Simple Homemade Tomato Soup (2024)

Simple Homemade Tomato Soup with carrots, onions, garlic, tomatoes, broth, and bacon for deliciously rich flavor. It’s super easy to make and is bound to be your next cold weather favorite!

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Best Tomato Soup ever! I’ve made it three times! Flavorful, full-bodied without cream! Thank you for posting!

Beth S

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This is a fan favorite recipe that’s part of our Fall 2022 SOS Series! View the full series.

Hallooooo, fall!

And hallo, tomato soup. Yes, it’s soup season, although, let’s be honest – I would not be sad if I ended up eating this for 12 out of 12 months of the year. This homemade tomato soupcould love me all year long.

I based this recipe off of the cream of tomato soup recipe in The New Classics cookbook (affiliate link) by Saveur and yes I’ve essentially read this cookbook cover to cover. Reading a cookbook like this cover to cover essentially means cooking it cover to cover, which is possibly the best thing that ever did happen to me.

In This Post: Everything You Need For Tomato Soup

VIDEO for Tomato Soup
Ingredients You’ll Need
How to Make the Best Tomato Soup
What to Serve with Tomato Soup
FAQ About Making Tomato Soup

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Click here to see the step-by-step web story instructions for this recipe!

Why You’Ll Love This Simple Homemade Tomato Soup

Can I blow your mind for a second? This homemade tomato soup starts with bacon. B-a-c-o-n. Tomato soup // bacon // it just works. These are the delicious ways in which Saveur inspires.

Does it absolutely NEED the bacon? Yes! Just kidding, you could skip it if you have to. But it adds such a subtle smokiness and richness that you didn’t even know you were missing from tomato soup until now. That secret little depth that will have you saying “why is this so good?!” over and over in between cheesy bread dunks.

The velvety texture that you get from the blending and the drizzle of cream also just cannot be beat. And it really is so easy to bring together this beautiful little bowl of comfort which is always an absolute win in any book. Yay simplicity! Yay deep, deep deliciousness.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s what else we’re working with:

Some fresh veggies and aromatics like carrots, onion, and garlic.
Yummy herbs like thyme and bay leaf.
Lots of tomato goodness thanks to a delicious can of (HAND-CRUSHED) San Marzano.
Cream. Because, of course.

Ohhhmygosh, the smells that will happen.I am having a hard time imagining anything more comforting than being in my kitchen experiencing the simmer-smells of this simple homemade tomato soup in progress.

Let’s Make Something Delicious

Start this soup by crisping up some bacon in a large pot or, even better, a Dutch oven.

Once things are looking crispy, toss in your cut-up veggies. Give things a little stir to coat everything in the bacon grease.

Plop in some tomato paste with a little bit of flour and watch things start to carmelize. Okay, gosh. This soup, folks! We’re not even done and it’s so good!

Pour your can of San Marzano tomatoes in along with some dried spices and broth and just let the soup simmer. The high maintenance, if you can even call it that, part of the soup is done.

To finish, give your soup a quick blitz in the blender to puree it (or use an immersion blender, if you have one), splash in some cream and a lil’ salt and pepp treatment and boom. That’s all! An incredibly easy and delicious soup in an hour.

How To Make The Best Homemade Tomato Soup Every Time

Add flavorful herbs and spices. Basil is often found in tomato soup, which, yes, is DELICIOUS. However, other spices and herbs can be added to some flavor. Rosemary and thyme, chives and parsley, even a zippy cheese such as feta can level up your tomato soup.
Don’t forget the cream.Add in coconut milk, heavy cream, or butter to give your tomato soup a silky texture. We’re talking richness that tastes decadent without being overindulgent.
Add a drizzle, fresh zest, or dollop right before serving. This is going to take it riiiiiiight over the top. Some life-changing ideas: a spoonful of pesto, sour cream, fresh herbs, or lots of shredded cheese.

What To Serve With This Tomato Soup

I am going to have to ask you —> please make some extremely cheesy Parmesan garlic bread (recipe coming soon!) or grilled cheese or grilled sourdough bread or something, because what is tomato soup without the cheesy bread for dunking?

