Actual Chef's Tomato Basil Soup

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-07 · Updated 2026-04-07

A vibrant, thick tomato soup with fresh basil, embodying the 'actual' simplicity of a chef's signature dish. This italian-american-inspired soups ready in about 50 minutes pairs diced ripe tomatoes, large, finely diced onion, minced garlic for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs, diced ripe tomatoes
• 1 large, finely diced onion
• 2 cloves, minced garlic
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
• 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth
• 1/2 cup, chopped fresh basil
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook for 5 minutes until soft. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
2. Step 2: Add 2 lbs diced ripe tomatoes, 1 can diced tomatoes, and 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth. Bring to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Step 3: Remove from heat and blend with an immersion blender until completely smooth (or transfer to a regular blender in batches).
4. Step 4: Return soup to low heat, stir in 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes to meld flavors.
5. Step 5: Stir in 1/2 cup heavy cream until fully incorporated. Heat gently for 2 more minutes until warmed through (do not boil). Adjust seasoning to taste.