Easy Three-Ingredient Tomato Soup

My favorite tomato soup recipe! You wouldn’t think that three ingredients — butter, onion, and tomato — can come together to make such a velvety and delicious tomato soup, but let me tell you. They can. Jump to the Tomato Soup Recipe or watch our quick recipe video showing how to make it.

Watch How We Make Tomato Soup

How To Make The Easiest 3-Ingredient Tomato Soup From Scratch

This simple homemade tomato soup is quick, easy, and insanely delicious.

The soup is inspired by one of the most famous recipes out there — Marcella Hazan’s Tomato Sauce. Butter, tomatoes, and onion are simmered until slightly thickened. Out comes the onion and the sauce is ready to be spooned over pasta.

It’s genius and absolutely delicious. We use the same three ingredients in this tomato soup, but add a little water and blend everything together just before serving.

Making The Tomato Soup

Here’s how to the best (and easiest) tomato soup:

Combine butter, onion, and tomatoes. Grab a Dutch oven or pot, place it over medium heat and melt the butter. Add half an onion that’s been cut into large wedges and a large can of tomatoes.

Add water or broth and simmer. Bring everything to a low simmer, add some salt and leave it alone for about 40 minutes. See how creamy it gets? That’s thanks to the butter.

Blend. I find an immersion blender is useful, but a blender works, too. Adjust the soup for seasoning then grab a bowl…and maybe a grilled cheese sandwich? This soup is also amazing served next to this easy buttery garlic bread.

What Tomatoes Should I Use

This tomato soup is excellent with canned tomatoes. I love using whole peeled tomatoes or crushed tomatoes. By the way, we love San Marzano Tomatoes and are always pleased with tomatoes from Muir Glen. Neither are watery and both taste great.

You can also use fresh tomatoes. You will need 10 to 12 whole tomatoes (or about 2 pounds). It’s best to peel them, but we have made the soup with unpeeled tomatoes.

A Quick Recap

This is your new favorite weeknight meal. Promise.

• This tomato soup has three ingredients (plus water and salt).
• Everything is tossed into a pan — no browning, no hovering over a stove.
• You can use canned tomatoes — and should.
• Did I mention there are only three ingredients?

What Our Readers Are Saying

If you don’t believe that our recipe helps you achieve perfect tomato soup at home, take a look at what our readers are saying about the recipe! More reviews are in the comments section below.

“WOW!! What a delicious and easy tomato soup, my three and one-year old were as thrilled as my husband and I were.” – Ashley

“This is the best tomato soup, hands down!! Cannot say that emphatically enough. Did not change a thing from the recipe and it was perfect. Couldn’t be easier to make.” – John

“Made this exactly as written. Oh my gosh, this was amazing!!!” – Dayna

More Easy Soup Recipes

• You might also want to take a peek at our chilled tomato soup recipe (Gazpacho)
• Try this Incredibly Easy and Creamy Vegetable Soup Recipe. It’s one of our absolute favorites and something we make often.
• A wonderful recipe for homemade vegetable broth — It’s ultra-satisfying!
• Or, for something a little different, our roasted tomato soup with lemon and thyme.
• This easy homemade chicken noodle soup recipe is healthy, satisfying, and tastes incredible. It’s faster to make than the traditional version, too!

Recipe updated, originally posted October 2015. Since posting this in 2015, we have tweaked the recipe to be more clear and added a quick recipe video. – Adam and Joanne