Homemade Tomato Soup is a classic soup recipe made with fresh ripe tomatoes and fresh herbs blended with a hint of cream.
The tomatoes are roasted with a hint of garlic to bring out the natural flavor and then blended to a creamy finish. Velvety rich, jam-packed with flavor, and easy to make!!
Homemade is Best
The best tomato soup recipe is simple and made with fresh ingredients just like this recipe.
This easy soup can be prepared in under an hour making it the perfect weeknight meal!
TOMATOES FOR SOUP
Any kind of tomatoes will work but of course use the ripest, reddest ones you can find as they’ll have the best (and sweetest) flavor. In a pinch you can use canned tomatoes, they won’t have the same flavor as roasted tomatoes but are still great. Use a portion of canned fire-roasted tomatoes for extra flavor.
The tomatoes are roasted along with a bit of red bell pepper. The red pepper adds a bit of sweetness to balance out the acidity of the tomatoes. Cooked carrots will also work (I add shredded carrots to marinara for sweetness too).
How Many Tomatoes in a Pound
Of course, this varies based on the variety of tomato but to give you a general idea here are the approximates. This recipe is forgiving so it is ok if there’s a little bit more or less.
1 lb of tomatoes is approximately (remember you need 3lbs for this recipe):
- 2 large tomatoes
- 3 medium tomatoes
- 4 Roma tomatoes
- 2 1/2 cups chopped tomatoes
- 20 cherry tomatoes
How to Make Tomato Soup
- Place tomatoes and peppers on a pan with olive oil and seasonings. Roast until you see a bit of char.
- Bring broth to a boil and add roasted tomatoes.
- Blend using a hand blender until smooth & creamy.
Top with parmesan cheese or a drizzle of heavy cream if you prefer.
If Your Tomatoes Are Too Tart
This recipe calls for heavy cream which is optional. I don’t generally add the cream, however, sometimes tomatoes can be very tart (depending on the variety) so the addition of extra cream can help smooth out the flavor.
Other additions for a tart soup include a shredded carrot cooked with the mixture, pinch of sugar, a couple of pats of butter or some coconut milk (make sure it’s unsweetened).
We often eat tomato soup with a classic Grilled Cheese Sandwich for dipping or topped with croutons and parmesan cheese!
What to Eat with Tomato Soup:
A classic grilled cheese (or Grilled Cheese Roll-Ups) and tomato soup is definitely a favorite!
More Fresh Tomato Recipes
- Tomato Bisque
- Garden Fresh Bruschetta
- Fresh Tomato Salad
- Pico de Gallo
- Cucumber Tomato Salad
- Roasted Tomatoes
- Tomato Pie
Did you enjoy this Fresh Tomato Soup? Leave a rating and a comment below!
Ingredients
- 3 pounds ripe tomatoes
- 4 cloves garlic peeled
- ½ onion diced
- ½ red bell pepper diced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- salt and black pepper to taste
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons fresh herbs such as basil, parsley, oregano
- ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese for garnish, optional
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream optional
- thinly sliced fresh basil leaves for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450°F.
- Wash the tomatoes, or peel them if desired (see notes). Cut smaller apricot sized tomatoes in half and cut larger tomatoes into quarters or eighths.
- Place tomatoes, garlic, onion, bell pepper, olive oil, salt, pepper and dried herbs on a large rimmed baking sheet.
- Roast 25 minutes, stirring after 15 minutes. Turn oven to broil and broil 3-4 minutes or until some of the tomatoes get a little bit of char color on them.
- Bring chicken broth to a boil, add tomatoes, and fresh herbs. Using a blender or hand blender to blend the mixture until smooth and creamy. Add heavy cream if using.
- Top with parmesan cheese, croutons or a drizzle of heavy cream.
Video
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Soup
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When you say to add the roasted tomatoes to the chicken broth do you also add the red peppers? Sorry, just wanna make sure I get it right. This recipe sounds amazing!
Great questions Kathy, we add everything we roasted on the pan with the tomatoes in step 5.
I have made this recipe many times. My family loves it with grilled cheese. I’ve always made it with our garden tomatoes. I have quite a few bags frozen. Will this work & be just as good using farm fresh tomatoes I froze ?
