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The best homemade fresh tomato soup uses fresh tomatoes and a few pantry staples. Satisfy your childhood soup cravings with this family-favorite tomato soup recipe.
If you love an American classic soup, try my easy loaded potato soup next!
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The best fresh tomato soup recipe
Dive into the comfort of tomato soup from scratch. Turn fresh tomatoes and a few pantry staples into a delicious bowl of soup with minimal effort. It's so easy and delicious you'll probably never settle for canned soup. It’s naturally vegan, too, but I also love it with chicken broth. I always love this soup topped with homemade croutons, or crostini.
Ingredient notes
- Olive oil - or any cooking oil
- Onion - any onion will work (I used white onions)
- Garlic - fresh garlic, if possible
- Fresh tomatoes - any variety (I love early girls and heirlooms)
- Fresh or dried herbs - I love oregano or basil
- Broth - vegetable broth or chicken broth
- Croutons - so easy to make and highly recommended for this soup
How to make tomato soup with fresh tomatoes
Remove stems from fresh tomatoes, cut in half, and set aside. Sauté onions and garlic in a large soup pot over medium-high heat.
Add tomatoes, salt, oregano, and broth. Bring to a boil, then simmer for about 40 minutes until tomatoes soften.
Blend the soup until well combined. (optional) Pour soup through a fine mesh strainer to remove tomato seeds.
Serve tomato soup warm with croutons, a French bread, crostini, focaccia, or a delicious grilled cheese sandwich.
Recipe tips
- Tomato variety - Early Girls and heirlooms are easily found and grown in summer. Opt for vine-ripened or Roma tomatoes, available at most grocery stores, for a consistently flavorful soup during the off-season.
- Tomato size - A medium tomato (baseball size) is about ¼ pound. This recipe calls for 4 pounds of fresh tomatoes, so you need about 16.
- To peel or not - Peeling tomatoes for tomato soup is optional, as the skins will be pureed, resulting in a silky smooth texture. Feel free to peel if you prefer.
- Make it creamy - To recreate Panera's tomato soup, stir in ¼ to ½ cup of heavy cream (or half and half) into the cooked tomato soup.
Soup recipes we love
- Lasagna Soup
- Olive Garden Minestrone Soup Recipe
- Mushroom Soup Recipe
- Crockpot Chicken Vegetable Soup
- Easy Vegetable Soup
📖 Recipe
Fresh Tomato Soup Recipe
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Video
Note about scaling
When scaling, the light gray ingredient notes after the comma don’t change. Adjust as needed.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 White Onion, coarsely chopped
- 5 cloves Garlic, coarsely chopped
- 4 pounds Tomatoes, halved (about 8 cups)
- 1 cup Vegetable Broth, or Chicken Broth
- 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano, or Basil
- 1 teaspoon Salt
Instructions
See recipe footnotes for the pressure cooker method
- Heat OLIVE OIL in soup pot on medium-high heat. Sauté ONIONS and GARLIC until tender, stirring as needed.
- Add TOMATOES, BROTH, OREGANO, and SALT.
- Bring everything to a boil, stirring as needed.
- Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 20-30 minutes until tomatoes fall apart easily.
- Use a stick blender or heat-safe countertop blender to puree ingredients into a soup, removing all lumps.
- Taste the soup and season with more salt if needed.
- (optional) Pour the soup through a mesh strainer to remove the tiny tomato seeds.
- Serve warm. Garnish options: croutons, fresh parsley, creme fraiche, Parmesan cheese.
- To store, cool completely and refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days or 90 days in the freezer.
Recipe Notes
- Tomato variety - Early Girls and heirlooms are easily found and grown in summer. Opt for vine-ripened or Roma tomatoes, available at most grocery stores, for a consistently flavorful soup during the off-season.
- Tomato size - A medium tomato (baseball size) is about ¼ pound. This recipe calls for 4 pounds of fresh tomatoes, so you need about 16.
- To peel or not - Peeling tomatoes for tomato soup is optional, as the skins will be pureed, resulting in a silky smooth texture. Feel free to peel if you prefer.
- Make it creamy - To recreate Panera's tomato soup, stir in ¼ to ½ cup of heavy cream or half and half into the cooked tomato soup.
-
Select "Sauté" on the Instant Pot and heat OIL.
-
When the display reads "Hot", add ONION and GARLIC; sauté until tender and lightly browned (about 5 minutes), stirring frequently.
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Add TOMATOES, SALT, OREGANO, and BROTH to the pot.
-
Secure the lid, turn the pressure release valve to the "Sealing" position, and press "Cancel". Then select "Manual" or "Pressure Cook” on the HIGH setting for 10 minutes.
