Easy Homemade Tomato Soup from Canned Tomatoes: Savory, Simple, & Perfectly Creamy
Originally published in 2021, updated with new photos, tips, and step-by-step instructions November 2024.
Craving a comforting bowl of tomato soup but don’t want the fuss of roasting fresh tomatoes? Look no further! This recipe for homemade tomato soup with canned tomatoes is your answer. It’s incredibly easy to prepare, can be adapted for a slow cooker, and features a rich, savory depth from bacon, aromatic onions, sweet carrots, and robust canned tomatoes. Forget bland, watery versions; this soup delivers a powerful flavor punch that will make it a new family favorite.
This isn’t just any canned tomato soup recipe; it’s designed for maximum flavor with minimal effort. We skip the lengthy roasting process without sacrificing the rich, complex taste you expect from gourmet tomato soup. But seriously, do yourself a favor: pair this magnificent soup with a classic grilled cheese sandwich, or elevate your meal with sides like Soft Fluffy French Bread or delectable Cheddar Garlic Biscuits. They are the perfect companions to soak up every last drop of this glorious soup.
Why Choose Homemade Tomato Soup with Canned Tomatoes?
There’s a unique satisfaction that comes from making soup from scratch, and tomato soup is no exception. While fresh tomatoes are wonderful, canned tomatoes offer convenience, consistent flavor, and are often picked and processed at their peak ripeness, locking in their delicious taste. Using canned tomatoes also means you can enjoy a vibrant, garden-fresh flavor all year round, regardless of the season. This recipe leverages the best qualities of canned tomatoes to create a deeply flavorful and aromatic soup that tastes like it simmered for hours, even though it’s ready in under an hour.
Furthermore, making soup at home gives you complete control over the ingredients. You can avoid unnecessary additives, adjust seasonings to your preference, and even make it healthier or cater to specific dietary needs, like our easy vegan/vegetarian adaptations. It’s a wholesome, hearty meal that’s perfect for chilly evenings, a quick lunch, or a comforting dinner. The simplicity of using canned tomatoes makes this a go-to recipe for busy weeknights when you crave something truly homemade without the extensive prep time.
The Unexpected Flavor Star: Savory Bacon
For this rich and robust tomato soup, we’ve introduced a secret weapon: bacon. Unlike recipes where bacon is added for a crispy topping, here it’s simmered directly into the soup and then blended. This method allows the bacon to infuse the entire soup with a magnificent smoky, salty, and umami-rich flavor that beautifully complements the tang of the tomatoes. The bacon isn’t meant to be crunchy; instead, it melts into the background, providing a subtle yet profound depth that elevates the soup beyond ordinary. It’s truly a secondary flavor, enhancing the tomato without overpowering it, adding a complexity that will have everyone asking for your secret ingredient.
You’ll notice this recipe calls for no added salt, a deliberate choice largely due to the inherent saltiness of the bacon and chicken broth. This helps maintain a perfectly balanced flavor profile. For those who prefer a vegan or vegetarian option, simply omit the bacon and substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth. You can also add a half teaspoon of vegetable bouillon powder or a dash of smoked paprika along with the tomato paste for an extra layer of savory taste if skipping the bacon, ensuring your plant-based soup is equally delicious.
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What To Expect From This Easy Homemade Tomato Soup
- Taste: The star of the show is, unequivocally, the robust tomato flavor. This is exquisitely balanced by the natural sweetness of carrots and the savory undercurrent of bacon and onions. You won’t find an overly sweet or acidic soup here, just a harmonious blend of rich, comforting flavors that will tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving more.
- Ease: While not a “dump and heat” meal, this recipe is just a step above easy. It involves fundamental cooking techniques like chopping a few vegetables, a quick sauté to develop flavor, simmering to meld ingredients, and finally, blending for a smooth texture. These are all straightforward tasks that even novice cooks can master, making it a very approachable homemade soup for any day of the week.