Hi Jaye, we have not made this recipe with frozen tomatoes but I am sure it will still turn out delicious. Another reader has made it with some fresh and some frozen tomatoes and said it turned out great!
Can you use an aluminum sheet pan for this?
Hi Janice, you can but you will want to put it on a baking tray to ensure it heats properly.
This was great! I used a bunch of beautiful, very ripe tomatoes I get at the dollar bin at my outdoor product market. Add a small amount of cream. It was fresh tasting and delicious. A great, inexpensive side dish to our grilled sandwiches. Thanks for the idea/recipe.
This soup is so good! I had two tomatoes (1 lb) I needed to use up so I cut the recipe in thirds.
Made just enough for a full mug of soup I sipped on all evening. Can’t wait for my tomatoes to ripen so I can make more!
I LOVE this a recipe. I made gourmet grilled cheese to go with this soup. I actually don’t like tomato soup but loved this soup! The flavor is amazing and has so many levels!!! Very easy to make and follow. Thank you!
You’re welcome Brittany!
This was by far my favorite creamy tomato soup. I made it according to the recipe, except I had no red peppers so I left them out. I did add some extra tomatoes i had frozen last year for a little extra tomato flavor. DELICIOUS.
Excellent tomato soup recipe
Soup is excellent – thank you! I don’t even really like tomato soup but my husband requested some. I had a little bit and I actually went back to get my own full bowl! Amazing with grilled cheese :)
I did half the recipe and everything worked out fine!
You’re welcome Lindsay! So glad you love this. Great with grilled cheese for sure!
I prefer to use Milk in the soup makes it better tasting
We got fresh tomatoes from the stand and had too many. So, we looked around and found your recipe. My friend cooked it up and we got some sourdough bread and had a delightful lunch. The soup was flavorful and didn’t require any additional seasonings. Thank you for posting this bowl of goodness.
I was looking for a soup recipe that didn’t use canned tomatoes, and it’s the coldest it’s ever been right now in South Texas (10 degrees? What?!) So I was glad to find this one. I had about 3 types of tomatoes, and having the oven on to roast? Amazing flavor developed AND it warmed the house up a little more!.
I did let it simmer after pureeing with a parmesan rind in it for a few minutes, for more flavor – I always keep a few parmesan rinds around. It needed very little cream (I only had half and half and everything is closed, so I did some half and half and a tbsp of butter to finish it). Creamy, amazingly flavorful and easy to make! I topped it with some of those cheese whisp crackers, and it’s so good Even better, there are leftovers for the next couple of days! Thank you!
So glad you love the soup Jenn! Warm soup just makes everything feel better, if only for a few minutes!
So good!!! Just added in some red pepper flakes for a kick and a bit more garlic powder, salt and pepper. Also, only had about 2 pounds of fresh tomato so I added in 3 cans of diced tomatoes to hit that 3 pounds (drained and rinsed)..absolute perfection! Thank you!
This soup is hearty and delicious! I will never use canned tomato soup again. It was fun introducing my Moroccan DIL to the American pairing of grilled cheese and tomato soup, and she really enjoyed it. I was surprised how the tomato skins disappear, but add density to the soup. Used fresh herbs. Love this soup!
So delicious. DIdn’t change a thing. Shared with sisters…they give 5 stars as well. Well done!
Love, love, love this recipe! Super easy and does take that long. I added carrots and celery to mine as well for more depth of flavor. Thank you for sharing!
This was super easy and very good! I am making it again tomorrow…
thanks for making me look like a Star
Enjoy the recipe! :)
Absolutely delicious. Much more like a bisque. One of my husband’s favorite meals. Tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches.
Very good tomatoe soup.
Made this for my picky 10 year old who “doesn’t like” tomato soup! Added ditalini noodles and homemade mini meatballs and told her it was homemade spaghettio’s! She got seconds and has already requested it again! Looove tricking my kid into eating fresh veggies! Thanks for the recipe, it’s a keeper!
Love this soup! Was just wondering if anyone has tried to freeze it? Considering doubling the batch and freezing for later!
We haven’t tried it but some readers have had success freezing it. Let us know how it goes!
Froze lots of it. Froze great
Can you freeze it with the cream in it. Or just I add the cream when I thaw and reheat on that cold winter day?!?
Hi Amy, other readers have frozen this recipe with great success. I would personally drizzle the heavy cream on when serving it though.