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When the cook cycle ends, allow the pot to sit undisturbed for a 10-minute NPR natural pressure release. Carefully turn the pressure release valve to "Venting" to release any remaining steam before opening the lid.
- Continue with step #6 above.
Equipment
- 4.5-quart Dutch oven or stockpot or 6-quart Instant Pot
- immersion blender or other high speed blender
- 9-inch fine mesh sieve optional
Nutrition
Nutrition facts are estimates and may vary based on brands, ingredients, and portions.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re straining the soup, peeling the tomatoes isn’t necessary. The blender breaks down the skins and straining removes any remaining bits, which results in a smooth soup.
Yes, you can! If fresh tomatoes aren’t available, canned whole or crushed tomatoes work well. Use a 28-ounce can for every 2 pounds of fresh tomatoes.
If your soup is too thin, simmer it uncovered to reduce the liquid until it thickens to your liking. You can also blend in some cooked potatoes or a slice of bread to thicken the texture.
Yes! Cool the soup completely and store it in an airtight container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw the soup overnight in the refrigerator and reheat as desired.
Stephanie H. says
I thought “this is too easy to be that good” but I was really put in my place. This soup is on point! 10/10 will make again!
Traci says
Lol yayy! I love it that you went for it and love it as much as we do 🙂 Thanks for the feedback - much appreciated! Cheers!
Grace says
I was a bit skeptical about making this recipe but we had a lot of tomatoes left over from the end of the season and gave it a go.I didn’t alter the recipe at all and it came out fantastic
Traci says
Aww I'm so glad you went for it! This is definitely our favorite recipe to use a lot of tomatoes at once, especially end of summer 🙂 Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated!
Julie says
If I add heavy cream, can this soup still be frozen?
Traci says
Yes, you can freeze it either way 🙂 Freezing instructions are included in the recipe. Thanks and enjoy!!
Elle says
Does it matter the type of tomato?
Traci says
Hiya, we've used a variety of tomatoes and this soup is always delicious 🙂 Also, I wrote a paragraph about this in the blog post above that you might find helpful. Let me know if I can answer more questions for you. Enjoy!
VSO says
💕💕Just finished making a Batch. I added salt and Pepper to the onions/garlic as they sautéed. I used a mix of Roma and San Marzano fresh from my Garden. I like Oregano so added a extra tsp full, glad I did or it would of been bland for our liking. Had to add a bit more salt/Pepper once cooked. For a creamy flavor, my husband added a dollop of sour cream and stirs it up in his hot soup just before he eats it.
Traci says
I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe 🙂 I've never found this soup to be bland but I did keep it super minimal on purpose so my readers could flavor it to their liking - sounds like you did just that. Thanks for giving it a go! I appreciate the support. Cheers!
Kati says
Sounds so yummy...and easy. Do you take the tomato peels off or leave them on?
Traci says
Thanks! I do not take peels off and they blend right in to the soup 🙂 Let me know if you have any more questions. Enjoy!
Ericka says
Hi! I saved this recipe back in the spring and am excited to make this soup with the tomatoes from my garden. I have more tomatoes than anticipated and can actually double this recipe! Do I need to adjust the cooking time in the Instant Pot if I double the recipe?
Traci says
Hi Ericka, glad to hear you're going to make this. You won't need to adjust the cooking time, just make sure to not exceed the max fill line inside your pot. If you have an 8 or 10 quart Instant Pot, you're probably all good. Thanks and let me know how it goes 🙂 Enjoy!!
Diane says
We loved this soup and can’t wait to have it again. I’m passing it along to my daughter-in-law.
Do you think I can freeze it since tomatoes are affordable now?
The Kitchen Girl says
Thank you for this! I'm glad you're enjoying it. Yes, I have included freezer instructions in the recipe footnotes and the blog post above the recipe. Let me know if you have more questions 🙂
Barb Heyn says
I have made your soup recipe twice and I have to thank you for your easy and delicious recipe. My husband thanks you also because he really likes it. It is 5 stars.
The Kitchen Girl says
Wow, you're so welcome and I appreciate you taking the time to let me know 🙂 I'm so glad to inspire it! Thanks!!!
Kristen says
Can fresh basil be used? My garden is overflowing with basil. If so, how much and when would it be added.
The Kitchen Girl says
Sure! You can add it at any time. If you want the basil flavor more subtle add it early, before the soup cooks and it will get pureed with the soup. If you want a noticeable flavor, slice it really thin and sprinkle on as a garnish. Hope you enjoy!
Rose E Fleming says
I just finished making this and it is delicious! But the tomato skins are still present. Maybe my immersion blender isn't powerful enough? I am fine with it this way but I would be nervous serving it to little ones. Any ideas? Should I try my regular blender once the soup cools off?
Thanks!!
