Tomato Soup with Canned Tomatoes is rich, creamy, and packed with homemade flavor thanks to savory bacon, mushrooms, herbs, and a splash of cream. It's an easy pantry-friendly comfort food recipe that's perfect for chilly days.
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Jump to:
- Pull Up A Chair & Let's Chat!
- What You’ll Need & Why
- The Recipe Rundown
- Swaps & Variations
- Tips For the Best Tomato Soup With Canned Tomatoes
- Slow Cooker Instructions
- Tomato Soup Recipe
- Best Sandwiches to Serve with Tomato Soup
- Tomato Soup Storage & Reheating
- You Asked, I Answered
- You'll Also Love
- Who’s Stirring the Pot?
Pull Up A Chair & Let's Chat!
Some recipes just feel like home, and this particular tomato soup recipe is one of them. It's rich, creamy, incredibly comforting, and made almost entirely from pantry and refrigerator staples, making it perfect for chilly nights when you want something cozy without an extra trip to the store.
If there is recipe that my kids love, it's this one. With a melty grilled cheese, there's nothing better.
Why You'll Love This Comforting Tomato Soup
- Pantry-friendly: Made with canned tomatoes and everyday ingredients you probably already have on hand.
- Rich, savory flavor: Bacon, mushrooms, and dried herbs create incredible depth in every spoonful.
- Creamy and comforting: Finished with a splash of cream for a smooth, velvety texture.
- Perfect for meal prep: This soup reheats beautifully and freezes well for easy lunches and dinners.
- Better than canned soup: Homemade flavor with surprisingly little effort.
Buy Now → What You’ll Need & Why
- Bacon: Builds a rich, smoky flavor that makes this soup anything but ordinary.
- Onion & garlic: Create a savory, aromatic base with just the right amount of natural sweetness.
- Cremini mushrooms: Blend into the soup for deep, umami flavor without leaving chunky pieces behind.
- Canned whole tomatoes: The star of the recipe, delivering consistent, rich tomato flavor any time of year.
- Tomato paste: Intensifies the tomato flavor and adds body to the soup.
- Chicken broth: Creates a flavorful base and helps you adjust the soup to your preferred consistency.
- Dried thyme & bay leaves: Add warm, earthy flavor that pairs beautifully with the tomatoes.
- Heavy cream: Finishes the soup with a smooth, velvety texture.
The Recipe Rundown
- Cook the bacon and vegetables: Sauté the bacon, onion, and mushrooms until the bacon is crisp and the vegetables are tender.
- Caramelize the tomato paste: Stir in the tomato paste and cook until it darkens in color to deepen the tomato flavor.
- Simmer: Add the canned tomatoes, broth, garlic, thyme, and bay leaves, then let everything simmer until the flavors come together.
- Blend until smooth: Remove the bay leaves and blend the soup until it's as smooth or rustic as you like.
- Finish with cream: Stir in the heavy cream, warm through gently, and season to taste.
- Serve and enjoy: Top with Parmesan, fresh herbs, or cracked black pepper, and don't forget the grilled cheese.
Swaps & Variations
Whether you're working with what's in your pantry or putting your own spin on it, here are a few easy ways to make this soup your own.
- Make it vegetarian: Skip the bacon and use vegetable broth. Add extra mushrooms for plenty of savory flavor.
- Make it dairy-free: Swap the heavy cream for full-fat coconut milk or your favorite unsweetened dairy-free cream.
- Use different tomatoes: Whole, crushed, or fire-roasted canned tomatoes all work well, each bringing a slightly different flavor and texture.
- Change the herbs: Dried oregano, Italian seasoning, or rosemary are all delicious alternatives to thyme.
- Add a little heat: A pinch of red pepper flakes or smoked paprika adds warmth without overpowering the tomatoes.
Tips For the Best Tomato Soup With Canned Tomatoes
A few simple tips will help you make the richest, creamiest tomato soup every time.
- Don't overthink the prep: Roughly chop the onion and mushrooms since everything gets blended smooth.
- Cook the tomato paste: Let it darken before adding the broth. This simple step adds incredible depth of flavor.
- Blend carefully: If using a countertop blender, work in batches and vent the lid to safely blend hot soup.
- Don't skip the Parmesan rind: It adds a subtle savory richness while the soup simmers. Just remember to remove it before blending.
