Homemade Tomato Soup is a rich, simple, delicious soup that comes together easily. But when it is topped off with toasted bread and melted cheese, this soup turns into the ultimate cheesy comfort food.
This recipe for Tomato Soup can be prepared using the stove-top or slow cooker. For Instant Pot directions, check out my recipe for Instant Pot Tomato Soup.
The Best Easy Tomato Soup Recipe
This tomato soup recipe is rich, creamy, easy to prepare, and will leave your taste buds satisfied.
It is made with a flavorful base of onions and garlic and oregano but kept simple by using canned tomatoes--meaning you can make this soup all winter long without garden fresh tomatoes.
While this tomato soup is can be served with a side salad or with a grilled cheese sandwich on the side, I love to top this soup with toasted bread smothered in melted cheese. SWOON!
Similar to the style of French Onion Soup, this tomato soup with a grilled cheese topper is a delicious, cheesy family favorite recipe.
Stove Top Tomato Soup
- Heat oil over medium heat.
- Add diced onions and saute for 5 minutes or until shallots begin to become translucent.
- Add the minced garlic and oregano salt and pepper and saute for another 2-3 minutes.
- Add the broth, honey, and tomatoes and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 3-4 hours. 30 minutes is sufficient but the flavor that is developed from longer simmering is amazing!!
- Use an immersion blender or blender to puree soup until smooth, if desired. If using an immersion blender, be sure that your stock pan is stainless steel--not a bottom that can be scratched up with the metal blades.
Slow Cooker Tomato Soup
- Heat oil in a nonstick skillet.
- Saute shallots, garlic, and oregano for 3-5 minutes.
- Transfer sauteed veggies to slow cooker, along with the stock and canned tomatoes, honey, and spices.
- Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.
- Puree soup using a blender or an immersion blender, if desiring a smooth consistency.
Grilled Cheese Topper
The grilled cheese topping is completely optional, but it makes this tomato soup much heartier and so much more fun to eat.
- Slice bread slices to fit on top of soup bowls.
- Toast bread on each side in the broiler.
- Place cheese on each slice of bread and return to the broiler for 3-5 minutes or until cheese is melted.
- Immediately before serving top each bowl of soup with cheese toast.
Recipe Tips and Notes
- The higher quality of the canned tomatoes, the less amount of time the tomato soup has to cook down. If you use San Marzano tomatoes, you can cut the cooking time down to 30 minutes and still have fabulous results.
- For a rich, creamy Tomato Soup, stir in ½ cup of heavy cream into the soup right before serving.
- This tomato soup is already gluten-free. But to make these Grilled Cheese Croutons gluten-free, use your favorite Gluten-Free Bread.
Easy Soup Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe for tomato soup, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below.
Homemade Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Toast
Ingredients
Tomato Soup
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large shallot diced
- 2 cloves of garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 4 cups homemade chicken stock or your favorite store bought stock
- 2 15 oz can or cartons of diced tomatoes in juice unsalted
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional
Grilled Cheese Topper (Optional)
- 6 slices thick bread
- 6-8 oz colby jack cheese shredded or sliced
Instructions
Stove Top Tomato Soup Directions
- Heat oil over medium heat. Add diced shallots and saute for 5 minutes or until shallots begin to become translucent. Add the minced garlic and oregano salt and pepper and saute for another 2-3 minutes.
- Add the broth, honey, and tomatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover and allow to simmer for 3-4 hours, stirring occassionally.
- Puree the soup in batches in a blender with the lid slightly cracked to allow steam to espape or by using an immersion blender.
Slow Cooker Tomato Soup
- Heat oil in nonstick skillet. Saute shallots, garlic and oregano for 3-5 minutes.
- Transfer sauteed veggies to slow cooker, along with the stock and canned tomatoes, honey, and spices. Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours. Puree before serving if desired.
Grilled Cheese Topper
- Heat the broiler to high on your oven.
- Slice bread slices to fit on top of soup bowls. Toast bread on each side. Place cheese on each slice of bread and return to the broiler for 3-5 minutes or until cheese is melted.
- Ladle the soup in 6 bowls. Top the soup with the toasted cheese bread.
Equipment Needed
Notes
- The higher quality the canned tomatoes, the less amount of time the tomato soup has to cook down. If you use San Marzano tomatoes, you can cut the cooking time down to 30 minutes and still have fabulous results.
- This tomato soup is already Gluten Free. But to make these Grilled Cheese Croutons Gluten-Free, use your favorite Gluten-Free Bread.
- Puree your soup using an immersion blender or blender. This is not necessary, but smooth soups are preferred in my household.
- Top the tomato soup with the grilled cheese toast, right before serving to keep my giant grilled cheese crouton from getting soggy.
Des @ Life's Ambrosia
I always dip my grilled cheese in my tomato soup. It's just such a comfort food! The fact that you had the cheesy crouton on top? Well that just makes it even bette!
Kristen Chidsey
It is sort of like french onion soup! So good.
Joanie @ ZagLeft
Tomato soup is the best and that cheese crouton is the perfect addition!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Joanie!
Kirsten
Kristen,
My daughter comes home for lunch most days, and her favorite lunch is tomato soup with grilled cheese. I've nailed my soup--I use tomatoes from the garden/farm share that we put up every August/September, but I've never tried a giant cheese crouton.
That looks insanely good.
Thanks!
Kristen Chidsey
Your soup sounds amazing!! The crouton will take it way over the top!
Christie
We have had so much rain. Wish I could send it your way. Guess I shouldn't complain, it is better than snow. No matter what the weather, I would love this soup.
Terri Steffes
My husband's great grandmother had a homemade tomato soup that was so time consuming but so wonderful... yours sounds just as good but so much easier! I am going to give it a try!
Kristen Chidsey
Terri, I hope you enjoy this! It is so easy and very satisfying.
Angela Barnard
Sounds delish especially on a cold winter's day! So easy too. Thanks for the recipe
Miz Helen
This is a great bowl of soup that we will just love. Thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with Full Plate Thursday and have a fabulous day!
Hope to see you soon,
Miz Helen
Kristen Chidsey
Thank you for always visiting and commenting. You are such an encouragement!
Kimberly
This looks fabulous! Pinned. We couldn’t think of anyone better to party with! Thank you for stopping by. I hope to see you on Monday at 7 pm. http://loulougirls.blogspot.com/
Happy Saturday! Lou Lou Girls
Kristen Chidsey
Well I love partying with you all as well 🙂