This single serving comforting, creamy tomato soup comes together quickly and easily by using a few pantry staples. Ready in just 30 minutes!
If you’re looking for a single serving, delicious, easy-to-make soup recipe, this creamy tomato soup is sure to hit the spot. This simple recipe calls for using a handful of ingredients and can be ready in just 30 minutes. The combination of sweet tomatoes and cream is flavorful and comforting, and it’s sure to become a favorite.
Creamy tomato soup goes beautifully with a slice of homemade French bread or a handful of croutons.
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Why This Recipe Works
- Made with canned tomatoes: This is the best creamy tomato soup recipe and one of the reasons it's a favorite is that we keep it simple by using canned tomatoes. It's a quick, no-fuss recipe that tastes incredible!
- We use butter instead of oil: When cooking the onions and garlic, we chose to use butter instead of oil. The browned butter adds a depth of flavor that makes the soup irresistible.
- A touch of honey reduces acidity: Adding a very small amount of honey won't make the soup sweet. Instead, it counteracts the acidity of the tomatoes. If you don't want to use honey, we suggest using a small amount of sugar or maple syrup instead, or simply leaving the sweetener out altogether.
- Recipe doubles well: If you'd like to make a second bowl of soup, just double the ingredient amounts.
- So many ways to enjoy this soup: I find that this soup is perfect just as it is, but there are other ways to enjoy it. Pour it over pasta, ladle it over rice, or enjoy it with naan and yogurt.
Ingredients
Ingredient Notes
See below for ways to use leftover ingredients.
- Butter: Use salted butter to sauté the chopped onions and garlic in. See below for ways to make vegan tomato soup.
- Onions and garlic: Chopped onions and garlic add incredible flavors to the soup.
- Smoked paprika: Smoked paprika is made from smoke-dried chili peppers that are ground into a powder. This process imparts a smoky flavor to the spice and I prefer using it over regular or sweet paprika. If you don't have smoked paprika, use regular or sweet paprika instead.
- Dried basil: I use dried basil in my tomato soup recipe because it has a more intense flavor than fresh basil. I also find that too much heat can diminish some of the flavor from fresh basil and can sometimes turn it slightly bitter. If you'd like to use fresh basil, add a few fresh basil leaves before pureeing the soup.
- Chili powder: Chili powder is not especially hot or spicy but adds a nice warm flavor to creamy tomato soup.
- Salt: Salt adds flavor. I use ¼ teaspoon of Diamond Crystal brand kosher salt. You can use ⅛ teaspoon of regular salt instead. As always, taste the soup after it has cooked and add additional salt if you feel it's necessary.
- Tomatoes: Use 1 (14 or 15-ounce) can of diced tomatoes, whole tomatoes, or crushed tomatoes.
- Broth: I prefer using low-sodium chicken broth so that I can control the amount of salt in this recipe. See below for ways to make vegan or vegetarian creamy tomato soup.
- Honey: Tomatoes can be slightly acidic and adding a small amount of honey or sugar can cut their acidity and intensify the flavors of the tomatoes.
- Heavy cream: Use heavy cream or heavy whipping cream. Both of these ingredients are essentially the same - they both have over 36% milk fat, and the name often depends on the brand. The cream helps to make the soup extra rich and creamy. You can use whole milk or half & half instead. Keep in mind that by using an ingredient other than cream, the tomato soup will not be as thick and rich but it will still be absolutely delicious.
How To Make Creamy Tomato Soup
See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Melt the butter in a 2-quart pot over medium heat.
- Add the onions and cook, stirring frequently until the onions are soft and translucent, about 1 minute.
- Add the garlic, smoked paprika, dried basil, chili powder, and salt and cook, stirring frequently for an additional 1 minute.
- Add the tomatoes and broth and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally for 20 minutes.
- Add the honey and stir.
- Pour the soup into a stand blender, or use an immersion blender to puree the soup to desired consistency.
- Return the soup to the pot and stir in the cream. Pour into a bowl and top with shredded or grated Parmesan cheese if desired, and enjoy immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. To make a second bowl of creamy tomato soup, just double the ingredient amounts.
Absolutely, with just a few substitutions you can make an easy vegan creamy tomato soup. For starters, use olive oil or avocado oil instead of butter to cook the onions and garlic. Next, either leave out the honey or use maple syrup or use ⅛ to ¼ of a teaspoon of sugar instead. Finally, use full-fat canned coconut milk instead of heavy cream.
I absolutely love the texture and consistency of our creamy tomato soup recipe as written. If you prefer a thicker soup, there are a few options:
* Stir ½ tablespoon of all-purpose flour into the onions and garlic and cook, stirring frequently for 1 minute before adding the tomatoes and broth.
* Add extra cream or use sour cream.
* Try adding cubed sweet potatoes, butternut squash, or other vegetables to absorb some of the excess liquid.
* Add quinoa or lentils which will absorb some of the liquid as they cook in the soup, thickening it naturally. This will add additional time to the total time of this recipe.
A bisque is a thick cream soup that is traditionally made with seafood or vegetable stock however, the modern usage of the word can mean any puréed soup made with cream, regardless of the type of broth or stock used.
Often a bisque will be thicker and creamier than soup.
Expert Tips
- Read through the entire recipe before beginning. This easy creamy tomato soup comes together quickly. Be sure to read through the recipe, review the ingredient notes, and gather your ingredients before starting.
- Use canned tomatoes: Canned tomatoes are picked at peak season and preserved for freshness which concentrates their flavor. Using canned tomatoes results in a richer tomato soup with deeper flavors.
