Easy Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Recipe

If you’re longing for the ultimate cozy comfort food, look no further than Easy Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese. This recipe delivers a lusciously creamy tomato soup, bursting with flavor, and the perfect golden, melty grilled cheese—ready in just over an hour and so much more rewarding than anything from a can!

Ingredients You’ll Need

All you need for easy tomato soup with grilled cheese are a handful of humble, high-impact ingredients. Each one—from the sweet tomatoes to the fragrant basil and gooey cheese—plays a special role in building those crave-worthy flavors and textures.

• Ripe Tomatoes (or Canned San Marzano): Give your soup vibrant color and deep flavor—use the best ripe, in-season tomatoes you can find or high quality whole canned tomatoes.
• Balsamic Vinegar: Adds tang and just enough sweetness to round out acidity and elevate your tomatoes.
• Olive Oil: Helps roast the tomatoes until they’re caramelized and luscious, adding a subtle richness.
• Sugar: Balances the tomatoes’ natural acidity—taste and adjust if your tomatoes are especially tangy.
• Salt & Black Pepper: Essential for brightening every other flavor in the bowl.
• Red Onions: Provide gentle sweetness and a savory backbone to the soup.
• Garlic Cloves: Infuse depth and warmth that’s simply irresistible with tomato soups.
• Fresh Basil: Sprigs of basil bring a fresh herbal note so classic to this dish.
• Tomato Paste: Doubles down on tomato essence, giving the soup body and a deep red hue.
• Vegetable or Chicken Broth: The bulk of your soup’s base—choose low-sodium if you want more control over seasoning.
• Cream: Swirled in at the end for silky, indulgent texture—skip for dairy-free, or use coconut cream if you like.
• Fresh Basil (to serve): The perfect finishing touch for both aroma and color.
• Bread: Any sturdy bread you love works—classic white, sourdough, or a hearty country loaf.
• Mozzarella & Mature Cheddar: Melty mozzarella and sharp cheddar combine for that iconic cheesy stretch and rich flavor in your grilled cheese sandwich.
• Butter: Slather generously on the bread for an irresistibly crispy, golden crust!

Variations

This easy tomato soup with grilled cheese is endlessly adaptable—feel free to tweak ingredients or techniques to fit your needs, taste, or what’s in your pantry. You’ll be amazed how a minor change can make this classic entirely new!

• Dairy-Free: Use coconut cream or a splash of cashew milk for the soup, and swap in vegan butter and your favorite dairy-free cheeses for the sandwiches.
• Spicy Tomato Soup: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a chopped chili to your soup for just the right note of gentle heat.
• Herb Switch-Up: Swap basil for fresh oregano or thyme to create a different herbal backdrop.
• Different Cheeses: Try Gruyère, fontina, or even a little blue cheese crumbled into your grilled cheese for a fun, gourmet twist.

How to Make Easy Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese

Step 1: Roast the Tomatoes

Begin by preheating your oven to 200°C/390°F. Arrange your ripe tomatoes (or canned with juice!) on a baking tray, drizzle with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, then sprinkle with sugar and salt. Toss to coat, then roast for about 25–30 minutes. You’re looking for caramelized edges and tomatoes that have broken down to fragrant, juicy perfection—this is the secret to a truly flavorful soup!

Step 2: Sauté Aromatics

In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, sauté the red onions in a little olive oil until translucent and wonderfully fragrant, about 3–4 minutes. Stir in the chopped garlic and fresh basil leaves and cook for another minute. Your kitchen will smell incredible already!

Step 3: Simmer and Blend

Add the roasted tomatoes (plus all those tasty juices), tomato paste, and a pinch more sugar to the pot. Give everything a good stir, then pour in the broth. Bring to a gentle simmer, cover, and let cook for about 10 minutes to let all the flavors mingle. Remove from heat, then use a blender or immersion blender to carefully blitz the soup until super smooth and creamy.

Step 4: Finish the Soup

Stir in the cream for a luscious texture (or leave it out for dairy-free), then season with salt and pepper to taste. Give it a final blend if needed. This is the stage where your easy tomato soup with grilled cheese starts smelling utterly irresistible!

Step 5: Build & Cook Your Grilled Cheese

Mix grated mozzarella and mature cheddar in a bowl. Heap about half a cup of cheese onto half your bread slices. Top with remaining bread, then butter both sides generously. Set a nonstick pan over medium heat and cook the sandwiches until golden brown and crisp outside with oozy, molten cheese inside (about 3–4 minutes per side). Resist the urge to rush this step—lower, slower heat ensures max melt and max crunch!

Step 6: Serve & Enjoy

Ladle the creamy tomato soup into bowls, swirl in extra cream if you like, shower with fresh basil, and cut your grilled cheese sandwiches in halves or triangles. Dunk and enjoy the best easy tomato soup with grilled cheese you’ve ever made!

How to Serve Easy Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese

Garnishes

A flourish of fresh basil leaves is classic, but don’t stop there! A drizzle of good olive oil, a swirl of cream, a sprinkle of cracked black pepper, or even a handful of homemade croutons add wonderful texture and flavor. If you love a bit of spice, scatter over a few red pepper flakes just before serving.

Side Dishes

This easy tomato soup with grilled cheese is comforting enough to stand all on its own, but a crisp green salad, roasted veggies, or a handful of pickles makes a fun—and slightly fancy—upgrade. A fruit salad or simple slaw can lend a sweet, fresh contrast if you’re serving a crowd.

Creative Ways to Present

Try serving your soup in wide mugs and trimming the grilled cheese into “soldiers” for dunking—kids love this! For a beautiful dinner-party starter, ladle soup into shallow bowls and top with microgreens, a drizzle of basil oil, and a grilled cheese cut into bite-sized cubes skewered on toothpicks.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Leftover tomato soup will keep beautifully in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Just let it cool completely before storing, and reheat gently when ready to serve. If you have extra grilled cheese, it’s best to store it wrapped in foil—pop it back in the oven to re-crisp.

Freezing

This soup is fantastic for freezing—just skip the cream until you’re reheating to prevent separation. Freeze in individual portions for quick and cozy meals down the line. Grilled cheese isn’t freezer-friendly but freezes the soup alone for best results.

Reheating

Gently reheat tomato soup in a pot over medium-low heat, and add cream at the end if needed. Re-crisp stored grilled cheese in a hot skillet or oven for a few minutes to refresh that signature crunch and meltiness!

FAQs

Final Thoughts

This easy tomato soup with grilled cheese truly brings out the best in simple comfort food—cozy, satisfying, and full of homemade goodness. Don’t wait for a rainy day or chilly night—gather your favorites and give this classic recipe a whirl; I promise, every spoonful and crunchy bite is absolutely worth it!

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