Creamy Tomato Basil Soup is easy comfort served up in a bowl! With a base of carrots, onions, celery, chicken broth and butter simmered with bright tomato puree, fresh basil and cream, layer after layer of surprising rich, savory flavor make this simple classic a heart and soul favorite everyone craves.
Every good Southerner loves a tomato. And I am like any good Southerner. I like them just about any ol’ way I can get them. And in the winter, when they are out of season, that means tomato soup. But not just any tomato soup. I’m talking about a creamy tomato basil soup that has happily simmered on my stove top.
This recipe is a delicate blend of the tomato’s bright acidic bite married to the smooth heaviness of rich cream with just the right amount of earthy, green basil. This is a dance between the best two seasons have to offer. This is winter’s soup and the fruit of summer. And it’s all you really need on a crisp day.
Ingredients for Creamy Tomato Basil Soup
- butter
- yellow onion
- celery
- carrots (I use matchstick, or shredded, carrots.)
- minced garlic
- chicken broth
- tomato sauce
- tomato puree
- half & half
- dried oregano
- fresh basil
How to Make Tomato Basil Soup
Make the Base. In a large stock pot, melt butter and sauté diced onions, carrots, celery, and garlic until the onions are translucent. These veggies create a nice round base of flavor for the soup.
To finish the base, whisk in chicken the broth. Sometimes I might even throw in a 1/4 C dry white wine for more depth of flavor. Let this Cook for 8-10 minutes so that all of the flavors have a chance to really come together!
Add Tomatoes & Cream. Whisk in the tomato sauce and tomato puree and cook for 5 minutes. Turn down the heat to low and slowly whisk in the half & half. Add salt, pepper (to taste), oregano and chopped basil. Let soup simmer for another 8 minutes.
Make it Smooth & Creamy. To make sure your soup has a velvety smooth texture, blend by pouring it into a blender and blending on low until the soup is smooth. The half & half also gets a fuller texture when whipped which adds a nice body to the soup. Pour back into the soup pot to keep warm and serve!
What to Serve With Tomato Basil Soup
Creamy Tomato Basil Soup is delicious on it’s own served with a green salad, but it’s also pretty versatile depending on how you to decide to jazz it up with toppings! And you know what that means — You can get a lot of menu mileage out of this one recipe.
BLT Night. Top with chopped bacon, chives, shaved parmesan cheese and quartered grape tomatoes for a nod to everyone’s favorite bacon sandwich. You can even serve BLTs on the side!
Pizza Night. Mini pepperonis, shredded mozzarella, a few sliced mushrooms (even sliced olives!) and a side of bread sticks turn pizza night into comfort food night.
Classic. There’s nothing better more feel good than tomato soup and grilled cheese. Serve with grilled cheese sandwiches or go for the fun and unexpected with grilled cheese croutons!
Other Soup Recipes To Love
- Creamy Chicken & Ravioli Soup
- Easy Italian Tortellini Soup with Sausage & Spinach
- Cozy French Onion Soup
- Creamy Shortcut Parmesan Cauliflower Soup
- Farmhouse Cheese
If You Make This Recipe, I Can’t Wait To Hear About It!
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Creamy Tomato Basil Soup
Equipment
- stock pot, blender
Ingredients
- 1 stick butter
- 1/3 cup diced onions
- 1/3 cup diced celery
- 1/3 cup diced carrots, use matchstick, or shredded, carrots for a convenient fine dice!
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 32 oz chicken broth
- 30 oz can tomato sauce
- 30 oz can tomato pureee
- 1 quart half & half
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/3 C chopped fresh basil
Instructions
- In a large stock pot, melt butter and add the diced onions, carrots, celery, and garlic. On medium heat, cook until the onions become translucent.
- Add broth. Cook for 8-10 minutes. Then, add the tomato sauce and tomato puree and cook for 5 minutes.
- Turn down the heat to low and slowly add the cream, whisking as you go. Stir until well blended. Add salt, pepper (to taste), oregano and chopped basil. Let soup simmer for another 8-10 minutes.
- Use blender to blend soup smooth. Return to stock pot to keep warm & serve.
A good meal that’s easy to make and delicious to eat brings joy to the family table time and time again. Share this flavorful, restaurant quality soup with friends, family or even a neighbor in need. It’s easy to freeze and reheat.
I love Tomato Basil and your soup is fantastic! Thanks so much for sharing your post with us at Full Plate Thursday. Have a great week and come back soon!
Miz Helen
Serves 8? Oh no, no no! Not at my house! This will serve one!! I love soup, and your soup recipes are all amazing! I’ll be making this over the weekend. Sounds quick and easy, so it won’t pull me away from my quilt machine for long! Can’t wait to try this! Pirtle, you are the BEST!!
Ha! Pretty much feeds just one or two at my house too! We love soup, and this soup is one of our quick & easy favorites. I can’t wait to hear all about your weekend-quilting and the soup! I am soooo glad you love soup! Love you much!! (If you did want to make less, just hover over the serving number. You can change the number to your preferred serving and it changes the recipe for you!!)