A simple 5 ingredient tomato soup made with butter, onion, and canned San Marzano tomatoes. Based on the Marcella Hazan tomato sauce recipe. This hits the cozy vibes just right.
5 Ingredient Tomato Soup
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Outstanding! Followed exactly, just a little less salt, came out so beautifully. It’s so easy and delightful to cook, made the whole house smell good and I barely did any chopping. My husband and I devoured a bowl with some garlic toast. I almost halved the recipe but decided against it, so glad I have leftovers now!
Karolyn
This recipe is sponsored by DeLallo.
This tomato soup is… honestly everything right now! It’s made with 5 ingredients – modeled after the iconic Marcella Hazan tomato sauce recipe!
I’ll never say no to a bowl of tomato soup with a hot and crusty, buttery, salty piece of garlic bread, or a grilled cheese, and this one is so simple that there is no good reason you shouldn’t make it for dinner immediately.
5 Ingredient Tomato Soup
- Take Me To The Recipe
- Lindsay’s Notes
- Ingredients for Tomato Soup
- How To Make Tomato Soup
- Video
- FAQs
- Reviews
Watch How To Make This Tomato Soup
Lindsay’s Notes
This was one of the happiest things I ate in October.
I made the Marcella Hazan style pasta sauce for a pasta recipe, but when we were all sampling it in the office, Jenna said: “this actually reminds me of tomato soup!” And that comment really started me down a path of obsession. I started eating this as tomato soup instead of tomato sauce, and I realized that this is a total game-changer.
There was one day in particular where I came back inside from a chilly day hiking around with the girls (and by “hiking around” I mean basically walking at a snail’s pace, getting in and out of the stroller, picking up 100 acorns and admiring the colorful trees within a 3 block stretch), and I popped this in the Instant Pot, whipped up a batch of garlic bread, and just devoured it. It was maybe one of my favorite meals of 2023 – just the right thing at just the right moment.
We have a really awesome tomato soup already on Pinch of Yum, so I debated the necessity of having a second recipe here. But ultimately I decided they really serve two different moments.
- Homemade Tomato Soup: This is the OG tomato soup on Pinch of Yum and if you’re looking for more of a showstopping tomato soup with complex layers of flavor, this is the one. This is like a fancy, ultimate, dress-to-impress type tomato soup.
- 5 Ingredient Tomato Soup: And now this is this one, the new addition to the family, is all about simplicity. It tastes like, honestly, just tomatoes. And butter. And a little onion, a little garlic, but mostly just tomatoes. It’s minimal, classic, extremely easy but also… rich, luscious, and lovely. No extra bells and whistles, just a simple buttery tomato flavor.
I know grilled cheese is the iconic pairing for tomato soup, and while we have done that several times this fall (waffled grilled cheese with squishy white bread, don’t @ me), the garlic bread + tomato soup combo is really underrated and absolutely worthy of consideration. More controversially: I’ve also been known to add some pasta to my tomato soup (yep!).
Back to the garlic bread: that crusty golden texture, the crispity, buttery chew on the bread, the fresh garlic herb flavor, and the smooth tomato soup – it’s like they were made for each other.
How To Make This Easy Peasy Tomato Soup
Step 1: Add everything to a pot.
- Canned San Marzano tomatoes,
- onion chunks,
- and butter! THAT’S IT!
I use DeLallo San Marzano tomatoes – we love DeLallo and have been preaching this for years. They have the best products ranging from pastas to sauces to canned tomatoes, many of which are imported from Italy. They set such a high bar for quality.
In addition to the tomatoes and butter, a pinch of salt goes in there, too. And sometimes I add a few smashed garlic cloves. Hence the “5 ingredient” title.
(I’m showing this in the Instant Pot, but you can also do this in a large Dutch oven on the stovetop.)
Step 2: Cook it all up for a while; then remove onion chunks.
After cooking, pull those onion chunks out. We’re just infusing the flavor!
Step 3: Blend!
I use an immersion blender to blend directly in the pot. The butter gets emulsified, which makes it just a little creamy, and the whole thing is luscious, velvety, simple and delightful.
Can you believe it? That’s it. You’re done.
Enjoy, and I mean really, ENJOY this cozy moment. ♡
5 Ingredient Tomato Soup
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 4–5 servings 1x
Description
A simple 5 ingredient tomato soup made with butter, onion, and canned San Marzano tomatoes. Based on the Marcella Hazan tomato sauce recipe. This hits the cozy vibes just right.
Ingredients
Scale
5 Ingredient Tomato Soup:
- two 28-ounce cans San Marzano tomatoes (whole or crushed will work – I usually use whole tomatoes, and we use the DeLallo brand!)
