• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Keeping It Simple Blog

  • All Recipes
  • About Us
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • All Recipes
  • About Us
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • All Recipes
    • About Us
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    You are here Home » Recipes » food

    By: Melissa

    Creamy Tomato Basil Soup (From Canned Tomatoes)

    There is nothing more comforting than a delicious bowl of homemade creamy tomato basil soup. This easy creamy tomato soup tastes nothing at all like soup you get in a can and everyone always loves it. This recipe is made with canned tomatoes, chicken stock, basil and aromatics and it is so warming and delicious. Serve it with some grilled cheese or cheesy bread for the most delicious and easy meal that everyone will love.

    easy homemade tomato soup
    Jump to Recipe
    Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

    I love when it is cool enough to make this creamy tomato basil soup because it warms you like no other food can. Homemade tomato soup has nostalgic memories of childhood especially when grilled cheese or cheese crostini is made with it for dipping.

    Making a creamy tomato soup is actually very easy and it is completely customizable to your taste. It makes a great quick weeknight meal but you can also make this for friends too.

    This tomato basil soup utilizes canned tomatoes and chicken stock which are probably already in your pantry so it can be made year round! The irony about making tomato soup is you don't usually want to make soup in the summer when tomatoes are fresh.

    That is why I always make this soup with canned tomatoes, so I can enjoy it in the Fall and Winter months.

    I love having canned tomatoes on hand not just for this soup but lots of my Italian dishes like my pork bolognese , Italian zucchini or cherry tomato pasta.

    I also always have a container or two of chicken stock for my favorite Italian fagioli soup or Italian wedding soup that I love making.

    tomato soup with cheese crostini

    Ingredients to make this creamy tomato soup

    Making a really delicious homemade tomato soup is very easy and requires only a handful of ingredients. Here is what you will need.

    1. Canned whole tomatoes. Any variety will do (Italian, plum, whole tomatoes, etc). Many people think that homemade tomato soup is made with fresh tomatoes but by using canned tomatoes, we skip the whole step of taking the tomato skins off of the tomatoes which is would you would need to do with fresh. This is an easy tomato basil soup recipe so we are using canned tomatoes!
    2. Fresh Basil. If you have been following along for a while, then you know that I always say fresh basil is the only basil you should be using. Dried basil tastes bitter and lacks the sweetness that fresh basil imparts in recipes.
    3. Chicken stock. You can also use vegetable stock if you want to make this dish vegetarian. I always prefer chicken stock to chicken broth because I prefer the flavor. You could use broth if that is what you have on hand.
    4. Kosher salt. If you are working with regular table salt, just make sure you half the amount of salt that is used in the tomato basil soup recipe.
    5. Garlic. I love fresh garlic and this is the time to use it. Fresh garlic with basil and tomatoes is a match made in heaven.
    6. Shallot. There is just a little bit of shallot in this tomato soup recipe. It adds a little background flavor and compliments the garlic.
    7. Olive Oil. You can use extra virgin olive oil or regular olive oil for this recipe.
    8. Dried Oregano. Optional but it does lend a bit of background flavor. Normally I always opt for fresh ingredients but dried oregano works great in this tomato soup.
    9. Heavy cream. There is just a touch of heavy cream in this tomato basil soup. Just a little is all you need to bring out the sweetness of the tomatoes and basil and to impart the creaminess of this tomato soup.
    easy tomato soup in bowls

    How to make tomato basil soup

    This tomato basil soup is so easy and it screams summer with all of the fresh notes of flavor from the garlic, tomatoes and basil. If you have about 30 minutes, you can make this really easy tomato basil soup.

    1. Prep your ingredients: This is where you dice up the shallot, garlic and rinse the fresh basil.
    2. Cook it up on the stovetop: Sauté your shallots and garlic until soft and then add your chicken stock and canned tomatoes. Don't forget to break up those tomatoes to help them release their juices.
    3. Add your seasonings: Oregano, basil, salt and pepper. You can adjust it to taste later on.
    4. Simmer: Let it all simmer for a few minutes so the tomatoes and basil along with the garlic have time to impart their flavor.
    5. Mix it up in the blender: Add most of the soup to a blender and blend until smooth. If you prefer it extra creamy add all of your soup in batches to the blender and blend until smooth.
    6. Add soup back to the pot: Add the tomato basil soup back to soup pot then add the cream and adjust for any seasoning. It is good to taste for seasoning after the cream is added since cream can add a sweet note.
    7. Enjoy!

    Pro-Tip: You can double this recipe and have extra for another night. This soup freezes well too. I have included instructions for how to do this below in the recipe section.

    top view of tomato soup

    Variations

    Now I like a little texture in my tomato soup so this tomato soup recipe is part creamy and part chunky. If you prefer a totally creamy tomato soup then you can blend all of the soup in your blender in batches until all of it is fully blended and smooth.

    You can also add about a half cup more of the heavy cream to make it even creamier and more decadent.

    basil
    Add fresh basil.

