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🏠Home » Recipes » Soup Recipes

Healthy Tomato Basil Soup—Quick and Easy

Updated: Nov 17, 2023 · Published: Feb 17, 2023 by Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan · 13 Comments

Jump to Recipe
Total Time: 25 minutes mins

This Healthy Tomato Basil Soup has a thick, creamy texture and deep, rich flavor. A fast and easy recipe that only takes 25 minutes (or less) to make.

It is one of the best soups you can make at home with pantry ingredients.

🍅Ingredients

Tomatoes—crushed
Evaporated milk—fat-free
Basil—fresh or dry
Pantry ingredients—garlic powder, onion powder, baking soda, sugar (optional), salt, and pepper

A bowl of tomato basil soup in a white bowl on orange plate.
Jump To (scroll for more)
  • 🍅Ingredients
  • 👨‍🍳How to Make Healthy Tomato Basil Soup
  • ✔️Tips and Options to get it right every time
  • Serving
  • Other easy homemade soup recipes
  • Storage
  • ❓FAQ
  • 📖The Recipe Card
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Featured Comment from Carol: "Wow, so easy and so good!"

It's light years ahead of that watered-down can of soup. And the fresh basil leaves option adds an exceptional taste.

Call it tomato soup, creamy tomato soup, or tomato bisque since there is diary. It is naturally gluten-free, and you can make it dairy-free and vegetarian by changing the milk to vegetable broth.

A healthy soup that fits a healthy diet like a low-calorie or low-fat diet —with only 133 calories and 1 gram of fat. It is relatively low in sodium, and you can decrease it by about 200mg per serving by skipping the salt to fit almost any low-sodium diet.

👨‍🍳How to Make Healthy Tomato Basil Soup

tomatoes with basil for soup.

Notice both fresh and dry basil in the picture. It is one or the other.

three steps of cutting basel leaves into ribbons.

If using fresh basil, prep 5 medium basil leaves by pinching off the stem, forming a stack with the largest on the bottom and the smallest on top. Roll from the stem end into a small "cigar." Cut into narrow ribbons by pulling the knife through the basil and not crushing it.

adding spices to tomatoes in a black pan.

Add 28 oz canned crushed tomatoes to a large, non-reactive saucepan. Add 1 teaspoon of dry basil or the prepared fresh basil, ½ teaspoon each of onion powder, garlic powder, kosher salt, and pepper. Also, add ½ teaspoon of baking soda. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes.

adding evaperated milk to the soup.

Add 12 oz can of fat-free evaporated milk—taste test for sweetness. Add ¼ teaspoon or more sugar if desired. You may also use cream, half and half, milk, or chicken or vegetable broth.

Tomato soup in a ladel.

Simmer for 5 minutes more and serve.

Tomato soup in a spoon.

For more details, keep reading. See the Recipe Card below for complete instructions and to print.

✔️Tips and Options to get it right every time

  • Instead of crushed tomatoes, you may also use whole or diced canned tomatoes. You will need to blend with an immersion blender if you do.
  • The non-fat evaporated milk may be replaced with cream, half-and-half, milk, chicken stock, or broth — your choices will affect the final nutritional analysis.
  • It is already gluten-free. You can make it completely vegetarian and dairy-free using vegetable stock or broth instead of milk.
  • It is already relatively low in sodium, and you can decrease it by about 200mg per serving by skipping the salt. Baking soda, which helps balance the acid, provides enough sodium.

Serving

The classic is a grilled cheese sandwich. Or serve with Low Calorie Biscuits to stay on the healthy theme or Basic White Stand Mixer Bread for standard homemade bread.

Other easy homemade soup recipes

Check out other easy soup recipes like Broccoli Cheese Soup, Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup, Homemade Vegetable Beef Soup, and Crock Pot French Onion Soup. And check out more options at Our Best Soups.

Storage

Store in an airtight container, then refrigerate for 3-4 days. It can also be frozen for 3-4 months.

❓FAQ

Is tomato basil soup healthy?

Yes, in many ways, it is an excellent source of antioxidants and some vitamins. My version is also very low in fat and calories to fit almost any healthy diet.

It can fit a low-sodium diet, especially if you skip the added salt, which will drop the sodium per serving from a little less than 600 to less than 400.

