This Creamy Tomato Soup is made in 20 minutes with canned tomatoes, but no one would ever know! It’s flavored with basil, garlic and Parmesan and perfect for dunking your grilled cheese!
Looking for more easy soup recipes? Try my Easy Taco Soup recipe, my Crockpot Chicken Taco Soup or my Ramen Noodle Soup!
There is just not a better comfort food combo than creamy tomato soup and a crispy, melty grilled cheese sandwich.
This Creamy Tomato Soup has been on repeat here, because it’s easy and quick enough to whip up for any meal, even with the kids running circles around you!
It’s so quick, and so delicious, that you’ll never have to settle for the can again!
Why you’ll love this easy Tomato Soup recipe:
- Canned tomatoes: it’s an easy and inexpensive meal that tastes just as amazing year round. (P.S. This Tomato Tortellini Soup is another one using canned tomatoes!)
- Customizable: you can customize the flavors according to your tastes, and even add in some additional vegetables, cooked rice or pasta if you see fit.
I confess, I’m one of those people who enjoys soup year round, and some of our other favorites (if you’re one of those people, too!) are this Sausage Tortellini Soup, Chicken Gnocchi Soup, and this Crockpot Potato Soup.
Give me some crusty bread or a great dinner bun and I’ll enjoy soup for every meal of every day!
Variations on this Creamy Tomato Soup:
- Feel free to adjust the spices and herbs to your tastes or what you have on hand — add some heat if you like, or experiment a little!
- If you don’t have fresh milk, you can easily substitute for evaporated milk or cream. If you need to make this recipe dairy free, you can substitute for non dairy milk though it will change the flavor, or you can use chicken or vegetable broth as well. It will still be creamy and delicious!
- Feel free to add in other veggies, before or after pureeing! Some cooked carrots puree really easily in tomato soup and go mostly unnoticed.
- Some pasta, rice or other cooked grains can make this soup a little heartier (though you know I’m serving mine with grilled cheese so I opt for plain and simple 😉 )
- If you need to make this recipe gluten free, you can skip the roux and opt to thicken the milk with a couple tablespoons of corn starch before adding the tomatoes.
Got leftover Tomato Soup?
Pasta: This creamy Tomato Soup also makes a great pasta sauce! You can make a double batch, and save some for serving over pasta for an easy dinner another night.
Pizza: This Tomato Soup is thick and creamy enough to be used as a pizza sauce as well!
Reinvent it: serve leftovers with cooked pasta and vegetables for a new twist on tomato soup — bonus points if what you add to the soup is also leftover from another meal!
20 Minute Creamy Tomato Soup from Scratch
written by Ashley Fehr
Ingredients
- ¼ cup salted butter
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3 cloves garlic (finely minced)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon basil pesto
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2½ cups milk
- 1 can crushed tomatoes with Italian herbs (28oz or 798ml)
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1-2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- Fresh basil for serving
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a large soup pot over medium-low heat. Add the tomato paste, garlic, salt, pesto, dried basil, and pepper and cook for 1 minute.
- Whisk in the flour, until no white remains.
- Add the milk and whisk until combined. Increase the heat to medium and cook, stirring frequently, until thickened.
- Add the tomatoes and Parmesan and stir until combined. Heat through.
- Stir in the sugar to taste and serve with fresh basil.
Nutrition Information
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Tag @thereciperebel*This post has been updated since its original posting in April 2014.
Marianne Poole says
Hi. This sounds delicious! However, I really dislike Pesto. Can I leave it out? Is there something else I could use?
Ashley Fehr says
You can absolutely leave it out! You could substitute with additional fresh or dried herbs for more flavor.
jane whitley says
My family loved this!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks for sharing Jane!
Tammy says
This is my absolutely favourite tomato soup!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Tammy!
Megan Stoker says
We made this in a pinch and loved it! How big are you thinking a serving is? We need to carb count for our daughter who just got diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.
Ashley Fehr says
I’m so glad you liked it! For accurate nutrition information, you’ll want to weigh the finished dish and then divide by the number of servings.
Nicole says
Thank you!
Caitie says
Leslie, you knocked it out of the park with this tomato soup! I like that it doesn’t have 15 different ingredients and tastes delicious.
How long does it store in the freezer for?
Ashley Fehr says
Hi Caitie! Ashley here 🙂 It would last for a few months in the freezer. I’m so glad you liked it!
Leslie says
Delicious and so easy. I have made it twice this week!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Leslie!
Leslie says
Delicious and so easy!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Leslie!
Stephanie Perez says
Hi Ashley! We love this recipe but I want to try making it with fresh tomatoes. Do you recommend Roma tomatoes? thank you so much!
Ashley Fehr says
Yes I think that would be great!
April Bernardoni says
This recipe is by far my favorite tomato soup. I’ve made it countless times and when I’ve served it to guests, they always demand the recipe. I half the amount of flour and Parmesan and use more garlic and fresh basil. It always turns out fantastic and it’s beyond easy!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks April!
Dena says
I loved the recipe (5/5 stars) before you changed it in November of 2024. I wish I had printed it off.
Ashley Fehr says
Hi Dena — that’s so funny, because this recipe hasn’t changed. What I did add was the amount of tomatoes in cups, but they will make no difference when you prepare it.