    Tips for blending hot tomato soup in a blender

    When you are blending this tomato basil soup in the blender (or any hot liquid), you want to make sure you follow these simple steps for safety:

    • Fill the blender only half full with the hot tomato soup. When you blend hot liquids, it expands so it will reach the top of the blender when it is filled halfway.
    • Make sure the lid is on tight and cover the lid with a kitchen towel. You do this just in case the hot liquid pushes through an opening in the top of the blender.

    If you follow these simple safety steps, you will be on your way to not just blending up this creamy tomato basil soup but any delicious creamy soup you want to make.

    What To Serve With This Creamy Tomato Basil Soup

    Now let's talk about that delicious cheesy crostini that you see in the pictures with the tomato soup. Nothing is more nostalgic than cheese bread of some variety with tomato soup.

    This cheese crostini is my more grown up version of the classic grilled cheese and my favorite thing to serve with this soup.

    I had originally only had the tomato soup recipe but I have gotten so many requests for the crostini recipe that I am adding it below and to the recipe section. This cheesy crostini is to die for!

    You can also skip the cheese part and make a crusty garlic crostini to dip into the soup. If you prefer a side dish to go along with this soup, then this warm arugula salad would be great.

    cheesy crostini going into the oven
    Here is the cheesy crostini before going under the broiler!

    How to make cheesy crostini for this tomato soup:

    Making this delicious cheese crostini to dip into the creamy tomato basil soup is 100 percent worth the extra few minutes. When you sit down to a delicious bowl of homemade tomato basil soup with cheesy bread to dip into it, you will be a happy you made it!

    1. Slice up some good-quality baguette or Italian bread.
    2. Drizzle it with olive oil.
    3. Place under the broiler for 3 minutes or so a side until the bread is nice and browned.
    4. Remove from the oven.
    5. Rub the crostini with a fresh clove of garlic.
    6. Sprinkle a little kosher salt.
    7. Add shredded gruyere and Parmesan to the tops of the bread.
    8. Place back into the oven under the broiler for about 1-2 minutes until the cheese is just melted.
    9. Serve immediately with your tomato soup.

    If you prefer, you can also use these same ingredients and make a delicious grilled cheese to dip into the creamy tomato soup. We love doing this too.

    tomato-soup-with-grilled-cheese

    Pairing Ideas

    If you want some more ideas of what to serve with this creamy tomato basil soup, here are some of our favorites:

    • ciabatta close up
      Homemade Ciabatta Bread
    • Parmesan bread on baking sheet
      Parmesan Bread
    • chopped kale salad with tahini dressing
      Chopped Kale Salad with Lemon Tahini Dressing
    • basil lemonade in pitcher
      Easy Basil Lemonade

    For more tomato recipes:

    • Tomato Rubbed Crostini
    • Homemade Meatballs and Tomato Sauce
    • Fresh Cherry Tomato Sauce
    • Roasted Tomato and Tomatillo Salsa
    • Salsa Criolla with Flank Steak
    • Vegetable Soup With Cabbage
    • Italian Baked Zucchini
    • Easy San Marzano Marinara Sauce
    • Pimento Cheese Sandwich with tomatoes
    easy homemade tomato soup
    Print Recipe
    5 from 9 votes

    Creamy Tomato Soup From Canned Tomatoes

    A delicious classic tomato basil soup recipe that is great anytime the craving strikes.
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time20 minutes mins
    blending5 minutes mins
    Total Time35 minutes mins
    Servings: 8 servings

    Tried the Recipe? We Would Love To Hear From You In The Comments Below!

    Author: Melissa

    Equipment

    • large pot, blender

    Ingredients

    Tomato Soup

    • 2 28 ounce cans of whole peeled tomatoes
    • 32 ounces large container of good chicken stock
    • ½ cup heavy cream
    • 2 cloves of garlic diced
    • 1 shallot diced
    • 3 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 tablespoon kosher salt plus more to taste
    • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
    • ½ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
    • 5 leaves of fresh basil plus more for garnish (optional)

    Cheesy Crostini

    • 1 loaf of good quality Italian bread or a baguette
    • 6 ounces grated gruyere cheese
    • 3 ounces grated Parmesan cheese
    • 4 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 clove of garlic
    • kosher salt for sprinkling
    Follow Keeping It Simple Blog On Pinterest

