You’re going to love this Creamy Tomato Basil Soup. It’s easy to make, serves a crowd, and is loaded with rich, silky flavor. Plus, you can have it on the table in under 30 minutes! This recipe also pairs perfectly with my ultimate grilled cheese sandwich.

Tomato Basil Soup in bowls with grilled cheese.

TABLE OF CONTENTS hide

1 My Favorite Tomato Basil Soup:

2 Why I Love This Soup:

3 Ingredients:

4 Recipe Instructions:

5 How to Serve:

6 Enjoy!

7 Tomato Basil Soup

My Favorite Tomato Basil Soup:

I don’t know about you, but as the weather gets cooler I start craving comfort food recipes. One of my favorites is this creamy tomato basil soup. I will admit that I’m generally not a big soup fan, however, there are a few I love and this is one of them.

I’ve been eating this tomato basil soup since I was a kid and couldn’t be more excited to share it with you today.

I suppose that tomato soup might seem like an odd choice for fall, but this is the time of year when I’m craving soup. On cooler days I want something that will warm me from the inside out. This recipe does just that.

It’s also worth mentioning that this recipe serves a crowd. In fact, the original recipe was double this amount; I cut it in half. This recipe is easy to adjust. You can divide it in half again if needed.

Why I Love This Soup:

This is one of my favorites for several reasons…

First and foremost, it’s the flavor. This soup is loaded with tomato flavor that is enhanced by fresh basil. It’s wonderfully creamy and rich too.
Secondly, it’s quick and easy to make. Other than the basil, there is zero chopping required as you are simply adding things to a pot. You can have this soup ready in under 30 minutes.
Finally, it’s an excuse to make grilled cheese sandwiches!! Talk about comfort food. My favorite grilled cheese is this ultimate grilled cheese sandwich (get the recipe HERE), but you can use any recipe that you like best.

dipping Ultimate Grilled Cheese into tomato basil soup.

Before we get into the details of this soup recipe, I also wanted to mention that today I’m back with my Tastes of the Season blogger friends. We are all sharing our favorite soups and stews. If you’re looking for more cold-weather soups to try, be sure to check out all the yummy recipes I’ve linked at the end of this post. I’m certain you’ll find a couple of new recipes to enjoy.

With all of that out of the way, I think it’s time to make some creamy tomato basil soup! Let’s get to it.

Ingredients:

I love this tomato basil soup recipe because the ingredient list is pretty minimal, while still resulting in a really flavorful soup. Let me walk you through the list.

tomato juice – You’ll want tomato juice that’s made with only tomatoes, not something like V8 which is made with additional vegetables.
crushed tomatoes – I find the San Marzano crushed tomatoes to have the best flavor. They are readily available in several brands.
heavy cream – This will add body and creaminess to the soup. If you want to save on calories, you can use light cream. Just know that the soup just won’t be as silky and rich.
chopped basil – Fresh basil is a must. It adds a wonderful fresh flavor to this soup. Also, it enhances the tomatoes.
sugar – When I’m making this soup, I add about 1 cup of sugar. (I like my tomato-based dishes on the sweeter side.) I recommend starting with 1/2 cup sugar and adding more as needed. You may even be able to get away with less if you prefer your soup a bit more acidic.
salt and pepper – These are a must for flavor. Adjust to your liking. You can even add a dash of red pepper flakes if you want a touch of heat.
croutons – I think the best way to serve tomato soup is with a grilled cheese sandwich. You can find my Ultimate Grilled Cheese Sandwich recipe HERE. If you just want the soup, I recommend garnishing it with some homemade croutons. You can find my easy homemade crouton recipe HERE.

And that’s it! Let’s get into the recipe!

Recipe Instructions:

I’ll walk you through the steps here. I’ve also provided a detailed ingredient list and instructions in the printable recipe card below.

In a large stock pot over medium heat, add the tomato juice, crushed tomatoes, sugar, salt, and pepper.
Bring to a boil and simmer for about 10-15 minutes.

Add in the chopped basil and heavy cream. Stir to combine.
Add more salt and pepper to taste.
Cook for about five more minutes to heat through.
Serve hot and garnish with homemade croutons.

The soup is on!

Your creamy tomato basil soup is ready to be served and enjoyed!

How to Serve:

I know that I mentioned this above, but I wanted to share my two favorite ways of serving this tomato basil soup.

1. Alongside my ultimate grilled cheese sandwich! Even though both of these are standout recipes on their own, they go together like peanut butter and jelly. They’re a combination you’re going to be craving again and again. Get my ultimate grilled cheese recipe HERE.

2. Topped with homemade croutons. If you’re not super hungry or not in the mood for grilled cheese, I totally understand. If that’s the case, I recommend topping your soup with some homemade croutons. I recently shared my go-to crouton recipe HERE. They are also a wonderful complement to this soup recipe.

Any extra soup can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator or frozen in a freezer-friendly container.

Enjoy!

And that’s a wrap on this creamy tomato basil soup recipe. I hope you’ll give it a try and that you enjoy it as much as I do.

Happy cooking!

Tastes of the Season Soups and Stews:

Want more? You got it! Check out these delicious fall-inspired recipes from my blogger friends below. Curious about some of our other recipe collaborations?

Minestrone Soup by Ella Claire & Co. | White Chicken Chili by Freutcake | Split Pea & Pumpkin Soup by French Country Cottage

Turkey Chili with Pumpkin Cornbread by Zevy Joy | Tomato Basil Soup by Inspired by Charm | Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup by Handmade Farmhouse

Want more? You can find all of my Tastes of the Season recipes HERE.

Love this recipe and want more?

Join the IBC Mailing List to get all of my recipes, projects, and ideas sent straight to your inbox! I hope you’ll also join me on social media (Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter) for daily updates and behind-the-scenes looks at my work and adventures.

Have you tried this recipe? Follow me on Instagram, then share YOUR dish with #myIBC and tag @inspiredbycharm. It’s fun to see how folks are using recipes from IBC.