan of soup, but this recipe is amazing! Easy and delicious, and your whole house will smell amazing while you cook it. I definitely recommend pairing it with the grilled cheese recipe one night this winter!

  6. Nicole Smith
    02.14.2023

    5 stars
    This soup is so delicious and so easy to make!

  7. Nicole Smith
    02.14.2023

    This soup is easy to make and delicious!

  8. Shira
    02.13.2023

    Very easy and yummy! We fully blended the soup.

  9. Tova T
    02.13.2023

    5 stars
    Love this recipe! It came together so quickly and tasted so good. I used fresh tomatoes since they’re in season now, and snuck in a bit of eggplant and red pepper, all fresh ingredients from my local farmer’s market. I didn’t have coconut milk so I subbed in cashew cream which was a great pairing. Also added some homegrown sissoo spinach. This recipe is a hit!

  10. Emily Roethle
    02.13.2023

    5 stars
    This recipe was DELICIOUS. Super flavorful and comforting – and very easy to whip up.

  11. Stevie Smith
    02.11.2023

    5 stars
    So yummy! Delicious way to get lots of veggies!

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      02.16.2023

      So glad you loved it!

  12. Brianna Pickett
    02.11.2023

    5 stars
    This was so delicious! I will definitely be making it again!

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      02.16.2023

      So glad you loved it!

  13. Christiana Goff
    02.10.2023

    5 stars
    This recipe had a wonderful medley of flavors! The soup had such a great balance of texture and the acidity of the balsamic vinegar really complimented the whole dish!
    Added a grilled cheese and *chef kiss*.
    Definitely will make again!

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      02.16.2023

      I’m so glad you loved it!

  14. sam levy green
    02.10.2023

    This was a hit. I love the use of coconut milk and for fun I topped it off with hemp seeds and fresh italian flat leaf parsley since I didn’t have any basil!

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      02.10.2023

      So glad you loved it!

  15. Olivia Adams
    02.10.2023

    10/10 so easy and delicious!!!

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      02.10.2023

      I’m so glad you loved the soup!

  16. Rachael Burke
    02.09.2023

    5 stars
    Delicious recipe! The grilled cheese on the side made it even better. Perfect for eating by the fireplace on a cold day.

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      02.10.2023

      Hi Rachael, so glad you loved it!

  17. Brenda Leis
    02.09.2023

    5 stars
    Perfect winter dinner. I am so pleased you chose a pantry type meal for this month’s cooking club. Living in Ontario’s rural cottage country, winter conditions can make it challenging to get fresh ingredients.

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      02.10.2023

      I’m so glad you loved the soup! We love pantry recipes in the winter too. 🙂

  18. Anna Broyles
    02.09.2023

    I have recently started making recipes from this blog, and I’ve been so impressed by the recipes I’ve made so far. This tomato soup was the best I’ve ever had! I paired it with your grilled cheese recipe which was also a winner. Thank you!

    • Anna Broyles
      02.09.2023

      5 stars
      Forgot to rate this recipe. Definitely 5 stars!!

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      02.09.2023

      Hi Anna, I’m so glad you’re loving the recipes!

  19. Susan
    02.09.2023

    5 stars
    I took the challenge of using coconut milk and it was perfect. Thanks for your assurance that it wouldn’t have a coconut taste! I added a bit of sugar after tasting the finished soup as it was a little too sour for my taste. Maybe it was the brand of diced tomatoes I used.

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      02.09.2023

      Hi Susan, I’m so glad you enjoyed the soup! It’s kind of unbelievable how the coconut flavor disappears, isn’t it?

  20. Ellie
    02.09.2023

    Hello!
    It was a delicious recipe. Like pizza in a bowl!
    Thank you.

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      02.09.2023

      I’m so glad you loved it!

A food blog with fresh, zesty recipes.
Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.