- Time: From start to finish, you’re looking at a manageable time commitment, making it ideal for busy schedules. Prep work takes about 10-15 minutes to chop the aromatics and gather your ingredients. The soup then simmers for a crucial 20-25 minutes, allowing the flavors to deepen and meld beautifully. Finally, a quick minute or two with a blender transforms it into a smooth, luxurious soup. Total time is approximately 45 minutes, perfect for a cozy weeknight meal.
🛒 Key Ingredients for the Best Homemade Tomato Soup
Crafting a truly exceptional homemade tomato soup begins with selecting quality ingredients that work together to create a symphony of flavors. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need and why each component is vital to our recipe:
- Bacon: Opt for a thick-cut, unsweetened variety. Just a couple of slices are enough to contribute a fantastic salty, smoky depth to the soup. As it simmers, the bacon flavor permeates the broth, becoming an integral part of the soup’s savory profile without being overtly “bacony.” Its rendered fat also provides a rich base for sautéing the vegetables.
- Carrots: These unsung heroes play a crucial role in balancing the acidity of the tomatoes. As they cook down, their natural sugars subtly sweeten the soup, mitigating any tartness without the need for added sugar. Once blended, you won’t taste distinct carrot chunks, but you’ll appreciate the smoother, more harmonious flavor they create, adding a beautiful underlying sweetness and body.
- Yellow Onion: The foundation of countless delicious dishes, yellow onion provides an essential aromatic base. When sautéed with bacon and carrots, it builds a layer of sweet, pungent flavor that is incredibly complementary to tomatoes, adding complexity and richness. It’s the starting point for building deep flavor.
- Tomato Paste: This highly concentrated tomato product is a flavor powerhouse. A small amount, when caramelized, intensifies the overall tomato flavor, adding a deep, umami-rich essence that is absolutely crucial for a robust and full-bodied soup. Don’t skip the caramelization step; it makes a world of difference.
- Whole-Peeled Tomatoes: For the best quality and flavor, always choose whole-peeled canned tomatoes over diced, crushed, or pureed varieties. Whole tomatoes are generally packed at peak ripeness and have a superior texture and fresher, less processed taste. Brands like Cento San Marzano, RedPack, or Market Pantry are excellent choices for their consistent quality and vibrant flavor.
- Basil & Bay Leaf: These classic herbs infuse the soup with warm, aromatic notes as it simmers. The bay leaf adds a subtle, almost woodsy depth, while dried basil contributes a sweet, peppery, and slightly minty flavor that is synonymous with delicious tomato dishes. Remember to remove the bay leaf before blending, as it’s not meant to be eaten.
- Chicken Broth: More than just a liquid base, quality chicken broth adds a savory depth and richness that water alone cannot provide. It enhances the overall flavor profile of the soup, tying all the ingredients together into a cohesive, comforting experience. For a vegetarian or vegan option, a good quality vegetable broth works beautifully.
- Minced Garlic: Aromatic and pungent, garlic is essential for building a complex flavor base. It adds a warm, slightly spicy undertone that pairs perfectly with the tomatoes and other savory ingredients, contributing to the overall deliciousness of the soup.
See the full recipe card below for precise measurements and quantities of each ingredient.
✏️ Easy Substitutions & Delicious Variations for Your Soup
This homemade tomato soup recipe is wonderfully versatile, allowing you to tailor it to your dietary needs or personal taste preferences. Don’t be afraid to experiment and make it your own!
- Broth Alternatives: While chicken broth provides a rich savory base, you can easily substitute it with a good quality vegetable broth for a vegetarian or vegan version. Beef broth can also be used, though it will impart a slightly stronger, deeper, and perhaps heartier flavor to the soup. For an even richer taste, consider using bone broth.
- Make it Vegetarian/Vegan: To adapt this recipe, simply omit the bacon entirely. For an added layer of umami that bacon would provide, consider adding about ½ teaspoon of vegetable bouillon powder or a dash of smoked paprika along with the tomato paste. Ensure you use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. A small amount of nutritional yeast can also add a cheesy, savory depth for vegan versions.
