Name: Simple Tomato Soup
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 4-6 cloves garlic; 1/4 cup diced white or yellow onion; 1-2 tsp olive oil; 1 cup vegetable broth; 28 oz San Marzano canned peeled tomatoes; 2 tbsp red wine; 1/4 cup heavy cream (more if needed); 2 tsp dried basil (or 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil); 2 tbsp granulated sugar; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/4 tsp black pepper; 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese (more as garnish if needed); Other garnishes - baguette, croutons etc

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This post may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.

Simple Tomato Soup. Stressing on the word simple. Because who needs difficult in their lives? Simple, but oh no it is NOT simplistic.

It is so rich in flavor, so comforting, so delicious…prepare to be wowed!

Two bowls of Simple Tomato Soup with baguettes dip into them — *This post was originally published on October 18, 2018 and updated on October 28, 2019*

It’s cold. It’s rainy. It’s blanket, leggings and hot soup season. Hallelujah.

Colder days are my kind of days – as long as I’m indoors and snuggled under the comforts of comforters, blankets and sweatshirts.

My current dream lunch during colder days is this – tomato soup and grilled cheese. I toggle between buying canned tomato soups and making them.

The motivation for making my own tomato soups is how high the salt-content is in canned soups, and it is SO MUCH YUMMIER when I make them myself. Some days I bite the bullet and buy them, because let’s face it some of them are pretty tasty, and it is convenient.

Other days I make them, but I make them the simple way, and I use good ingredients (KEY!) to make them.

Dipping baguette into a bowl of Simple Tomato Soup

Good ingredients makes a difference in your cooking, folks! It will make this soup so much tastier you will want to ditch all those canned soups and say bye-bye to them forever.

The Secret to this Simple Tomato Soup

When it comes to good ingredients for my Simple Tomato Soup, it is this – San Marzano Canned Peeled Tomatoes.

Friends, this is the BEST canned tomatoes out there. They are rich in flavor, super sweet, simply the BEST kind of tomatoes, and it will make a difference in the soup! In other words, use it. It’s life-changing. 😉

Another important ingredient – red wine. I love cooking with wine lately. Evidence: this White Wine Tomato Skillet Chicken and this Beef Stew recipe.

Wine creates depth and complexity in flavors in a way that would typically be achieved only with multiple ingredients.

Splash two tablespoon of red wine into this soup and give it the flavors it deserves. And the best part? Enjoy the rest of the bottle while you cook!

Adding fresh basil and heavy cream to a pot of tomato soup — Adding cream and fresh basil to the soup

The beauty of this recipe is that is it is both rich in flavor and simple. We also infuse it with herbs, garlic and onion, and cook it just enough to release all those gorgeous flavors.

We are doing all that while not spending a long time in the kitchen. I typically get everything done from start to finish in 30 minutes.

Yes, that includes chopping up the garlic and onions, and the time it takes to let it sit and simmer.

Make ahead pro-tip

One of my favorite things about this recipe is to double the recipe and freeze some of it for whenever my heart desires tomato soups.

This is a good way to avoid canned soups because I now have homemade (yummier, healthier, less-salt) ones in my freezer!

Want it less chunky?

Use an immersion blender to make the soup creamier! Or bring soup to blender and blend it up!

Other Topping ideas!

Here is my theory: when it comes to tomato soup, what you serve with it is just as important as the soup itself…

Two bowls Simple Tomato Soup topped with croutons and fresh basil — Serving tomato soup with croutons

Maybe it’s just my love for a variety of textures and tastes, and always needing to pair my food…

But it does make it taste so much yummier!

So here are some ideas on how to garnish and serve this yummy soup:

Warm toasted baguette
Croutons
Cheesy toast
A full-blown grilled cheese!
Fresh basil (garnish)
Shaved parmesan (garnish)

Okay let’s take a moment and discuss the beautiful thing called cheesy toast, because when I have the time to make it, it’s my favorite way to eat this tomato soup.

It’s not as labor intensive as grilled cheese, yet you get all the benefits of grilled cheese. Also, cheesy toast and tomatoes = match made in heaven.

To make the cheesy toast, simply toast some bread (any kind!) in the toaster oven. Remove and spread some butter on it, then sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.

Bring it back into the toaster oven and toast it for a couple of minutes until the cheese melts.

Then DIP AWAY like your life depends on it.

Dipping cheesy toast into tomato soup — Cheesy toast + Simple Tomato Soup = so yum!

So…what say you?

Are you a cheesy toast, grilled cheese, croutons, or baguette kinda tomato-soup person? 🙂

Whichever way you choose, it’s the perfect lunch or light dinner! ENJOY!

Try this today and don’t forget to let me know how it goes in the comment box below, and share pictures of your creation on instagram by tagging #joyousapron! And while you are there, don’t forget to follow me! 🙂

Using a spoon to dig into a bowl of Tomato Soup

If you make this recipe, comment below and let me know what you think! Also, don’t forget to take a picture and tag me on Instagram, because I WANNA SEE!!

Other Yummy Soup Recipes

Love soups? Check out these other yummy soups recipes!

Ravioli Tomato Beef Soup
Lemon Chicken and Rice Soup
Turkey Sweet Potato Chili
Egg Drop Soup
Hot and Sour Soup
The Ultimate Beef Stew (includes instructions for stove top, slow cooker and Instant Pot!)
Instant Pot Beef and Barley Soup (by my blogger friend, Garnish and Glaze!)