Creamy Tomato Basil Soup

Creamy Tomato Basil Soup is a rich and creamy soup using tomatoes, garlic, sauteed onions, fresh basil, and cream. 

I have been blogging at Modern Honey for almost two years. In some ways, it feels like it flew by and in other ways, it feels like a lifetime. It depends on the day.  🙂

For the past two years my friend, Julie, has been asking me to create a creamy tomato basil soup recipe. She orders tomato soup at Nordstrom and Panera Bread all of the time and wants to finally make it at home. It may have taken me 23 months to get it to her…so I hope it was worth the wait.

My husband’s ultimate comfort meal is grilled cheese and cream of tomato soup. It started in his college days when he would grab the Campbell’s tomato soup from the can and call it good. Every single time it rains in Arizona, he calls me from work and asks if we could have grilled cheese and tomato soup for dinner.

We have ditched the can and it’s all homemade from here on out. When creamy tomato basil soup tastes this good, you say bye-bye canned tomato soup.

How do you make Homemade Creamy Tomato Basil Soup?

• It all starts with the flavor makers — onions and garlic sauteed in butter and extra-virgin olive oil.  The onions are what gives this soup its base of flavor and sauteeing them mellows the onions out.  Everyone loves a mellow onion. A strong onion isn’t so popular. Give it some time to soften the onions. It’s worth the wait!
• Use Canned or Fresh Tomatoes. I usually use canned because they are readily available in my pantry.  I prefer to use San Marzano tomatoes, especially when tomatoes are the star of the show, but any whole tomatoes work well.

• A pinch of red pepper flakes give it a touch of spice, which is barely noticeable and the sugar helps balance out the acidity in the tomatoes. It’s all about balance in this soup!
• Chicken Broth gives the soup flavor without adding fat. Oh, chicken broth is a miracle worker.
• Blend, baby, Blend. This soup is known for its creamy texture so you want to use an immersion blender or kitchen blender to puree the soup.  If you are using a stand-up blender, be careful because the soup will be hot.  Blend it in batches and vent the lid just a tad to let the steam escape.  If you have an immersion blender, it works like a charm because you can leave the soup in the pot.
• Heavy Cream is the real MVP in this soup. It is what gives the Creamy Tomato Basil Soup the rich, creamy, melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Pair this Cream of Tomato Soup with a crusty, warm, and gooey grilled cheese sandwich and you have the ultimate comfort food meal. My husband says he doesn’t even need to buy the cans anymore. Progress, people, progress! 🙂

5 from 3 votes

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Creamy Tomato Basil Soup

Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

40 mins

Total Time

45 mins

 

You will never eat canned tomato soup again after trying this Creamy Tomato Basil Soup.

Course: Soup

Cuisine: American

Keyword: creamy tomato soup

Author: Melissa Stadler, Modern Honey

Ingredients

• 2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 2 Tablespoons Butter
• 1 Onion diced
• 3 Garlic Cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon Red Chili Flakes
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1 teaspoon Pepper
• 2 - 28- ounce cans Whole Tomatoes with juices
• 3 Tablespoons Sugar
• 3 cups Chicken Broth
• 1/4 cup Fresh Basil or 2 Tablespoons dried basil
• 1 cup Heavy Cream may add a little less or more depending on how creamy you like it

Garnish:

• Fresh Basil Ribbons
• Parmesan Cheese
• Croutons

Instructions

1. In large pot, heat oil and butter over medium heat. Add onions and saute for 10 minutes or until soft. Stir often.
2. Add garlic, red chili flakes, salt, and pepper. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
3. Stir in tomatoes and sugar. Cook for 10 minutes, smashing tomatoes with a wooden spoon as they cook.
4. Stir in chicken broth and cook for an additional 10 minutes. Add basil.
5. Blend until smooth and creamy with an immersion blender or in a kitchen blender. Be careful as the soup will be hot so vent the lid to release the steam. Work in batches.
6. Stir in heavy cream. Add more if you want it to be creamier. Salt as needed.
7. Garnish with fresh basil ribbons and parmesan cheese.

Happy Cooking, my friends! What’s the weather like where you are? Is it soup and sweater weather? I hope you love this Creamy Tomato Basil Soup.