The Kitchen Girl says
Hi Rose, yeah, I've never had skins present with my immersion blender and you shouldn't have them either. If it's not doing the job, then yes I would try my regular blender. Let me know if you have any more questions 🙂
Rose E Fleming says
I strained it for now. That removed most of the skin, but also most likely some of the goodness! So I am going to invest in a better immersion blender. Mine is really old. I am due for a new one. Mine looks like the one in your video, and mine has different blades, but the blade that is on it will not come off anymore, so I can't switch it out.
The Kitchen Girl says
Ahh yes, straining...good idea 🙂 I do love my stick blender (but the blade doesn't come off either...it's an older model).
Linda Wettlaufer says
Can you make this into cream of tomato?
The Kitchen Girl says
Yep, you could do that by adding heavy cream or half and half after it pressure cooks. For this recipe, 1/4 to 1/2 cup would do the job 🙂
Roxanne says
With it almost Thanksgiving, fresh tomatoes are now $$ because they aren’t local. Can I used canned tomatoes in his recipe? I know nothing beats a fresh tomato, but I now have a craving and lots of canned tomatoes!
The Kitchen Girl says
Hi Roxanne, sure can! I would sub 2 (28-ounce) cans tomatoes. They can be any kind (San Marzano, diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, or whole peeled tomatoes, etc). Hope that answers your question. If not, I'm here for it 😉 Thanks!
Trina says
This was definitely an easy recipe to make! I just can't decide whether its tomato soup or pasta sauce, or both!
The Kitchen Girl says
Lol, I hear ya, Trina. This can actually be used as a pasta sauce too, but you'd want to cook it down a little more and thicken it up just a bit. Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
JB says
Can't believe how easy and delicious this tomato soup is! Made it several times and it rocks every time! Never eating canned soup again. Thanks KG!
Lata Lala says
I’m always looking for new soup recipes all year as I love a variety of soups, so this is right up my street!
The Kitchen Girl says
Awesome, Lata! Glad to hear you can enjoy tomato soup all year 🙂
Emmeline says
I love how easy this tomato soup recipe is!! Will be trying it out very soon!
The Kitchen Girl says
Thanks, Emmeline! Glad to hear you can enjoy this one 🙂
Pooja says
I crave this soup. It's one of my favorites. Thanks a ton.
The Kitchen Girl says
Thanks, Pooja! Glad to hear you enjoy this one ... my fav too! 🙂
Rachna says
Tomato soup is my absolute favorite. So satisfying and comforting. Your recipe is no fuss and so very healthy.
The Kitchen Girl says
Thanks, Rachna ... glad you like it! You're right, this tomato soup is def no fuss AND healthy 🙂
Nathan says
This looks absolutely PERFECT now that fall is right around the corner. Very excited to try this recipe!
The Kitchen Girl says
Awesome, Nathan! I'm glad you can enjoy tomato soup and I appreciate the kind words...thanks!
Louise Hale says
Do you think that this soup can be canned? My freezer is full already, and we love tomato soup in the winter! Thanks!
Traci says
Hi Louise, I don't include instructions for preserving tomato soup because I don't have experience with it. Maybe someone else will chime in 🙂
Taylor Kiser says
This soup is going to be on repeat all fall and winter! So easy to make and delicious!
The Kitchen Girl says
Yay, Taylor! So glad you love this tomato soup as much as we do! Thanks so much 🙂
Chris Collins says
I'm always on the hunt for new soup recipes around this time of year so this is right up my street! 🙂
The Kitchen Girl says
Awesome, Chris! So glad you can enjoy tomato soup as much as me 😉 Thanks!
Shelley Fulton says
There are few foods more comforting on a chilly day than a steaming bowl of tomato soup! And making it in the Instant Pot is a wonderful idea - I love, love my Instant Pot! I also love that this recipe is so simple with clean, straight-forward ingredients!
The Kitchen Girl says
Thanks, Shelley! I'm glad you find this tomato soup recipe straightforward ... my work here is done LOL. Thanks for stopping by!
Anita says
A great bowl of yummy tomato soup is just perfect for the start of autumn and all throughout the colder days ahead. This is so easy with an IP and the soup tastes awesome.
The Kitchen Girl says
Yay, Anita! So glad you think so 🙂 We are crazed about how easy tomato soup is in the Instant Pot and glad you're finding the same!
Louise Hale says
Do you think that I could water bath can this soup?
The Kitchen Girl says
Hi Louise, I've never tried it and my canning experience is very limited. Let me know if you end up exploring it further. I'd love to hear about it 🙂
Bintu says
This sounds like such a flavorful and delicious soup! Can't beat a bowl of tomato soup on a hot day especially when its made so quickly in the Instant Pot!
The Kitchen Girl says
Thanks, Bintu! Glad you can enjoy tomato soup 🙂 We love it in the summer too!