Easy Creamy Tomato Basil Soup

Creamy tomato basil soup is a cold-weather must-have recipe. It’s unbelievably easy and so delicious.

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Why You’ll Love This

This recipe is a perfect weeknight meal. You will have time to make grilled cheese sandwiches to dip in the soup.

In our house, the perfect comfort food is a grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup. Really! We won’t even consider eating tomato soup without one. Crazy, I know.

This creamy tomato soup is a quick meal that’s ready in about 30 minutes.

Some of the other easy soup recipes we love making are root vegetable soup, thick chili recipe, vegetarian Tuscan white bean and kale soup, and split pea soup recipe without ham.

Creamy Tomato Basil Soup Recipe Video

What You’ll Need

• Olive oil, garlic cloves, and shallot – You can use regular onion, but the shallot lends a milder onion flavor.
• Crushed tomatoes – Crushed tomatoes cook up faster and are easier to emulsify. You can use diced canned tomatoes, but you will probably want to use an immersion blender to make a smooth textured soup.
• Chicken stock – Or chicken broth. Homemade has better flavor, but store-bought works too.
• Granulated sugar – Sugar helps to cut the acidity in tomatoes.
• Seasonings – Dried oregano, kosher salt, and black pepper.
• Fresh basil – Fresh is best, but you can use dried basil in a pinch.
• Half and Half – This adds a creamy, rich flavor to the soup.

How to Make Creamy Tomato Basil Soup

This quick tomato basil soup recipe requires very few ingredients. Wash and dry the basil, dice the shallot and press the garlic. Oh yeah, open the cans of tomatoes.

In a large pot over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil. Add shallot and sauté until translucent.

Add garlic and sauté for another 30 seconds, until fragrant.

Add crushed tomatoes (juice and all), chicken stock (or chicken broth), oregano, sugar, salt, and pepper.

Reduce the heat and bring it to a low simmer. Cook uncovered, occasionally stirring, for 15 minutes or until it has thickened.

Stir in the half and half, fresh basil, and season with salt and pepper to taste.

We love this easy tomato basil soup and its texture. If it’s not smooth enough for your tastes, use an immersion blender to emulsify it to your liking.

Or use a regular blender, but you will need to do it in batches.

Tips

• Choose high quality canned tomatoes for the best flavor. After all, it’s the main ingredient for this homemade tomato basil soup.
• Using crushed tomatoes means you don’t have to blend the soup. If you want a thicker, chunkier version, use diced tomatoes.
• Use heavy cream instead of half and half for an even richer-tasting soup.
• If you need to make it dairy-free, use your choice of non-dairy milk substitute. But be aware that it will change the flavor and creamy texture of the soup.
• Garnish each bowl with grated Parmesan cheese or Pecorino Romano cheese.

Variations

• Organic Tomato Basil Soup – Purchase organic canned tomatoes and organic seasonings
• Vegetarian Tomato Basil Soup – Use vegetable broth instead of chicken stock.
• Roasted Tomato Basil Soup – Use canned fire roasted crushed tomatoes.

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