Creamy Tomato Soup
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Fresh Creamy Tomato Soup is a creamy and comforting soup made with juicy tomatoes, fresh basil, robust onion, and chopped celery, all topped with crunchy and cheesy cornbread croutons!
Not only is this tomato soup recipe delicious, it’s on the healthier side and can be ready in 30 to 40 minutes, start to finish. That makes for some easy dinner prep!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Autumn is right around the corner, making it a perfect time to whip out toasty-warm and comforting soups!
I’ve always been a fan of tomato soup, but let me tell you, the cornbread croutons are what make this bowl of goodness extra special!
Ingredient Notes
Creamy Tomato Soup
- Tomatoes — Beautifully ripe tomatoes are a must for this recipe, of course. You can use a can of San Marzano tomatoes if you’re in a pinch.
- Basil — You’ll want to use fresh basil leaves to get the most authentic and full flavor. If you use dried basil instead, expect the taste to differ slightly.
- Onion — A yellow onion is the right balance of sweetness for this recipe. You may also use white onion or another variation if you’d like.
- Celery — Crunchy chopped celery makes this recipe lean more on the healthy side. Once added to the soup, the flavor blends well and doesn’t stand out. However, if you prefer not to include celery, it won’t make or break the recipe.
- Chicken broth — Choose a low-sodium chicken broth to stick to a healthier twist or try vegetable broth if you prefer.
- Cream — You can’t have a creamy tomato soup without some cream, right? I like to use heavy cream for its silky texture and full flavor.
- Tomato paste — Get a robust tomato taste by adding some tomato paste to the soup. Substitute with tomato puree or tomato sauce if you can’t get your hands on the paste, but be sure to increase the measurements if you are not using the concentrated tomato paste.
Cornbread Croutons
- Corn muffin mix — You can use your favorite brand of corn muffin mix or even make your own cornbread recipe. I like to use Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix.
- Milk — You can use a milk alternative as a substitute, like almond milk, buttermilk, or even sour cream.
- Parmesan cheese — Grated parmesan cheese gives these cornbread croutons a cheesy flavor. You can try using Romano or asiago as a replacement.
How to Make Creamy Tomato Soup with Fresh Tomatoes
You’ll love how simple it is to make such a deliciously rich soup!
STEP 1 | Prep the veggies
Wash and cut fresh tomatoes into wedges, removing the core. Then, chop the onion and celery. For the fresh basil leaves, roll them in a tight roll and chop them finely.
STEP 2 | Boil and simmer
Add the chopped vegetables, chicken broth, and tomato paste to a large soup pot. Bring those ingredients to a rolling boil.
Then, reduce the heat and allow the soup time to simmer for about half an hour. The slow simmer will soften the veggies nicely.
STEP 3 | Add remaining ingredients and blend
Next, remove the large pot from the heat, careful not to splash the soup. Stir in the heavy cream, chopped basil, salt, and pepper.
An immersion blender is what I use to blend all the ingredients well and attain a silky smooth texture. If you don’t have an immersion blender at home, check out the recipe card for how you can still blend this tomato soup to perfection.
STEP 4 | And serve!
Serve this Creamy Tomato Soup Recipe topped with a handful of peppery parmesan cornbread croutons, more shredded Parmesan cheese, and freshly chopped basil. Here’s an idea, place a dollop of sour cream on top, too!
How to make homemade cornbread croutons
You’ll never buy pre-made cornbread croutons again!
STEP 1 | Mix and bake the cornbread
Start with a box of Jiffy corn muffin mix and combine it with egg, milk, Parmesan cheese, and coarse ground black pepper.
Next, pour the silky batter into a prepared baking dish and bake exactly as the muffin mix box directs.
STEP 2 | Cool and cut into cubes
Once the cornbread has finished baking, allow it to cool completely on a wire rack. Then, cut the cooled cornbread into small 1-inch squares.
Drizzle the cubes with olive oil and gently toss with a rubber spatula, trying not to break the cubes up.
STEP 3 | Bake again until crispy
Place the olive oil-tossed cornbread cubes onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
Make sure they are arranged in an even layer, then sprinkle some additional parmesan cheese on top. Bake the croutons for about 15 minutes until they are lightly golden and perfectly crispy.
