Easy Homemade Tomato Soup from canned tomatoes, fresh herbs and cream in under 30 minutes. Simple, comforting lunch or dinner – perfect for dunking!
Hands down I didn’t want summer to end – it feels like it just started. But I am kind of excited for soft, warm sweaters, jeans and cute boots. Oh yeah . . . it’s also time for trips to the cider mill and our favorite comfort foods.
Homemade Tomato Soup is definitely in that category and is easier to make that you may think. Plus it tastes way better than prepackaged.
This recipe starts with canned tomatoes, fresh herbs and a little cream for the ultimate old fashioned flavor that pays big dividends especially in the winter months.
So the kids are back to school in some form, your life is *somewhat* resuming in a new sense of norm and we’re all needing meals that:
a) don’t take long to make
b) feel like a big hug.
This soup is both.
tomato soup history:
I have another Tomato Soup recipe on the blog that I created one summer when our garden was so overrun with tomatoes I couldn’t give them away fast enough. I hate to say it, but some even rotten on the vine before I could get to them.
We gorged ourselves on sliced tomatoes, tomatoes in salads, Roasted Tomato Marinara, BLT’s and routinely dropped them on the porches of unsuspecting suspecting neighbors.
I loaded the freezer with zip top bags of marinara and we finished the season and kicked off fall with Roasted Tomato Soup that starts with oven roasted fresh tomatoes and, similar to this recipe – finishes with a glug of heavy cream. Delicious, decadent and . . . time consuming.
This recipe from canned tomatoes is every bit as delicious, comforting – and dunkable – and with canned tomatoes as close as the grocery store, you can enjoy this soup anytime you want.
do canned tomatoes taste as good as fresh?
Unless you’re making a BLT, Caprese Salad – or any other salad then yes – canned tomatoes are every bit as good as fresh.
They’re are picked and preserved at the height of the tomato season for optimum taste. My favorite brand is Red Gold (and no they’re not paying me to say that) for a few reasons but you can certainly use your favorite brand.
- consistently good quality
- the tomatoes are grown in the US (Indiana, Ohio and Michigan) on family farms
- they’re manufactured/canned in the US (Indiana)
what’s in easy homemade tomato soup?
- butter
- onion
- garlic cloves
- flour
- fresh thyme
- tomato paste
- canned diced tomatoes
- chicken stock
- honey
- salt and pepper
- heavy whipping cream
how to make easy homemade tomato soup:
Add the butter to a soup pot over medium heat and let it melt. Drop the onions into the melted butter then cook 3-4 minutes or until they’re softened. Grate in the garlic and cook 1 more minute stirring so the garlic doesn’t burn.
Sprinkle the flour over the top of the onions and garlic, stir and cook one minute.
Next remove the thyme from its stems, finely chop it and add it to the top along with the tomato paste. Cook 2 minutes letting the tomato paste caramelize (you’ll notice the aroma!).
Pour in the diced tomatoes (juices too), chicken stock, honey, 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper then simmer over medium heat 2 minutes stirring frequently to make sure the flour isn’t sticking to the bottom of the pot.
The finishing touches:
Slowly blend in the cream, then reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer 10 minutes.
Using a hand-held immersion blender, pulse the soup until it’s smooth. If you don’t have an immersion blender, let the soup cool then puree it in a blender. Give it a taste and adjust salt and pepper then serve right away.
What to eat with Tomato Soup:
There are lots of ways to enjoy Tomato Soup – including all by itself – and they’re as personal to Tomato Soup lovers as what are the best toppings on pizza. Here are a few suggestions:
- crackers
- grilled cheese sandwich
- croutons
- grilled cheese croutons
- tortellini
- rice
Grilled Cheese croutons anyone?
Yes – grilled cheese croutons! These epic grilled cheese croutons start with a good melting cheese like classic American, Smoked Gouda, Provolone, Monterey Jack or even Pepper Jack if you like a little kick. You’ll also need 4 slices of hearty sandwich bread and some butter.
Brush the outsides of the bread with butter then add any variety of cheese you prefer inside. Add the top of the bread to form a sandwich then cook in a skillet over medium heat until golden brown. Turn and cook the opposite side then cut into bit squares and there you have it – grilled cheese croutons.
Enjoy!
If you tried this Easy Tomato Soup recipe or any other on the blog then I hope you’ll leave a comment and some stars!
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Easy Homemade Tomato Soup
Equipment
- immersion blender OR classic blender
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 small onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic grated
- 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3-4 sprigs fresh thyme removed from stem, finely chopped
- 28 ounce can diced tomatoes include juices
- 1 cup chicken stock can sub vegetable stock
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- Add the butter to a soup pot over medium heat and let it melt. Drop the onions and cook 3-4 minutes or until they’re softened. Grate in the garlic and cook 1 more minute stirring so the garlic doesn’t burn.
- Sprinkle the flour over the top then stir and cook one 1 minute. Add the tomato paste and finely chopped thyme (stems removed) and cook 2 minutes.
- Pour in the diced tomatoes (juices too), chicken stock, honey, salt, and pepper then simmer over medium heat 2 minutes stirring frequently to make sure the flour doesn't stick to the bottom of the pot.
- Slowly blend in the cream, then reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer 10 minutes.
- Using a hand-held immersion blender, pulse the soup until it’s smooth. If you don’t have an immersion blender, let the soup cool then puree it in batches in a blender. Taste and adjust salt and pepper then serve right away.
Great flavor. Just right for this time of year.
Thanks Ramon! Comforting soup – quick and easy to make – can’t beat it!
My husband is obsessed with this recipe. I’m making it this weekend for the third time in a month. Haha He constantly asks for it. Such an incredibly delicious soup paired perfectly with Texas toast style grilled cheese sandwiches. Thanks so much for sharing it. I don’t know how to explain that feeling you get when everyone enjoys the meal you cooked. And now I don’t have to stand in the kitchen all day to experience that feeling. 🙂 My dopamine levels are high because of your recipe. Lol
Hi Nikki – haha I love that!! Ahhhh Texas toast grilled cheese sandwiches?! Girl – you know how to do it. I’ll be trying them next time I make this soup. No need to explain the feeling – I totally get it – it’s the BEST. Thank you SO MUCH for all the kind words and love for the recipe — Bernie
Delicious! I added some separately boiled ravioli to make this dinner’s main course. Yum!
Thanks so much Renee! Wow – love that idea adding ravioli – sounds like a delicious and comforting meal! — I appreciate you making the recipe and taking time to comment — Bernie