- Add Creaminess: For a luxuriously creamy tomato soup, stir in ¼ to ½ cup of heavy cream, half-and-half, or whole milk after blending. Do this off the heat or over very low heat to prevent curdling. A dairy-free alternative like unsweetened full-fat coconut milk or cashew cream can also work for a vegan creamy soup, adding a subtle richness.
- Spice it Up: If you enjoy a bit of heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes when you sauté the onions and carrots. You can also experiment with a dash of cayenne pepper or a small amount of finely diced jalapeño for a spicier kick.
- Herb Variations: Feel free to explore other herbs. A sprig of fresh rosemary or thyme can add a different aromatic dimension, or a tablespoon of dried oregano can deepen the Italian-inspired flavors. Fresh parsley or chives also make lovely garnishes.
- Extra Veggies: For added nutrients and flavor, you can incorporate other finely diced vegetables like celery (along with the carrots and onions), or a handful of fresh spinach, stirred in at the end until wilted.
🧑🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions: Crafting Your Perfect Bowl of Tomato Soup
Making this incredible homemade tomato soup is a straightforward process, broken down into a few simple steps. Follow these instructions carefully to achieve a rich, flavorful, and perfectly smooth (or chunky!) soup that will impress everyone.
- Step 1: Sauté Bacon and Aromatics. Begin by placing a large, heavy-bottomed cooking pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add your chopped thick-cut bacon, finely diced carrots, and yellow onion. Cook these ingredients together for about 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently. The goal here is for the vegetables to soften and become tender, and for the bacon to cook through and render its flavorful fat. Don’t worry if the bacon doesn’t get crispy; the moisture from the vegetables will prevent that, and it will be blended into the soup later anyway. Once cooked, you can choose to drain any excess bacon grease if you prefer a lighter soup, or leave it in for maximum flavor and richness.
- Step 2: Caramelize the Tomato Paste. Reduce the heat slightly to low or medium-low. Add the tomato paste directly to the pot with the cooked bacon and vegetables. Stir it in thoroughly, ensuring it coats all the ingredients and touches the bottom of the pot. Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly. This crucial step allows the tomato paste to caramelize slightly, deepening its color and intensifying its flavor, adding a profound umami richness that is absolutely essential for a truly robust and complex tomato soup.
- Step 3: Add Liquids and Herbs. Pour in the chicken broth. Then, add the whole peeled tomatoes, the large bay leaf, minced garlic, and dried basil. Using a sturdy spoon or a potato masher, gently break up the whole tomatoes a bit directly in the pot. This helps them release their juices and integrate into the soup more easily. Stir all the ingredients together until they are well combined. This is where the magic really starts to happen as all the savory and aromatic flavors begin to merge and infuse the liquid.
- Step 4: Simmer to Perfection. Once everything is mixed and the soup starts to gently bubble, cover the pot with a lid and reduce the heat to low. Allow the soup to simmer gently for 20-25 minutes. This simmering time is crucial for developing and deepening the flavors, allowing the vegetables to soften further, and ensuring all the aromatics fully infuse the broth. Remember to stir the soup every 5-10 minutes to prevent anything from sticking to the bottom of the pot and to ensure even cooking and flavor distribution.
- Step 5: Blend to Desired Consistency. Before blending, it’s absolutely crucial to find and remove the bay leaf (or leaves) from the soup. Bay leaves are not meant to be consumed and can have a sharp, unpleasant texture if left in. Once removed, blend the soup until it reaches your desired consistency.
- If using an immersion blender, you can blend directly in the cooking pot. Be careful to keep the blender head fully submerged beneath the soup surface to avoid any hot splattering. Move the blender around the pot until smooth.
