Creamy Tomato Soup (With Video and Step-by-Step)

Prep Time:

10 mins

Cook Time:

15 mins

Total Time:

25 mins

Servings:

6

Simple and satisfying, our creamy tomato soup is a lesson in how easy yet delicious home cooking can be. It's made with five ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen: butter, onion, garlic, canned tomatoes, and stock or water. Heavy cream is optional for serving.

The soup comes together in less than half an hour and it's a recipe you'll want to add to your regular rotation. Enjoy it for a workday lunch or a quick, cozy dinner—and it's even better when it's paired with its longtime partner, the grilled cheese sandwich. However you enjoy it, this soup is pure comfort in a bowl.

The Best Canned Tomatoes to Use for Tomato Soup

Our creamy tomato soup calls for whole peeled tomatoes. This is the main and most important ingredient in the soup, which has just a few ingredients—so the flavor of the tomatoes has a moment to shine. We prefer to use canned whole peeled tomatoes, not crushed or diced canned tomatoes; we find the quality and flavor of the former to be superior.

Avoid Crushed or Pureed Tomatoes

You might think starting with already crushed or pureed tomatoes is a shortcut—no blender to wash—but we don't agree. We prefer whole canned tomatoes, which have only salt added. Canned whole tomatoes are the most versatile canned tomato product; they can do anything other canned tomatoes can (pun intended!) if you chop, crush, or puree them. Often, crushed or diced tomatoes have tomato puree or other tomato products added to them, altering their original flavor and including a high sodium content. Some brands are better than others; try a few to see which ones you prefer.

3 Ways to Puree Tomato Soup

Since this soup begins with whole peeled tomatoes, it's best to puree it to avoid an ultra-chunky result. There are a few different ways to do this, depending on what equipment you have on hand (and feel like pulling out for the job).

Blender: Either an immersion or conventional blender makes quick work of pureeing this soup. As always when working with hot liquids, be sure to not fill the pitcher more than halfway full to account for the steam and pressure that can build up.

Food processor: A food processor can also be used to blend soup, though it will not become as smooth as when using a blender. Just like above, don't fill the bowl more than halfway before processing.

Food mill: A hand-cranked food mill is a handy piece of equipment to have on hand for simple tasks like this. Since the screen will catch any seeds and bits of skin, it will make for an extra smooth consistency.

Directions

Ingredients of Creamy Tomato Soup — Brie Goldman

Melt butter and cook onion and garlic:

Melt butter in a medium stockpot over medium heat. Cook onion and garlic (if using), stirring constantly, until soft and translucent, about 3 minutes.

Brie Goldman
Add tomatoes, juices, and stock, and simmer:

Add tomatoes, their juices, and stock. Season with salt and pepper and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes.

Brie Goldman
Puree soup in batches:

Working in batches, transfer tomato mixture to a blender, food processor, or food mill. Puree tomato mixture (if using a blender, cover the lid with a kitchen towel while machine is running).

Brie Goldman
Return soup to pan and warm:

Return soup to a clean pot and set over low heat.

Brie Goldman
Whisk in cream, season, and serve:

Whisk in cream, if desired; season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

Brie Goldman

Storing Tomato Soup

Transfer the soup to a bowl set over an ice-water bath to cool completely. Then transfer the cooled soup to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to three days. Reheat it over medium heat until heated through and serve.

Freezing

To make this tomato soup more than three days ahead of when you will use it, store it in the freezer. Do not add the cream to the soup and cool it completely as directed above. Whether you freeze it in individual portions or as one entire batch of soup, be sure to leave headroom in the container as the soup will expand as it freezes.

Reheating frozen soup: When you are ready to enjoy, defrost the soup overnight in the refrigerator and reheat as outlined above.

What to Serve With Creamy Tomato Soup

Enhance your soup by pairing it with one of these dishes:

Grilled cheese sandwich (it's a classic pairing for good reason)
Crusty bread, like a baguette, with creamy, spreadable cheese and some fresh basil (and some ham, too!)
Avocado toast
BLT sandwich
Mozzarella sticks (homemade or store-bought)
A simple salad, like this white-bean and tuna recipe or some tangy dressed frisée
Tuna sandwich

Frequently Asked Questions

How can you thicken tomato soup?

You can thicken your tomato soup in a couple of ways. First, by simmering the soup over low to medium heat until it reduces and thickens. Alternatively, make a slurry of a small amount of water and cornstarch and slowly add this to the soup while stirring and let cook for a couple of minutes.
What is the difference between tomato soup and tomato bisque?

The difference between tomato soup and tomato bisque is generally that a bisque is made with cream, but the definitions are not clear-cut. Bisque is a French word that describes a soup as thick, and a bisque is a soup usually made with seafood and cream. However, tomato bisque does not contain seafood, only cream, and tomato soup often also contains cream.
What causes the cream in tomato soup to curdle?

What causes the cream in tomato soup to curdle can be if the cream is added too quickly. Tomatoes are acidic and can react to the cream. To avoid this, slowly add the cream while stirring the tomato soup. This will neutralize the acidity of the soup and avoid curdling.
Can this soup be made vegan?

Yes this soup can be made vegan. Use olive oil or a plant-based butter alternative when sautéing the onion and garlic and swap in your favorite vegetable broth for the chicken stock. Omit the cream or whisk in a non-dairy alternative like an extra-creamy oat milk or a touch of coconut cream.