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 Us Make the Recipe
How To Make The Easiest 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 Soup
Here’s how to the best (and easiest) tomato soup
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 topped with homemade croutons or 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
Easy Three-Ingredient Tomato Soup
- PREP
You only need three main ingredients to make this velvety, rich tomato soup recipe. This, friends is your new favorite weeknight meal.
Makes 2 generous servings
You Will Need
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 large onion, cut into large wedges
1 (28-ounce) can tomatoes, we prefer to use whole peeled or crushed, see notes for fresh tomatoes
1 1/2 cups water, low sodium vegetable stock, or chicken stock
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt, or more to taste
Directions
Melt butter over medium heat in a Dutch oven or large saucepan.
Add onion wedges, water, can of tomatoes with their juices, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Bring to a simmer. Cook, uncovered, for about 40 minutes. Stir occasionally and add additional salt as needed.
Blend the soup, and then season to taste. The soup doesn’t need to be ultra-smooth, some texture is a nice touch. An immersion blender does make quick work of this, or you can use a blender. If you use a regular blender, it is best to blend in batches and not fill the blender as much as you usually would since the soup is so hot. We like to remove the center insert of the lid and cover it with a kitchen towel while blending — this helps to release some of the steam and prevents the blender lid from popping off (which can be a big, hot mess).
Adam and Joanne's Tips
- Can I use fresh tomatoes? Yes. If you want to use fresh tomatoes, you will need 10 to 12 medium tomatoes (or about 2 pounds). You can peel them, but we skip this step since we will be blending the soup in the end anyway.
- Can I add basil? This soup is delicious with and without basil. Adding a handful of fresh basil at the end before blending the soup is a fantastic idea.
- Nutrition facts: The nutrition facts provided below are estimates. We have used the USDA Supertracker recipe calculator to calculate approximate values. We have omitted salt since you will need to add to your tastes.
If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #inspiredtaste — We love to see your creations on Instagram and Facebook! Find us: @inspiredtaste
Nutrition Per Serving: Serving Size Half of the recipe / Calories 348 / Total Fat 24.9g / Saturated Fat 14.8g / Cholesterol 61mg / Sodium 1485.4mg / Carbohydrate 29.6g / Dietary Fiber 4.5g / Total Sugars 15.4g / Protein 7.8g
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I’ve made this soup around a dozen times now. Everyone I’ve ever made it for has absolutely loved it. I tend to tinker with the recipe if I’m in the mood for a little some extra, but the recipe is always a hit as is!
Literally this is the best gosh dang soup recipe on the internet
I agree with other reviewers. I will never buy canned tomato soup again. This recipe is so simple and the soup is delicious!
“I will never buy canned tomato soup again.” That’s exactly what I said after my first batch…it is spectacular! I’ve become the Tomato Soup recipe spreader around the office…do you like tomato soup; here, try this recipe. lol
I made this soup last week for a work potluck and it was a hit! I want to make it for my family but they like cream in theirs. Would I add it at the end?
Hi Ana, You can add the cream right before serving.
I will never buy store tomato soup again! I used to tomatoes in the can seasoned with garlic, oregano and basil and this soup was Awesome! My husband is a tough critic and he Loved this soup! Super easy!
First time to ever make one… and the family loved it!
About to try making this after all the fab reviews. It doesn’t say anything about softening the onions before adding the stock, toms etc- is this correct?
That’s correct.
This was the best tomato soup I’ve ever eaten!!I will never buy canned tomato soup again. I made is just as directed and didn’t make any changes. Game changer!!
Jus made this today and i’ve never been a fan of tomato soup. But oh my goodness !!! Best tomato soup ever!!
I made this soup as my friend is diabetic and tin soup has added sugar. It is delicious and would definitely make again.
I made It & it is very Good
Looks delicious! I’m vegan – what can I use as a substitute for the butter, and in what quantity?
Olive oil (3 to 4 tablespoons) works nicely.
Hi! You can use the vegan “I can’t believe it’s butter.” Enjoy this soup is delicious.
I’m going to make this tonight. It lists 1 1/2 cups water, vegetable or chicken broth with ingredients but then it is not listed in directions. I assume it is needed and am wondering if it’s better with a vegetable broth vs water and if that is a good amount?
Thanks!
Hi Mary, It is needed. We actually use water more often than broth when making this soup. I know it seems like there wouldn’t be much flavor there, but the tomatoes/onions add so much to the soup. The water (or broth) is added after adding the tomatoes and onions. It is mentioned in the instructions on the second line.
I love that this soup does not have cream in it as we have problems with lactose. It is delicious and we enjoy this soup frequently. Thank you!
Guys!! I loved this soup! I’ve made it twice now. The exact recipe, just halfed, as I just made a bowl for myself each time, so just one normal sized can of tomatoes, (I actually used organic chopped rather than whole, but still was so tasty). I have before sworn by another tomato soup recipe that included sooo many more ingredients and probably took 2 hours to make in total. Although that is still delicious, I was soooo impressed by the simplicity and creaminess of the soup (without actually needing any cream) and just how incredibly flavoursome it was without over complicating the recipe! I never have to go out to get anything as it’s always already in my kitchen. Thank you Inspired Taste for sharing this recipe!! I will share with everyone I know and enjoy over and over again!