But with that being said, ultimately what is going to warm you to your toes and make you feel like a long nap on the couch is this simple homemade tomato soup. WITH BACON, remember. With bacon.

And if absolutely necessary to round things out a bit, here are a few green things to join the party as well:

Simple Green Salad (SOS simple and seriously delicious)
Brussels and Kale Caesar with Cheesy Croutons (those croutons are basically a salad topper and soup dipper in one)
Toasted Bread and Parmesan Kale Salad (simple, zippy, cheesy, YUM)
Bacon and Brussels Sprout Salad (MORE BACON!)

Alright! Today is your day to make simple homemade tomato soup. I can just feeeeeeel it.

It’s smoky, a little bit sweet, and just as creamy or not-creamy as you want it to be. It’s simple – ready in just under an hour, with MOST of that time being the part where you just gaze lovingly at the pot of simmering tomatoesand let the smells of carrots and onions and garlic and bacon wrap you up in their loveliness.

Cheers to your relaxing, comforting, hug-in-a-bowl tomato soup day!

Homemade Tomato Soup: FAQs

Why crush the tomatoes by hand?

The main goal here is to use higher quality tomatoes, and usually whole canned tomatoes are higher quality whereas pre-crushed tomatoes are made from bits and pieces of lower quality tomatoes. That being said, I’ve made this without hand-crushing the tomatoes (either using crushed canned tomatoes, or breaking apart the tomatoes in the pan with a spoon) and it’s still delicious.

How can I make this vegan?

Skip the bacon, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth, and skip the cream at the end (or throw a handful of cashews into the blender with the soup to make it creamy).

Can this soup be frozen?

Simple Homemade Tomato Soup

4.8 from 149 reviews

Author: Pinch of Yum, inspired by The New Classics cookbook
Total Time: 1 hour
Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Simple Homemade Tomato Soup with carrots, onions, garlic, tomatoes, broth, and bacon for deliciously rich flavor. It’s super easy to make and is bound to be your next cold weather favorite!

Ingredients

Units Scale

4 slices bacon, cut into small pieces
2 carrots, chopped
half of a yellow onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon flour
4 cups chicken broth (more to thin out the soup at the end as needed)
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 bay leaf
one 28-ounce can whole San Marzano tomatoes
2 tablespoons cream (optional – to add at the end as desired)
kosher salt to taste (I like 1-2 teaspoons)

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Instructions

Video

Fry the bacon in a large soup pot over medium low heat until bacon starts to get crispy and browned, about 5-8 minutes.
Add the carrots, onion, and garlic to the bacon in the pan; sauté for 5-10 minutes until the vegetables are very aromatic and tender.
Add the tomato paste – stir for a few minutes until you can see/smell the tomato paste starting to brown and caramelize. Add the flour and stir for a minute or so.
Pour the tomatoes and their juice into a bowl and crush them with your hands. Add the crushed tomatoes, broth, thyme, and bay leaf to the soup pot. Simmer for 30 minutes. Puree in batches and return to the pot. Add cream if you want. Season with salt. Look at that homemade tomato soup, you champ.

Equipment

The equipment section may contain affiliate links to products we know and love.

Notes

Instant Pot Instructions: Follow the recipe as-is using the sauté function on the Instant Pot, and then instead of simmering for 30 minutes, cook it on manual high pressure for 15 minutes with a quick release last the end. Blend, add your cream, and serve!

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 50 mins
Category: Soups
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Keywords: homemade tomato soup, tomato soup recipe, tomato soup with bacon, tomato soup, grilled cheese

Try Our Other Soup Recipes

Basic + Awesome Broccoli Cheese Soup (creamy, cheesy, and soooo dreamy)
Ang’s Creamy Tortellini Soup (will change your life!)
Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings (classic made quick + easy)
White Chicken Chili (bacon, cheese, chicken, beans – gang’s all here!)

FAQs

What to put in tomato soup to make it taste better? ›

Garlic and onions make everything tastier! While the soup is cooking on the stove, sautee onions and garlic, adding them into the soup towards the end of cooking. Or for an aromatic that'll give a refreshing flavor, add chopped ginger into the soup while it's still cooking, stirring it in to blend the flavors together.