- Season to taste: I like using low-sodium broth in my recipes. This way I can control the sodium content in the dish. If you use regular broth, you may need to use less salt. Taste the soup towards the end of the cooking process and add more salt if necessary.
- Consider adding any of these ingredients to the finished creamy tomato soup: Croutons, fresh herbs, toasted nuts, sour cream, and additional shredded cheese.
Creamy Tomato Soup Variations
- Add bacon: Bacon adds plenty of flavor to the soup and makes a great topping for the soup when you're ready to enjoy it. Cook 1 or 2 strips of bacon in the pot. Remove the bacon and place it on a paper towel-lined plate. Use the bacon drippings instead of the butter to cook the onions and garlic.
- Make it vegetarian: To make a vegetarian creamy tomato soup, simply use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
- Make it vegan: Creamy tomato soup can easily be made into a vegan soup by using vegetable broth, canned full-fat coconut milk instead of cream, oil instead of butter, and sugar or maple syrup instead of honey.
- Turn this soup into a Creamy Vegetable Soup by adding a chopped carrot, broccoli, cauliflower, or any fresh vegetables you have on hand.
- Top with homemade croutons: Our homemade croutons recipe is one of the best and we find them seriously addicting. These crunchy gems are ideal for topping a big bowl of creamy tomato soup.
- Make a version of Shakshuka: After the soup has been pureed, crack an egg into the pot. Cover and simmer for approximately 5-8 minutes, or until the egg is done to your liking. Omit the cream and sprinkle a spoonful or two of crumbled feta cheese instead.
Storage Information
Store any leftover creamy tomato soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat it on the stovetop or in the microwave.
To freeze creamy tomato soup, place it in an airtight container and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. To reheat, let the soup thaw in the refrigerator before heating it in the microwave or on the stovetop.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this creamy tomato basil soup recipe, you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
- Onions: Green Bean Casserole, Vegetable Lasagna, Chickpea Curry, Baked Penne with Roasted Vegetables, Ratatouille, Coq au Vin
- Garlic: Corn Casserole, Vegetarian Chili, Butter Chicken, Cowboy Caviar, Shrimp Fettuccine, Mushroom Pasta
- Smoked paprika: Baked Pork Chop, Cheese Grits, Cioppino, Sweet Potato Fries, Taco Seasoning, Potato Salad
- Chili powder: Mexican Corn Dip, Zuppa Toscana, Beef Tacos, Beef Enchiladas, Steak Fajitas, Chili Mac
- Canned tomatoes: Chili, Goulash, Penne alla Vodka, Pomodoro Sauce, Chicken Cacciatore, Jambalaya
- Chicken broth: Chicken and Dumplings, Slow Cooker Chicken Piccata, Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili, Risotto, Turkey Cutlets, Chicken and Rice Casserole
- Honey: Roasted Carrots, Peanut Butter Toast with Apples, Turmeric Tea, Baked Oatmeal, Pickled Onions, Honey Lemon Custard
- Heavy cream: Mushroom Casserole, Cauliflower Casserole, Mini French Silk Pie, Banana Pudding, Alfredo Sauce, Crustless Quiche Lorraine
More Single Serving Soup Recipes
- Broccoli Cheddar Soup
- French Onion Soup
- Tortellini Soup
- Cioppino
- Butternut Squash Soup
- Creamy Vegetable Soup
- Thai Shrimp Soup
- Curried Carrot Soup
- Minestrone Soup
- Chicken Noodle
- Potato Soup
- Instant Pot Chicken Soup
- Zuppa Toscana
- French Onion
- White Bean Soup
- Chicken Tortellini Soup
For more information on the cooking and baking dishes I use in our “recipes for one”, please visit our FAQ page.
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Recipe
Creamy Tomato Soup For One
See the post above for expert tips,
FAQs and ways to use leftover ingredients.
Equipment
- Immersion blender or stand blender
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon salted butter
- ¼ cup chopped onions
- 1 clove garlic , minced
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon dried basil
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon chili powder
- 1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- ½ cup low sodium chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 2 tablespoon heavy cream
- Optional, for topping: grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a 2-quart pot over medium heat.
- Add the onions and cook, stirring frequently until the onions are soft and translucent, about 1 minute.
- Add the garlic, smoked paprika, dried basil, salt, and chili powder and cook, stirring frequently for an additional 1 minute.
- Add the tomatoes and broth and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally for 20 minutes.
- Add the honey and stir.
- Pour the soup into a stand blender, or use an immersion blender to puree the soup to desired consistency.
- Return the soup to the pot and stir in the cream. Pour into a bowl and top with shredded or grated Parmesan cheese if desired, and enjoy immediately.
Notes
- Read through the entire recipe before beginning. This easy creamy tomato soup comes together quickly. Be sure to read through the recipe, review the ingredient notes, and gather your ingredients before starting.
- Use canned tomatoes: Canned tomatoes are picked at peak season and preserved for freshness which concentrates their flavor. Using canned tomatoes results in a richer tomato soup with deeper flavors.
- Season to taste: I like using low-sodium broth in my recipes. This way I can control the sodium content in the dish. If you use regular broth, you may need to use less salt. Taste the soup towards the end of the cooking process and add more salt if necessary.
- Consider adding any of these ingredients to the finished creamy tomato soup: Croutons, fresh herbs, toasted nuts, sour cream, and additional shredded cheese.
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
J. Hegyi says
Good recipe.