Roasted Tomato Basil Soup with Mini Grilled Cheese “Croutons” [+ Video]

This Roasted Tomato Basil Soup is easy to make, and we topped it with grilled cheese croutons just for fun! A simple dinner that kids will love!

I know that I can’t be the only one that still has tomato coming out her ears. Right? I was wracking my brain about what to do with our huge colander stacked high with tomatoes, when I suddenly thought, what if I use those flavors, but make a soup to help move us into fall?

DING DING DING! Creamy tomato basil soup with mini grilled cheese croutons was born.

I love those little grilled cheese bites that act like little croutons in the soup. I’m not even kidding, it’s so delicious together.

Ingredients in Roasted Tomato Basil Soup

To make this easy fresh tomato soup recipe, you’ll need the following:

• Fresh tomatoes
• Garlic
• Olive oil
• Onion
• Salt and pepper
• Dark brown sugar
• Chicken broth
  • PRO TIP: If you want to make this recipe vegetarian, swap the chicken broth for vegetable broth.
• Heavy cream
• Fresh basil leaves
• Baguette
• Fresh mozzarella cheese
• Butter

The measurements for all the ingredients are listed in the recipe card at the end of the post. I actually love to make several batches of this recipe so I can freeze a bunch to eat throughout the whole winter. There is just nothing more comforting than a warm bowl of tomato basil soup with a little fresh parmesan cheese sprinkled on top and a grilled cheese sandwich on the side for dipping! Yes please!

What Are the Best Tomatoes for Tomato Soup?

We recommend using Roma tomatoes or vine ripened tomatoes for this creamy tomato basil soup. Avoid using beefsteak tomatoes, as we find they lack the bold flavor this soup needs. Larger tomatoes also hold a lot of water which thins out a soup. 👎👎

Should the Tomatoes Be Peeled?

Peeling the tomatoes is optional but I haven’t ever felt like it was necessary. Roasting the tomatoes softens the tomato skin and blending them breaks them down until you would never know the skins were on. If you do want to peel them, the skins should slide off easily right after roasting the tomatoes.

How to Make Roasted Tomato Basil Soup

Making tomato basil soup with fresh tomatoes is easier than you might think! Here’s an overview of the recipe:

1. Roast tomatoes: Roast the tomatoes until soft and then let them cool a little.
2. Blend: Add the tomatoes to a blender and blend until pureed.
   • PRO TIP: If you have an immersion blender, you can use that instead. Move the tomatoes to a large bowl or sauce pan and blend the tomatoes there. Then they are easily measured to make sure you have enough.
3. Sauté: Heat up some olive oil in a large sauce pot then add the garlic and onions and sauté until fragrant.
4. Boil: Add the pureed tomatoes and all the rest of the ingredients for the soup (except the cream) and bring to a boil.
5. Simmer: After boiling for 10 minutes, reduce the heat, add the cream, and let the soup simmer for 10-15 minutes.
6. Prep: While the soup is simmering, make the grilled cheese croutons.
7. Serve: When the soup is ready, place the croutons on top and serve.

The complete instructions are detailed in the recipe card down below.

What is the Difference Between Tomato Soup and Tomato Basil Soup?

The addition of basil is the obvious difference. I think most people will “basil” to a menu or a recipe title if fresh basil is a key ingredient in the tomato soup. It does make a huge difference in the taste and deliciousness of a tomato soup!

What is the Difference Between Tomato Soup and Tomato Bisque?

There is a lot of differing opinions out there on this topic. Some people argue that a bisque has a heavy cream added, but there are a lot of tomato soup recipes out there that include cream. In fact, it’s my personal opinion that all tomato soup recipes should include cream. It helps balance out the acidity of the tomatoes. So from our perspective, there’s no significant difference between tomato soup and tomato bisque.

Tips for Making Fresh Tomato Basil Soup

• The best soup is always made when you roast the vegetables first. It adds so much flavor! Roasting tomatoes always sounds a little fancy when in fact it’s the easiest thing you can do in the kitchen. Slice, drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper and roast in the oven.
• If you’d like to make this tomato soup healthier, you can use a blend of heavy cream and unsweetened almond milk. Or, use all unsweetened almond milk!
• For an extra punch of flavor, try adding a few shakes of dried Italian herbs and/or red pepper flakes to this soup as it’s simmering.
• You can use really any kind of bread you’d like to make the grilled cheese croutons. We just like using a baguette since it crisps up nicely.

How to Store Creamy Tomato Basil Soup

Easy tomato basil soup will keep 2-3 days in the refrigerator. Be sure it is stored in an airtight container. The soup can be reheated in the microwave or on the stove top.

Good news! Tomato soups freeze very well! However, we recommend leaving the cream out if planning on freezing this soup. If you plan to freeze the soup, let it cool completely (without the cream) and pour it into a freezer safe container or ziploc bag. It will keep for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to eat it, let it thaw overnight in the fridge, then pour it into a large pot and reheat it on the stove top. Stir the cream in as it reheats.

What How This Roasted Tomato Basil Soup is Made…

As the seasons transition from summer to fall, grab all those delicious garden tomatoes and make this easy roasted tomato basil soup recipe! It freezes well and will be a warm comforting and healthy dinner recipe to serve all winter long! And don’t skip those grilled cheese croutons!

More Easy Soup Recipes:

• Meatball Soup
• Butternut Squash Soup
• Taco Chili Soup
• One-Pot Zuppa Toscana
• The Ultimate Cheeseburger Soup
• Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
• Cheesy Southwest Chicken Soup
• Slow Cooker Broccoli Cheese Soup
• Classic Chicken Tortilla Soup
• Brown Butter Cauliflower Soup
• Homemade Egg Drop Soup
• All of our soup recipes!