- If using a normal stand blender, work in batches, filling the blender no more than halfway at a time. This is important for safety, as hot liquids expand. Remove the center cap of the blender lid (or crack it slightly) to allow steam to escape, and cover the opening with a kitchen towel to prevent splatters. Blend until smooth.
You can blend it completely smooth for a classic, velvety texture, or leave some small tomato and vegetable chunks if you prefer a bit of texture in your soup. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed – a dash of fresh black pepper or a tiny bit of salt if absolutely necessary (but usually not needed with the bacon and broth). Serve immediately and enjoy!
Perfect Pairings & Delicious Serving Suggestions
While this homemade tomato soup is delightful on its own, it truly shines when paired with the right accompaniments. Here are some serving ideas to make your meal extra special and memorable:
- The Classic Grilled Cheese: There’s a reason this pairing is legendary! The crispy, buttery bread and gooey melted cheese of a grilled cheese sandwich are the ultimate dip for rich tomato soup. Try different cheeses like sharp cheddar, Gruyère, or even a blend for an elevated experience. The contrast in textures and flavors is simply unmatched.
- Crusty Bread for Dipping: A warm, crusty slice of Soft Fluffy French Bread, a hearty artisan loaf, or even a simple baguette is perfect for soaking up every last drop of this flavorful soup. For an extra treat, slice the bread, toast it lightly, and rub with a raw garlic clove for instant garlic bread.
- Savory Biscuits: Our Cheddar Garlic Biscuits are an excellent choice, offering a tender, cheesy, and garlicky counterpoint to the soup’s robust tomato flavor. They’re easy to make and incredibly satisfying.
- Garnish Galore: Elevate your bowl with simple yet impactful toppings. A generous sprinkle of fresh grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese adds a salty, umami kick. A luxurious swirl of heavy cream, a dollop of sour cream, or even a dairy-free cream alternative creates a creamy finish. Fresh basil leaves, a drizzle of high-quality extra virgin olive oil, or homemade crunchy croutons also make wonderful additions that add both flavor and visual appeal.
- Light Side Salad: For a complete and balanced meal, serve alongside a fresh green salad with a light vinaigrette. The crispness and freshness of the salad provide a refreshing contrast to the warm, comforting soup, making for a perfectly satisfying lunch or dinner.
Storage and Freezing Instructions
This homemade tomato soup is not only delicious but also perfect for meal prep or enjoying later. Properly stored, it maintains its delicious flavor and texture, allowing you to savor it whenever a craving strikes:
- Refrigeration: Allow the soup to cool completely to room temperature before storing. Transfer it to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. This makes it ideal for workday lunches or quick dinners throughout the week.
- Freezing: This soup freezes beautifully, making it an excellent candidate for batch cooking! Once cooled completely, pour the soup into freezer-safe airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. If using containers, leave a little headspace at the top to allow for expansion as the soup freezes. Freeze for up to 3 months. For best results, label with the date.
- Thawing: To thaw, simply transfer the frozen soup to the refrigerator overnight. For quicker thawing, you can place the sealed container or bag in a bowl of cold water.
- Reheating: Gently reheat the soup on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until warmed through. If the soup has thickened too much during storage (which can happen, especially if blended very smooth), you can add a splash of chicken or vegetable broth (or even water) to reach your desired consistency. Avoid boiling vigorously, which can affect the texture.
📌 Top Tips & Expert Hacks for the Best Homemade Tomato Soup
- Always Choose Whole Canned Tomatoes: This is a game-changer for tomato soup! Whole peeled tomatoes are generally of much higher quality than diced, crushed, or pureed varieties. They are often packed at their peak ripeness and processed minimally, offering a fresher, richer, and less acidic flavor profile. You can easily break them down in the pot with a spoon, your hands, or a potato masher before simmering, or rely on the blender at the end for a perfectly smooth finish.