Why use baking soda in homemade tomato soup?

The baking soda may seem odd to you. But it will neutralize the acid in the tomato, so it tastes less acidic, and the acid won't curdle the milk in the soup — both good things.

Why use sugar in homemade tomato soup?

Since tomatoes are a natural product, they vary by ripeness and variety. A touch of sugar may be needed depending on your taste. Start at about ¼ teaspoon.

Why is a non-reactive pan suggested for cooking tomatoes?

Foods like tomatoes, lemon products, vinegar, and many more are acidic. Reactive cookware will react with acidic foods cooked in them, leaving a metallic taste in the food. It will also damage the reactive cookware.

Examples of reactive cookware would be aluminum, iron, and copper. I love cast iron, but it's not a good choice for tomatoes or other acidic ingredients.

Examples of non-reactive cookware are stainless steel, enamel, ceramic, glass, and non-stick cookware—the obvious choice for simmering things with acidic components.

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This recipe is listed in these categories. See them for more similar recipes.

30-Minute Dinner Recipes, Healthy Recipes, Low Fat Recipes, Soup Recipes

Have you tried this recipe, or have a question? Join the community discussion in the comments.

📖The Recipe Card

image of a bowl of tomato basil soup in a white bowl on orange plate

Healthy Tomato Basil Soup—Quick and Easy

4.50 from 2 votes
From Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
This Healthy Tomato Basil Soup has a thick, creamy texture and deep, rich flavor. A fast and easy recipe that only takes 25 minutes (or less) to make.
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
Servings #/Adjust if desired 4 1 ¼ cup serving

Save this recipe link to your inbox for later!

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Ingredients

US Customary - Convert to Metric
  • 28 oz crushed tomatoes - one large can
  • 12 oz Fat free evaporated milk
  • 1 teaspoon dry basil - or 5 leaves fresh
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • sugar - optional if needed

Instructions
 

  • three steps of cutting basel leaves into ribbons
    If using fresh basil, prep 5 medium leaves of basil by pinching off the stem, forming a stack with the largest on the bottom and the smallest on top. Roll from the stem end into a small "cigar." Cut into narrow ribbons by pulling the knife through the basil and not crushing it.
  • adding spices to tomatoes in a black pan
    Add 28 oz canned crushed tomatoes to a large non-reactive saucepan. Add 1 teaspoon of dry basil or the prepared fresh basil, ½ teaspoon each of onion powder, garlic powder, kosher salt, and pepper. Also, add ½ teaspoon of baking soda. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
  • adding evaperated milk to the soup
    Add 12 oz can of fat-free evaporated milk—taste test for sweetness. Add ¼ teaspoon or more sugar if desired. You may also use cream, half and half, milk, or chicken or vegetable broth.
  • spoonful of tomato soup
    Simmer for 5 minutes more and serve.

Recipe Notes

Pro Tips

  1. The tomatoes are key to this recipe. Use a brand you love. Do not use cheap generic tomatoes.
  2. I used crushed tomatoes but whole or diced can be used but you will need an immersion blender.
  3. The fresh basil is worth the trouble here, but a good dried basil will be fine.
  4. I suggest the non-fat evaporated milk, but you can use heavy cream, half and half, milk, chicken broth, or vegetable broth.
  5. Testing for sweetness is necessary due to tomato variations.
  6. Good refrigerated for up to 4 days. Should freeze well for 3-4 months.
  7. The baking soda is somewhat the "secret ingredient". It will neutralize the acid in the tomato, so it tastes less acidic, and prevent the curdling of milk products in the soup.

Your Own Private Notes

Click here to save your own private notes only you will see. These will print and be saved for your next visit.
Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect.

To adjust the recipe size:

You may adjust the number of servings in this recipe card under servings. This does the math for the ingredients for you. BUT it does NOT adjust the text of the instructions. So you need to do that yourself.

