Five-Ingredient Tomato Soup Recipe

This deliciously rich and flavorful tomato soup recipe comes together with just 5 ingredients and requires minimal prep. This hearty soup is easy to make on the stovetop and is great for food prep and freezer meals. Plus, it makes the perfect accompaniment to any grilled cheese sandwich!

About the Ingredients

• Canned crushed tomatoes: I love buying the fire roasted kind. It’s an instant boost of flavor. You can also start with canned whole peeled tomatoes.
• Vegetable broth: If you have chicken broth and don’t wish to keep the recipe vegetarian, you can substitute it. Broth adds more flavor than just using water. However, if you’re in a pinch, feel free to use water.
• Onions: Chop a large white onion to really add flavor. I wouldn’t recommend using onion powder because the fresh onions really make the flavor more pronounced. You don’t need to chop it finely since you’ll be blending everything together.
• Butter: It may seem like a lot to use 3 tablespoons, but this is what lends the creaminess to the tomato soup. Feel free to use olive oil or vegan butter to make the recipe vegan.
• Garlic: Use fresh garlic to add more flavor to the soup. Or you can also use frozen garlic. Just like with the onions tip, I wouldn’t recommend using garlic powder.

How To Make Tomato Soup

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons butter
• ½ large onion roughly chopped
• 1 garlic clove sliced
• ½ large onion roughly chopped
• 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• Salt and pepper
  

Instructions

1. Cook the onions in the butter until they soften. You will notice some bubbles start to form because of the amount of butter we’re using, but that’s perfectly normal. Be careful not to brown the onions. Some browning is ok though.
2. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant. You only need to cook it for 30 seconds to make sure the garlic doesn’t burn.
3. Add the crushed tomatoes with all the juices from the can.
4. Then add the vegetable broth and mix everything together.
5. Simmer and then cook uncovered for half an hour. You can cover it if you prefer, but it’s not necessary. The flavor will actually be more bold if you don’ cover it since it will become more concentrated with some of the liquid evaporating.
6. Use an immersion blender to create a smooth soup. You can also transfer the soup to a blender and blend in batches if necessary. If you don’t have a blender, be sure to chop everything finely and leave the soup chunky without pureeing.

Tips for Making Tomato Soup

1. Use high quality ingredients. The recipe only uses 5 ingredients, so each of them become crucial in delivering the best flavor for this tomato soup. That means premium broth, flavorful canned tomatoes (fire roasted is my favorite!), fresh onions and garlic, and butter made with minimal ingredients.
2. Use an immersion blender to blend the soup. This is the easiest way to get it wonderfully smooth. Alternatively, you can ladle the soup into a stand blender in batches. Just be careful since the tomato soup will be very hot.
3. Chop the ingredients finely if you’re not blending. Classic tomato soup is usually blended for a smooth and creamy consistency. But if you don’t have an immersion blender or stand blender, you can certainly keep it chunky.
4. Substitute with fresh tomatoes if you’d like. Although I wouldn’t recommend fresh tomatoes for this recipe, you can use them. Instead of the 28 ounces of crushed tomatoes, use 4 cups of fresh chopped tomatoes. And I recommend you definitely puree if you’re using fresh tomatoes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does tomato soup keep?

Once you have made the soup, let it cool to room temperature and transfer it to an airtight container and keep it in the fridge. It will keep for up to 4 days and can be reheated on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Can you freeze the soup?

This soup freezes really well and will keep for up to 3 months. Be sure to leave some room at the top of the container since the soup will expand as it freezes. Defrost the soup either in the fridge overnight or for a couple of hours at room temperature before reheating.

Can I make tomato soup in the instant pot?

Yes you can. Just add all the ingredients into the pot but reduce the broth to one cup since the closed instant pot doesn’t allow any liquid to evaporate. You can experiment with the amount of liquid you use to see what you prefer.

You really can’t beat this soul warming tomato soup, and it’s so easy to make! This is a great recipe if you’re stuck home with limited ingredients but want to have a nourishing delicious recipe that the whole family will enjoy. Be sure to make a double batch to enjoy throughout the week!