- Leverage Carrots for Natural Sweetness and Acid Balance: Instead of adding sugar to counteract the acidity of tomatoes, which is a common practice in many recipes, cleverly incorporate carrots. As they cook down, their natural sugars subtly sweeten the soup in a healthy and wholesome way, mitigating any tartness. They also contribute a lovely aromatic depth and body that becomes completely undetectable once blended, leaving you with a perfectly balanced and harmoniously flavored soup without refined sugars.
- Invest in an Immersion Blender for Ease: If you frequently make pureed soups, an immersion blender (also known as a stick blender) is an invaluable kitchen essential. It makes blending hot soups incredibly easy, safe, and mess-free, as you can blend directly in the cooking pot. This saves you from the tedious and potentially hazardous task of transferring hot soup in batches to a traditional stand blender, greatly simplifying cleanup.
- Don’t Skip Caramelizing the Tomato Paste: This quick, often overlooked step drastically enhances the flavor complexity of your soup. Cooking the tomato paste for a few minutes before adding liquids deepens its color and concentrates its savory, umami notes. This process transforms its raw, metallic edge into a rich, sweet, and deeply tomatoey backbone for your soup, making all the difference in the final taste.
- Adjust Consistency to Your Liking: After blending, take a moment to assess the soup’s consistency. If your soup is too thick for your preference, simply stir in a bit more chicken or vegetable broth (or even water) a tablespoon at a time until it reaches your desired pourable texture. If, by chance, it’s a little too thin (unlikely with this recipe), you can simmer it uncovered for a few extra minutes to allow some liquid to evaporate and thicken slightly.
❓Frequently Asked Questions About Homemade Tomato Soup
Beyond the incredible base this recipe provides, there are many ways to enhance your tomato soup. Fresh basil, stirred in at the end, adds a burst of vibrant, aromatic flavor. Freshly grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese offers a salty, nutty, and umami finish that melts beautifully into the hot soup. Sun-dried tomatoes (either rehydrated and blended in or finely chopped as a garnish) provide a more intense, sweet-tart tomato flavor. For a creamy touch, a swirl of heavy cream or a dollop of crème fraîche can be luxurious. And as our recipe shows, the inclusion of savory onions, sweet carrots as aromatics, and rich bacon are fundamental for a well-balanced taste. For an extra fancy twist, consider adding a couple of tablespoons of homemade Pesto Rosso sauce!
For this particular recipe, we use chicken broth (or vegetable broth) which offers a much richer and more complex savory flavor than plain water. Water would dilute the taste significantly. If you’re aiming for a creamy base, incorporating whole milk or heavy whipping cream at the end of cooking will yield a velvety texture and a milder, richer flavor profile. The choice between broth and milk (or cream) depends entirely on whether you desire a savory, robust soup (broth) or a richer, creamier one (with added dairy). Broth builds flavor, while milk/cream adds richness and a different mouthfeel.
Absolutely! Tomato soup is an excellent candidate for freezing, making it perfect for meal prep. Once the soup has cooled completely to room temperature, transfer it to an airtight, freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bags. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months without significant loss of quality. When you’re ready to enjoy it, simply thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and then gently reheat it on the stovetop or in the microwave. If it appears too thick after thawing, a splash of broth or water will bring it back to perfect consistency.
Yes, you can certainly use beef broth as a substitute for chicken broth in this tomato soup. While chicken broth typically offers a lighter, more neutral savory base that allows the tomato and bacon flavors to shine, beef broth has a stronger, deeper, and sometimes slightly richer flavor. This can add an interesting complexity to the soup, leaning into a heartier, more robust profile. The overall taste difference shouldn’t be too drastic, but you might notice a more profound, perhaps slightly darker, flavor. It’s a great option if you prefer beef-based broths or if that’s what you happen to have on hand.
Yes, this recipe adapts wonderfully to both the Instant Pot and Crock Pot for hands-off cooking and convenience!