- Double the batch: This soup freezes beautifully, making it an easy meal to pull out on busy nights.
Slow Cooker Instructions
Add everything except the heavy cream to your slow cooker. Cook on Low for 6–8 hours or High for 3–4 hours. Remove the bay leaves and Parmesan rind, then blend the soup until smooth with an immersion blender or countertop blender. Stir in the heavy cream just before serving and season to taste.
Tomato Soup Recipe
Equipment
- immersion blender
Ingredients
- 6 slices bacon, cut into pieces
- 1 med onion, rough chopped
- 8 oz cremini mushrooms, rough chopped
- 2 (28 oz cans) whole tomatoes
- 3 tablespoon tomato paste
- 6 -8 cups chicken broth
- 5-6 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1-2 bay leaves
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- kosher salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Over medium high heat, cook bacon until fat begins to render. Add diced onions and mushrooms. Cook until they begin to soften.
- Add tomato paste, stirring often until a deep red-brown color develops.
- Add tomatoes, broth, garlic, thyme, bay leaves. Simmer for 15-20 minutes.
- Remove bay leaves. Using an immersion blender, blend mixture to desired consistency. Reduce heat and stir in heavy cream. Cook until just warmed through. Season with salt and pepper as needed. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Best Sandwiches to Serve with Tomato Soup
A warm sandwich is the classic pairing, but honestly, a thick slice of homemade bread is just as hard to beat. Here are a few of my favorite ways to turn this soup into a cozy meal.
- Classic Grilled Cheese – Crispy, buttery bread with melty cheese is the ultimate tomato soup companion.
- Chicken Caesar Wraps – Fresh, crunchy, and hearty enough to make it a complete lunch or dinner.
- BLT Sandwiches – Crispy bacon and juicy tomatoes are a perfect match for creamy tomato soup.
- No-Knead Artisan Bread – If you're not in the mood for a sandwich, a warm slice of crusty homemade bread is all you need for dipping.
- Gluten-Free Artisan Bread – All the crusty, dunkable goodness of homemade bread—without the gluten.
Tomato Soup Storage & Reheating
This creamy tomato soup stores and reheats beautifully, making it perfect for leftovers and freezer meals.
- Freezer-friendly: Freeze in airtight containers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat on the stovetop until warmed through.
- Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: Warm gently on the stovetop over medium heat or reheat in the microwave in short intervals, stirring between each.
You Asked, I Answered
Can I use crushed tomatoes instead of whole tomatoes?
Yes! Whole, crushed, or even fire-roasted canned tomatoes all work well. Whole tomatoes give you the most control over the final texture, but use what you have.
Why add mushrooms to tomato soup?
The mushrooms blend completely into the soup, adding rich, savory flavor without leaving behind a mushroom texture. Even mushroom skeptics usually don't realize they're there.
Can I use fresh tomatoes instead of canned?
This recipe is designed for canned tomatoes because they deliver consistent flavor year-round. If you have fresh summer tomatoes, you'll love my Creamy Tomato Basil Soup made with roasted fresh tomatoes instead.
You'll Also Love
If cozy, comforting soups are your love language, these recipes deserve a spot in your rotation.
- Rotisserie Chicken Noodle Soup: A timeless classic with real ingredients and old-school comfort in every spoonful.
- Loaded Baked Potato Soup: Rich, satisfying, and packed with all the flavors everyone loves.
- Prime Rib Soup: Deep, savory, and perfect for colder months when you want something extra comforting.
- Greek Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup – Bright, comforting, and packed with chicken, orzo, and fresh lemon.
- Broccoli Cheese Soup – Thick, cheesy, and every bit as comforting as your favorite café version.
Need even more inspiration? Check out my top 12 Fall soup recipes to love!
Who’s Stirring the Pot?
Hi, I’m Ruth—recipe developer, comfort-food creator, and the voice behind Rufus For Real. I specialize in cozy, doable, flavor-packed meals for real-life kitchens, and I’m a firm believer that breakfast, dinner, and everything in between should be simple, satisfying, and impossible to mess up.
You’ll find me sharing even more comfort-food goodness, kitchen tips, and behind-the-scenes chaos over on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube (@rufusforreal everywhere).
If you love approachable recipes with a whole lot of personality, pull up a chair—there’s always room at this table.
Happy Cooking!
-Ruth aka Rufus
Gerry says
Amazing! And, so easy!