This classic Roasted Tomato Basil Soup is made with roasted tomatoes, fresh basil, and garlic. Serve a grilled cheese on the side for the ultimate comforting meal!
A Favorite Soup
Is there anything better than a bowl of tomato basil soup? It’s one of my all-time favorites! It always hits the spot. It has fresh, familiar flavors that are universally loved.
Bring a pot of this Roasted Tomato Basil Soup and grilled cheese ingredients to someone who needs a little cheering up! They’ll be instantly comforted and nourished…just don’t forget to make a double batch so you have enough for yourself, too!
This soup is great for lunch or dinner and always gets rave reviews!
Best Tomatoes for Tomato Soup
Use ripe, fresh tomatoes for the best flavor. I love making this soup when garden tomatoes are at their peak. I recommend using Roma or plum tomatoes because they have a meaty texture with very few seeds and have a low water content.
For this recipe, I use three pounds of fresh tomatoes AND a can of San Marzano tomatoes. I like using both for the ultimate tomato flavor. San Marzano tomatoes are sweet and less acidic. The combo of fresh and the best canned tomatoes is perfection!
How to Roast Tomatoes
Roasting tomatoes is a really simple way to add a delicious depth of flavor to your soup.
- Wash and halve the tomatoes. You don’t have to peel the tomatoes, the tomato skins will intensify the flavor of the soup.
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and place the halved tomatoes on top. I also put fresh garlic cloves on the sheet. You don’t need to peel the garlic cloves, you will peel them after. Roasting the garlic brings out the best flavor.
- Drizzle olive oil over the top of the tomatoes and garlic. Toss to combine then sprinkle with salt, pepper, and oregano.
- Roast at 400 degrees F for 45 minutes. The tomatoes will become soft, juicy, and fragrant! Your house will smell amazing!
How to Make Roasted Tomato Basil Soup
Once the tomatoes are roasted, your soup will come together in a snap!
- Start with a large stockpot and medium heat. Get a little olive oil warmed, then add chopped onion and sauté until it’s tender. This should only take 3-5 minutes!
- Add the roasted garlic (skins removed and roughly chopped) and red pepper flakes. Add everything else: roasted tomatoes, canned tomatoes, broth, basil, and thyme. Start with 1 ½ cups of broth and if the soup is too thick after blending, you can always add more.
- Let it all simmer for 30 minutes.
- Use an immersion blender to puree the soup to your ideal consistency. Add additional broth if you want a thinner consistency.
Blend the Soup
If you have an immersion blender, that’s the easiest and quickest way to blend the soup because you can blend it right in the pot. A blender or food processor works great, too! Make sure you let the soup cool a bit before moving it into the blender!
Carefully transfer the soup into a blender and pulse until it becomes smooth. You may have to do this in batches depending on the size of your blender.
Tasty Variations
There are a few variations you can consider to really make this tomato soup your own! You may want to add:
- A splash of heavy cream or coconut milk for a creamy tomato soup
- A sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese or feta cheese on top
- Add cooked crumbled bacon or pancetta to your bowl
- A drizzle of good olive oil before serving
- Croutons or crackers
- Garnish with fresh basil, chives, parsley, or thyme.
Tomato Soup + Grilled Cheese!
In my opinion, you can’t have a bowl of Roasted Tomato Basil Soup without a grilled cheese sandwich on the side. The two are made for each other. I love dunking grilled cheese into a hot bowl of tomato soup. Classic comfort food! Here’s one of my favorite grilled cheese recipes – Roast Broccoli Grilled Cheese.
More Recipes To Try With This Tomato Soup:
- Easy Green Salad
- Buttermilk Drop Biscuits
- Summer Arugula Salad
- Broccoli Cheddar Fritters
- Garlic Bread
- Easy Cornbread
Store + Reheat
Place any leftover soup in a container and store in the refrigerator for up to four days. Reheat in the microwave or in a pot on the stove.
You can also freeze the soup for up to four months. Pour the cooled soup into a freezer container and freeze for up to three months. Defrost and reheat before serving.
More Soup Recipes
- Minestrone Soup
- Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup
- Carrot Ginger Soup
- Vegetable Soup
- Easy Black Bean Soup
