Middle-of-Winter Creamy Tomato Soup (Canned Tomatoes)

Your New Go-To Recipe for Homemade Tomato Soup Any Time of Year—No Fresh Tomatoes Needed!

The paradox of tomato soup? When tomatoes are at their peak in summer, it’s too hot to crave a steaming bowl of soup. 🥵🙅🏻‍♀️ I’d rather use my straight-off-the-vine garden tomatoes for just about anything else!

But in winter, when a cozy, homemade soup finally sounds perfect, fresh tomatoes are bland, watery, and sad—far from their best! 🤪

The solution? A recipe that delivers peak-season flavor and cozy comfort, no matter the time of year. That’s exactly why I love this Homemade Creamy Tomato Soup.

An overhead shot of a small white handled bowl of creamy tomato soup topped with cracked pepper and basil leaves on a white marbled surface alongside a striped blue and white cloth. A second bowl of soup, a pot of soup and a grilled cheese sandwich sit alongside it. — This homemade Creamy Tomato Soup bursts with vibrant tomato flavor—even in the heart of winter! An easy, one-pot recipe ready in just 40 minutes.

The magic of this recipe? It skips fresh tomatoes entirely and relies on canned crushed tomatoes for flavor and convenience.

From there, it’s all about building layers of flavor. Simmer the canned tomatoes with softened veggies, fresh basil, white wine, and a splash of cream (or your favorite dairy-free milk) to create a pot of velvety, luscious soup that’s ready in no time.

It’s the ultimate way to satisfy soup cravings on a chilly day. Just don’t forget the grilled cheese—the coziest comfort food duo ever!

🍅Looking for a fresh tomato soup? ⇢ Be sure to check out my Roasted Tomato Soup, an easy recipe made by oven-roasting fresh Roma tomatoes with shallots, garlic, and fresh herbs, then blending it all together into a smooth and creamy soup.

Golden soup served inside of two white ceramic bowls that sit atop a creamy peach colored textured surface. The bowls of soup are surrounded by a white and yellow striped linen napkin, amber colored drinking glasses and gold spoons.

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An overhead shot of ingredients displayed on a white marbled surface: carrots, onion, tomatoes, tomato paste, basil leaves, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, garlic, fresh herbs, olive oil, vegetable stock, white wine, and heavy cream. — All of the ingredients in this homemade tomato soup are kitchen staples: canned crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, simple vegetables, broth, and a splash of cream.

Canned Tomatoes are the Secret to Rich Tomato Flavor

While I usually preach “fresh is best,” winter tomatoes are sad, watery, and just don’t cut it for homemade tomato soup. When tomato is the star of the dish, it has to deliver bold flavor!

Picked and preserved at peak ripeness, canned tomatoes aren’t just convenient—they’re packed vibrant flavor no matter the season. Plus, the thick, puréed texture of crushed tomatoes is perfect for creating a creamy soup.

Since canned tomatoes are slightly more acidic than fresh, I balance it all out with the concentrated richness of tomato paste and the natural sweetness of sautéed carrots and onions. The result? A simple, creamy tomato soup with perfectly balanced flavor in every bite. 😋

How to Make Tomato Soup from Canned Tomatoes

Homemade creamy tomato soup doesn’t get easier than this! This recipe is a spin on my popular Quick Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Soup, but doubles down on canned tomatoes. It comes together in 4 key steps:

An overhead shot of softened carrots and onions topped with tomato paste, minced garlic, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes in a large white pot atop a white marbled surface. — Cook the aromatics: Sauté diced onions and carrots until softened. Stir in garlic, tomato paste, and crushed red pepper flakes, and cook until the tomato paste browns slightly for extra flavor.

An overhead shot of vegetable stock being poured over softened vegetables, aromatics, and fresh herbs in a large white pot atop a white marbled surface. — Build the soup: Add crushed tomatoes, fresh basil, thyme, vegetable broth, and white wine, then simmer for 15 minutes until the veggies are tender and the flavors meld beautifully.

🚫Prefer not to cook with wine? ⇢ No problem! Substitute more vegetable broth and add a splash of apple cider vinegar to recreate the brightness of dry white wine.

An overhead shot of blended creamy tomato soup in the bowl of a food processor atop a white marbled surface. — Blend smooth: Transfer the soup to a stand blender or use an immersion blender directly in the pot, then blend until smooth and creamy.

An overhead shot of cream being stirred into tomato soup in a large white pot atop a white marbled surface. — Add the creamy finish: Stir in heavy cream (or your favorite unsweetened plant-based milk) to finish the soup with a luscious texture.

🌿Prefer a dairy-free or vegan tomato soup? ⇢ Easy! Swap heavy cream for mild, unsweetened plant-based milk like almond or oat milk. Coconut milk works too, but its stronger flavor can compete with the canned tomatoes. Stick to something neutral for the best results!

An overhead shot of tomato soup in a large white pot atop a white marbled surface. The pot is surrounded by a white cloth and dishes of red pepper flakes, pepper and fresh herbs. — The tomato soup is ready to serve as soon as it’s creamy-dreamy and warmed through. A 40-minute one-pot wonder perfect for cozy cravings on a cold day!

Serve with Gooey Grilled Cheese (Of Course! 💁🏻‍♀️)

Tomato soup and grilled cheese? Comfort food doesn’t get better than that!

Pair this creamy tomato soup with my Gooey Garlic Herb Mozzarella Grilled Cheese for the ultimate cozy girl dinner. No time for grilled cheese? You can’t go wrong with a slice of crusty Garlic Bread!

An overhead shot of a woman's hand dunking a halved grilled cheese sandwich into a white handled bowl of soup. — Canned tomatoes, for the win! 🙌🏼

I can’t wait for you to try my Homemade Creamy Tomato Soup! It’s the ultimate winter tomato soup—bursting with flavor when fresh tomatoes are out of season, but soup season is thriving.

If you do give it a try, be sure to let us know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo and tag @playswellwithbutter on Instagram. We LOVE seeing your PWWB creations! ♡ Happy cooking!

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Clik here to view. An overhead shot of tomato soup in a large white pot atop a white marbled surface. The pot is surrounded by a white cloth and dishes of red pepper flakes, pepper and fresh herbs.