Tips from the Home Chef’s Kitchen
Frequently Asked Questions
I don’t see why not! You can absolutely make some buttery croutons from white country bread, sourdough bread, or really any other tasty loaf.
Not exactly. While classic tomato soup is essentially tomato puree and water, creamy tomato soup is made with cream as a key ingredient. That makes sense, right? Furthermore, traditional tomato soup is rich in tomato flavor, but the cream in creamy tomato soup cuts the acidity of the tomato.
No worries! You can process the soup in a blender or food processor instead. See the tip box below to learn how.
Looking for More Cozy Soup Recipes?
For more heart-warming soups, check out this Potato Broccoli Cheese Soup or my Healthy Butternut Squash Soup.
What to Serve with Tomato Soup
Create the perfect soup and sandwich combo by serving this homemade creamy tomato soup with my Turkey Melt Sandwich.
A batch of my Pimento Cheese Muffins would be so lovely for a lite lunch. Or make it a soup and salad combo alongside my Autumn Salad with Butternut Squash, Turkey, and Kale.
Beyond the Recipe: Homemade Creamy Tomato Soup
Creamy tomato soup is a classic! Equally adored by both kids and adults, there’s just something about tomato soup that is oh-so comforting and soothing for the upcoming chilly and long holiday days.
For the most nostalgia, serve this creamy tomato soup with a hot and crispy grilled cheese!
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Creamy Tomato Soup with Parmesan Cornbread Croutons
Ingredients
Soup
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup chopped onion
- ¾ cup chopped celery
- 1 tablespoon thinly sliced fresh basil
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 lbs. tomatoes cut into wedges
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Croutons
- 1 8.5 oz. pkg. Jiffy corn muffin mix
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup milk
- 4 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
Soup
- Combine first 6 ingredients in a large saucepan; bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat, and simmer 30 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in cream; add salt and pepper to taste.
- Place half of soup in a blender. Remove center piece of blender lid (to allow steam to escape); secure blender lid on blender. Place a clean towel over opening in blender lid (to avoid splatters). Blend until smooth. Pour into a large bowl. Repeat procedure with remaining tomato mixture.
- Ladle into bowls and serve with cornbread croutons; garnish with thinly sliced basil and shredded Parmesan cheese, if desired.
Cornbread Croutons
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly grease bottom of 9 x 13 baking dish.
- Stir together corn muffin mix, egg, milk, Parmesan cheese, and the coarse ground black pepper.
- Spread into prepared pan and bake 15 minutes. Cool; then cut into 1 inch squares and place in large bowl.
- Gently toss squares with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Pour onto a baking sheet and sprinkle with more Parmesan cheese and pepper, if desired. Bake for 15 -20 minutes, stirring midway, until golden brown and crispy. Allow to cool.
Notes
- No need to peel the tomatoes! The peels and seeds are a great source of antioxidants, plus you’ll be blending them up anyway once they’re cooked and softened.
- Make this soup dairy free. Substitute coconut cream for the heavy cream for a still delicious non-dairy option.
- Pour half of the soup into the blender bowl and cover with the lid.
- Remove the cap of the blender lid (to allow steam to escape) and place a clean towel over the opening to protect against splatters.
- Blend the soup until it is smooth and pour it into a large bowl.
- Repeat this procedure until all the soup is blended.
Nutrition
Life Love and Good Food does not claim to be a registered dietician or nutritionist. Nutritional information shared on this site is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
Can I use dry basil leaves in place of the fresh? Also what kind of tomatoes did you use? Tomato soup is my favorite and I’m always looking for a great recipe.
Hi, Michelle! I used Campari tomatoes for my soup–they are firm and sweeet (I bought at Kroger). However, the original recipe at Cooking Light called for plum tomatoes. If you use dried basil, add 1-1/2 teaspoons which equals the 1 tablespoon of fresh basil. Have a great day!
Ok perfect! I’m going to put it on next weeks menu 🙂
I have made this soup before and can testify how delicious and easy it is. It will definitely put you in the mood for the autumn season!
Thanks, Lindsay! We loved this soup. It also makes a good left-over lunch option. Have a great day!