For Instant Pot: Use the sauté setting to cook the bacon, carrots, and onions (following Step 1). Then, add the tomato paste and caramelize it for 1-2 minutes (Step 2). Stir in the remaining ingredients: chicken broth, whole peeled tomatoes (broken up), bay leaf, minced garlic, and dried basil. Secure the lid and cook on high pressure for 10 minutes. Once cooking is complete, perform a quick release of pressure. Carefully remove the bay leaf, and then use an immersion blender to blend the soup until smooth. Stir in any optional cream or cheese as desired.
For Crock Pot (Slow Cooker): For the best flavor development, it is highly recommended to perform the initial sauté steps on the stovetop first. Cook the bacon, carrots, onions, and tomato paste (Steps 1 & 2) in a separate pan. Transfer this sautéed mixture to your slow cooker. Add the chicken broth, whole peeled tomatoes (broken up), bay leaf, minced garlic, and dried basil. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until the vegetables are very tender and the flavors have fully melded. Remove the bay leaf and then blend the soup to your desired consistency using an immersion blender or by carefully transferring in batches to a regular blender. Add cream or cheese if desired.
Yes, this homemade tomato soup is naturally gluten-free as written, making it suitable for those with gluten sensitivities or celiac disease. To make it dairy-free, simply ensure you omit any optional additions like heavy cream, half-and-half, cheese, or sour cream that might be used for garnish or to create a creamy texture. Without these dairy additions, the soup remains incredibly flavorful and satisfying while being completely dairy-free.
🥣 More Comforting & Easy Soup Recipes You’ll Love
If you’ve enjoyed this delightful homemade tomato soup and are looking for more heartwarming meals, you’ll be happy to know we have a variety of other family-friendly easy soup recipes that are perfect for any occasion, from quick weeknight dinners to cozy weekend gatherings. Here are some of our personal favorites that we highly recommend trying:
- Healthy Chicken Gnocchi Soup
- Tuscan White Bean Soup
- Slow Cooker Vegetable Beef Stew
- Chicken and Dumpling Soup
Did you try this amazing homemade tomato soup recipe? We’d absolutely love to hear from you! Make sure to leave a ⭐️ star rating and a comment below the recipe card to share your experience. Your feedback is incredibly valuable to us and helps other readers discover delicious new meals and tips.
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📝 Printable Recipe: Homemade Tomato Soup
Homemade Tomato Soup
Pin Recipe
Equipment
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Immersion blender
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Cooking Pot
Ingredients
- 2 slices thick cut bacon (not sweetened variety)
- 3 medium carrots, chopped (about 1 cup) 150 g
- ½ yellow onion, chopped (about 1 cup) 125 g
- 1 (6oz) can tomato paste
- 4 cups chicken broth 946 mL
- 1 (28 oz) can whole peeled tomatoes
- 1 large bay leaf
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- optional, fresh grated parmesan or heavy cream
Instructions
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In a large cooking pot over medium heat, cook bacon, carrots, and onions until vegetables are tender and bacon is cooked, about 5-7 minutes. Bacon is not going to be crispy due to moisture from vegetables, this is fine. Drain excess bacon grease (or leave in for extra flavor).
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Add tomato paste and cook over low/medium heat for 2-3 minutes until nicely caramelized.
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Add chicken broth, whole peeled tomatoes, bay leaf, garlic, and basil. Mix well to break up tomatoes a bit and cover with lid to simmer for 20-25 minutes on low heat, stirring every 5-10 minutes.
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Find and remove bay leaf, then blend until desired consistency is reached; completely smooth or leave tomato and vegetable chunks for some texture.
If using a normal blender, this can be done in batches.
If using an immersion blender, just blend in the cooking pot and be careful to keep the blender under the soup surface to avoid splattering hot soup.
Notes
This soup is also Crock Pot friendly! Sauté the bacon, carrots, onions, and tomato paste on the stovetop first, then transfer to the slow cooker with the remaining ingredients. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Remove bay leaf and blend.
This soup is freezer friendly! Just cool to room temperature and freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months.