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Is tomato soup better with milk or water? ›

When Made With Milk, Tomato Soup Should Be Rich And Creamy. Not all soups are created equal. A soup made with milk is usually richer and more luxurious than one made with just water or stock. This addition helps make the soup feel more comforting.

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Why do you add baking soda to homemade tomato soup? ›

A small pinch of baking soda will tame any unwanted acidity in the soup.

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What can be added to tomato soup to make it thicker? ›

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute. For the best results, never add flour or cornstarch directly to your soup. If you do, it will clump up on top. Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool.

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Why does my tomato soup have no flavor? ›

Always check seasonings and taste-test before serving. If the soup tastes bland at all, a bit more salt will do the trick, that doesn't just apply to this tomato soup recipe but just about anything you'll ever find yourself cooking.

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What does tomato soup do to your body? ›

Generous amounts of potassium contribute to well-functioning muscles, nerves, and a healthy blood pressure. Vitamin K in tomato soup is good for bones and supports blood clotting. Minerals like calcium and phosphorus in tomato soup play a role in bone formation and help maintain strong bones.

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How to add milk to tomato soup without curdling? ›

Stabilize with a Starch

Starches like flour or cornstarch help stabilize the milk emulsion. This will prevent it from separating. A common technique is to thicken your sauce or soup with roux before adding the milk. This changes the makeup of the liquid and prevents curdling.

Why does my milk always curdle in tomato soup? ›

Tomatoes are very acidic and milk or cream is added to them, curdling can occur. Curdling will be more likely to happen when the ratio of acid to cream increases or when mixing a cold and hot mixture. To thwart the curdling tendency, changing procedures will render a smooth tomato soup.

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Why put sugar in tomato soup? ›

Next - and this is important - in order to combat the acidity of the tomatoes add 3 to 6 tablespoons of sugar. Now, you'll want to start on the low side, then taste and add more as needed. Some tomatoes and juice have more of an acidic bite than others.

Why add flour to tomato soup? ›

Tomato soup can be a bit thin, especially with the addition of cream at the end of cooking, so flour is added to the sautéing aromatics to thicken the soup.

Why does my homemade tomato soup taste bitter? ›

Leaf states that this can be due to burning the sauce in the pot or simply dealing with a batch of produce that are overly acidic or metallic from canning or cooking. This can also come from under-ripe or low-quality tomatoes, as well as stirring in a hefty amount of tomato paste, per Boss The Kitchen.

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How to make Campbell's tomato soup taste better? ›

In a saucepan, combine tomato soup and 1 can full of milk of choice or heavy cream. Add garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper and let sit on medium-low heat for about 10 minutes. Pour into bowls and top with parmesan cheese and fresh basil.

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How long does tomato soup last in the fridge? ›

Once opened, the soup should be consumed within 3-5 days if refrigerated. If you've made the soup from scratch, it's safe to consume within 5-7 days when refrigerated. You can also freeze the homemade soup, in this case, it would last for 4-6 months. How do you tell if tomato soup is bad?

What can I add to my soup to make it tastier? ›

Perk up a Bland Soup With Simple Pantry Staples

Add a splash of vinegar (any kind!), or a squeeze of citrus. Chances are, you could use a little more salt. Go ahead—it's ok. Salt perks up flat flavors and helps balance out bitter-tasting ingredients.

What can I add to soup that is too tomatoey? ›

A tried-and-true method for reducing acidity in tomato-based dishes is to add a small amount of baking soda. Adding a pinch of baking soda can help neutralize the acid and make your tomato soup taste smoother. However, be cautious not to add too much, as it can alter the flavor of the soup.

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What enhances tomato Flavour? ›

Yes, there are other ways to make your tomatoes taste even better and increase the acidity. There is lemon, vinegar, or my personal favorite, balsamic. Just imagine a tomato bruschetta with a balsamic vinaigrette drizzled on top.

Get More Info Here ›

How do you make bland tomato sauce taste better? ›

Flat or bland sauce likely needs a hit of something acidic to lift and enhance its flavors, such as a small splash of high-quality, flavorful vinegar, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, or a few drops of not-too-fiery hot sauce.