Nutrition Estimate

Calories : 83.3 kcal (4%)Carbohydrates : 13.5 g (5%)Protein : 7.3 g (15%)Fat : 0.3 gSaturated Fat : 0.1 g (1%)Polyunsaturated Fat : 0.1 gMonounsaturated Fat : 0.1 gCholesterol : 3.4 mg (1%)Sodium : 582.1 mg (24%)Potassium : 423.9 mg (12%)Fiber : 1 g (4%)Sugar : 11.6 g (13%)Vitamin A : 429.7 IU (9%)Vitamin C : 5 mg (6%)Calcium : 269.2 mg (27%)Iron : 1.1 mg (6%)
Serving size is my estimate of a normal size. All nutritional information are estimates and may vary from your actual results. To taste ingredients such as salt will be my estimate of the average used.

© 101 Cooking for Two, LLC. All content and photographs are copyright protected by us or our vendors.

Originally Published January 13, 2019. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.

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  1. Jerri Altman says

    April 20, 2025 at 6:08 pm

    Delicious! I will definitely make this again. Thank you!

    Reply
  2. Jerri says

    April 09, 2021 at 1:21 pm

    4 stars
    Made this soup last night and I just had my first bowl for lunch. Very nice, mild flavor. I only had an 8 oz carton of heavy cream so I used that. Maybe a little thicker than your recipe but it tastes good. Just curious if you know what it is that gives old fashioned canned tomato soup the tangy flavor?

    Reply
    • Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says

      April 09, 2021 at 1:29 pm

      Hi Jerri,

      In my memory (since it has been years), the tang I remember was metallic from the can it seems. I don't remember another tangy flavor. That is probably not what you are talking about.
      Dan

  3. Sue says

    March 07, 2021 at 1:13 pm

    Dr Dan,
    Anxious to make this recipe. What are your thoughts on using Rotel with the green chilies in place of crushed or regular tomatoes? Just curious if it would ruin the recipe. Looking forward to your comments. Thanks. Love your recipes!!

    Reply
    • Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says

      March 07, 2021 at 1:25 pm

      Hi Sue,

      Welcome to the blog.

      I really don't see the taste combo of RoTel as a good match here. I do a fair amount of RoTel cooking (see the tortilla soup from two days ago). I see it more as a Mexican/Southwest/chili taste. The heat just doesn't match here. Now, some green chilis... maybe.

      Dan

  4. Cathleen says

    March 07, 2021 at 1:05 pm

    Thank you for the recipe. When you eat a processed food that you bought you don't think that there really is a recipe at the base of the product. I think that this recipe is nearly as quick as heating a can of soup and yet without the added chemicals.
    This year my goal is to learn how to make many of the products that I have been eating and buying for years - like spice packets, mixes etc - in a more healthful way at home.

    Reply
    • Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says

      March 07, 2021 at 1:20 pm

      Hi Cathleen,

      Welcome to the blog.

      I'm not a fan of cooking with chemicals so I try to avoid cans of soups or mixes. It is not always practical. I do know the chemicals and I'm not afraid of them (mostly they are benign fillers or preservatives) but I want the real taste.

      Thanks for the note and rating.

      Dan

  5. Jane says

    February 07, 2019 at 5:57 pm

    I never realized I could make my own tomato soup. Thank you, it was delicious.

    Reply
    • DrDan says

      February 07, 2019 at 7:22 pm

      Hi Jane,
      Welcome to the blog.
      Glad you enjoyed the recipe.
      Thanks for the note.
      Dan

    • Cathleen says

      March 07, 2021 at 1:06 pm

      5 stars
      Yes, how exciting!!

  6. Linda Lee says

    January 20, 2019 at 12:47 pm

    Thank you for sending the link! Looks delicious. I am sorry I must have missed this "blog". I will be making this soon. With our cold spell this week it should be perfect to warm up with. I found the note of adding baking soda interesting and quite informative as well.

    Reply
  7. Carol says

    January 17, 2019 at 12:44 pm

    Wow, so easy and so good! My only adjustments for my personal taste were using twice the amount of basil and slightly more garlic and onion powder, and my on hand evaporated milk was regular I think.

    Thank you so much for this easy recipe and more importantly, the inspiration.

    Reply
    • DrDan says

      January 17, 2019 at 8:56 pm

      Hi Carol,
      Welcome to the blog.
      A recipe is just guidelines and exists for modifications. Yours sounds great.
      Thanks for the note.
      Dan

DrDan imageHi, I'm DrDan.
Welcome to 101 Cooking for Two, the home of great everyday recipes with easy step-by-step photo instructions.
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