    Instructions

    Tomato soup

    • In a large pot over medium heat add your olive oil and shallot and sauté for about 2 minutes.
      1 shallot diced, 3 tablespoon olive oil
    • Add ½ of your salt to sweat out the juices in the shallots.
    • Now add your garlic and cook for another 2 minutes.
      2 cloves of garlic diced
    • Next, add your chicken stock and stir well.
      32 ounces large container of good chicken stock
    • Now add your canned tomatoes, basil, oregano and the rest of your salt and your pepper and mix well.
      2 28 ounce cans of whole peeled tomatoes, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 5 leaves of fresh basil, 1 tablespoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
    • Let simmer for about 15 minutes.
    • Now, carefully take a potato masher and mash done the large chunks of tomato. You can also do this with the back of a spoon.
    • Do this until most of the tomatoes has been crushed up and there are no more large tomatoes left.
    • Now, take half of your soup mixture and add it to a blender and secure the lid tightly. Take a kitchen towel and place over the lid of your blender. Pulse on medium speed to puree the mixture.
      Note: Make sure you do not fill the blender to the top because hot liquids expand when you start the blender. You may need to do this in 2 batches.
    • Now add your pureed mixture back into the pot and mix it in with the soup that wasn't pureed. This will give you a creamy soup with some texture.
      Note: If you like a fully creamy soup, just puree all of your soup in batches in the blender
    • Now add your heavy cream and mix well.
      ½ cup heavy cream
    • Taste for seasoning and add any salt or pepper that you need.
    • Serve immediately with grilled cheese, homemade croutons or crusty bread. Garnish with fresh basil

    Cheesy Crostini

    • Pre-heat your broiler to high heat.
    • Slice up some good quality baguette or Italian bread.
      1 loaf of good quality Italian bread or a baguette
    • Drizzle it with olive oil.
      4 tablespoon olive oil
    • Place under the broiler for 1-2 minutes or so a side until the bread is nice and browned on both sides.
    • Remove from the oven and rub one side of the crostini with a fresh clove of garlic.
      1 clove of garlic
    • Sprinkle a little kosher salt.
      kosher salt for sprinkling
    • Evenly add shredded gruyere and Parmesan to the tops of the bread.
      6 ounces grated gruyere cheese, 3 ounces grated Parmesan cheese
    • Place back into the oven under the broiler for about 1-2 minutes until the cheese is just melted.
    • Remove from the oven and plate.
    • Enjoy!

    Notes

    To Freeze:
    Let soup cool completely then pour into a freezer safe bag or container and place in the freezer for up to 2 month.
     
    To Thaw:
    Remove the soup from the freezer and place in the refrigerator overnight. When ready to heat, pour soup into a medium sauce pan and heat on low until warmed through.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 510kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 44g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 22g | Cholesterol: 75mg | Sodium: 1895mg | Potassium: 472mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 848IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 505mg | Iron: 2mg

    Nutrition Values are estimates only.

    See full nutrition disclaimer here
    Course :lunch, Main Course, Soup

    More food

    • banana coffee cake
      Moist and Fluffy Banana Coffee Cake
    • peanut butter cookies
      Homemade Old-Fashioned Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies
    • au jus from pan drippings
      Au Jus Recipe: Easy And Delicious
    • Slicing boneless prime rib
      Boneless Prime Rib Roast with Au Jus

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Fria says

      September 14, 2022 at 3:19 pm

      5 stars
      So good!

      Reply
    2. Lily says

      August 26, 2022 at 1:59 am

      5 stars
      It came out great. A very simple and tasty recipe!

      Reply
    3. Jill says

      March 14, 2022 at 3:12 pm

      5 stars
      We really enjoyed this tomato soup and love that it could be made with canned tomatoes. I blended it until completely smooth and it was delicious. Made some grilled cheese as a side too!

      Reply
    4. Marsha says

      September 23, 2021 at 10:37 pm

      5 stars
      I love it. It was savory and not sweet which I like. Some tomato soup recipes are too sweet but this was perfect.

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome to Keeping It Simple Blog!

    keeping it simple blog portrait

    I am so excited you are here. My name is Melissa and I started this recipe website a few years ago to share recipes that I have been cooking for family and friends for years.

    More about me →

    Try Out These Easy Dinner Favorites!

    • cheese tortellini closeup
      Cheese Tortellini with Brown Butter Sage Sauce
      Cook Time30 Minutes
    • ham and cheese pasta
      Creamy Ham and Cheese Pasta
      Cook Time20 Minutes
    • pot roast sandwich
      Pot Roast Sandwich
      Cook Time40 Minutes
    • closeup of white wine garlic butter sauce
      White Wine Garlic Butter Sauce For Pasta
      Cook Time25 Minutes
    • cheesesteak
      Easy Philly Cheesesteaks
      Cook Time30 Minutes
    • air fryer hot dogs in bun copy
      The Best Air Fryer Hot Dogs
      Cook Time5 Minutes
    • closeup of blackened tuna
      Blackened Seared Tuna
      Cook Time25 Minutes
    • seared pork chops
      Quick Seared Pork Chops
      Cook Time34 Minutes

    More recipes →

    Featured In:

    logos of publications that Keeping It Simple Blog has been featured in

    Footer

    • Bloglovin
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Featured In

    logos of publications that Keeping It Simple Blog has been featured in

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    Privacy Policy

    Accessibility

    Newsletter

    Contact

    Copyright © KeepingItSimpleBlog