Best Tasting Tomato Basil Soup

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

Velvety homemade soup bursting with ripe tomato flavor, fresh basil, and a touch of cream, simmered to perfection for cozy comfort. This italian-inspired soups ready in about 50 minutes pairs ripe tomatoes, large onion, garlic for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 180 calories and feeds 6, 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 ripe tomatoes
• 1 large onion
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1/4 cup fresh basil
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano

Instructions

1. Step 1: Core and dice 2 lbs ripe tomatoes, finely chop 1 large onion, and mince 3 garlic cloves.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium heat, then add onions and cook for 5 minutes until translucent.
3. Step 3: Add garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
4. Step 4: Stir in 2 lbs diced tomatoes, 1/4 cup fresh basil, 1/2 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper, then simmer for 15 minutes until tomatoes break down.
5. Step 5: Transfer soup to a blender in batches, adding 2 cups vegetable broth, and blend until completely smooth.
6. Step 6: Return soup to the pot, add 1/2 cup heavy cream, and simmer gently for 5 minutes on low heat, stirring constantly until heated through.
7. Step 7: Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or basil as needed before serving hot with crusty bread.