Best-Best Creamy Tomato Basil Soup
A velvety tomato soup infused with fresh basil and cream, finished with a drizzle of olive oil. This italian-inspired soups ready in about 70 minutes pairs ripe tomatoes, medium onion, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 200 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
- 4 lbs ripe tomatoes
- 1 medium onion
- 3 garlic cloves
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
- Step 1: Sauté onion and garlic in olive oil until fragrant, then add chopped tomatoes and cook for 10 minutes.
- Step 2: Stir in broth, salt, and basil. Simmer for 25 minutes, then blend until smooth. Stir in cream until warm and glossy.
- Step 3: Serve immediately, garnished with additional basil and a drizzle of olive oil.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Best-Best Creamy Tomato Basil Soup take to make?
Total time is about 70 minutes (30 min prep + 40 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Best-Best Creamy Tomato Basil Soup?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep ripe tomatoes from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Best-Best Creamy Tomato Basil Soup?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Best-Best Creamy Tomato Basil Soup for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Best-Best Creamy Tomato Basil Soup?
Italian soups like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
Simple and delicious.
- ★★★☆☆
Decent recipe but nothing special. Might try a different version.
- ★★★☆☆
Not bad. Would need significant modifications to make it a regular.