- 1 stick (8 tablespoons) salted butter
- 1 yellow onion, peel removed and cut into 4 chunks
- 3–4 cloves smashed garlic (optional)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
Instructions
- Make the Tomato Soup: Put the tomatoes, butter, and onion in a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Bring it up to a low bubble, then turn the heat to medium low. Cover partially with a lid; let it simmer for 45 minutes. Stir every 15 minutes or so to prevent scorching on the bottom.
- Remove Onion Chunks: Remove the onion pieces using tongs. I leave the garlic in there, but that’s up to you!
- Blend the Tomato Soup: Using an immersion blender, blend up the soup until it’s a smooth as you want it. Taste and adjust; you can thin it out with milk, water, broth, cream, whatever you want; I just leave it as-is!
- Serve: Serve tomato soup with garlic bread, grilled cheese, croutons, crackers, pesto, whatever you like!
Notes
To make this in the Instant Pot: Everything goes in the pot, cook for 20 minutes, and release pressure. Remove onion chunks and blend! The advantage of this method is that you don’t have to babysit it – you can just leave it alone and it won’t burn. Very hands-off. That said, I feel like the flavor of the stovetop version is just slightly sweeter and richer because you get a bit more caramelization, but both methods are amazing.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: tomato soup, easy tomato soup, instant pot tomato soup, san marzano tomatoes
Frequently Asked Questions For Tomato Soup
What can I use instead of San Marzano tomatoes?
Whole peeled canned tomatoes would also work! The benefit of San Marzano tomatoes is that they’re considered the highest quality and are prized for their thick flesh, sweet flavor, and lower seeds and lower water content.
How long do the leftovers last?
I keep this in the fridge for as long as a week, and it also freezes really well, so you can save this for a long time.
How can you add more protein to this meal?
I would make a grilled cheese with some protein on there to go with the soup – like a chicken or turkey panini.
Is tomato soup dairy free?
This tomato soup can easily be dairy free if you use dairy free butter! There are many great dairy free butters out there – I like Miyokos brand! You could also use olive oil (1/2 cup) in place of the butter.
Can you make this in the slow cooker?
Yes, I think it would work great in the slow cooker. I would cook it on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. Follow all the other same instructions.
Three Of My Favorite Cold-Weather Soups
Thanks to DeLallo for sponsoring this recipe!
Filed Under: 5 Ingredients All Recipes Dinner Dutch Oven Instant Pot Lunch Quick and Easy Recipes SOS Series Soups Stovetop Tomato Vegetarian
October 30, 2023
Nice to meet you!
I’m Lindsay and I ♡ FOOD. I used to be a teacher, and now making food and writing about it online is my full-time job. I love talking with people about food, and I'm so glad you're here.
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Good morning and happy Monday Lindsay,
I must say, this 5-ingredient tomato soup recipe from Pinch of Yum is an absolute gem. There’s something so comforting about a hot bowl of tomato soup, especially during the cooler months, and this recipe certainly hits the mark.
What I like about it is its simplicity. With just five ingredients, it’s easy to whip up on a busy weeknight or whenever you’re craving a warm, satisfying meal. The use of canned tomatoes, onion, butter, broth, and a touch of sugar results in a deliciously rich and creamy soup that tastes like it’s been simmering for hours.
I also appreciate your helpful cooking tips for customizing the recipe to suit your preferences. Whether you want to add a dash of cream for extra indulgence or top it with some crispy croutons for a delightful crunch, there are plenty of ways to make this soup your own.
The post itself is by far informative, guiding others through the cooking process with clear instructions and helpful photos. It’s evident that you’re not only talented in your food blogging and cooking craft, but also a great communicator. (smile) 🙂
I can’t recommend this recipe enough, and I encourage everyone to give it a try. It’s the kind of dish that warms your soul and brings a smile to your face. Plus, it’s perfect for sharing with friends and family.
Thank you Lindsay for sharing this fantastic recipe with us. I’ll be coming back to your blog for more culinary inspiration.
Could you please metric quantities for those of us outside the US
Can you please not leave recipe ratings on recipes you haven’t even made? It skews the data for those of us genuinely trying to determine which recipes are worth making.
Also there is already a button that allows you to convert from “US” to “M” (M as in metric)…
Agreed, Alyssa! I’m preparing to make this for dinner tonight. I saw the low rating on the recipe and thought, uh oh! Thank goodness I read the “reviews” and realize what happened. Will be back with my rating later on
Delicious and very rich! I made a double batch in my instant pot so I can freeze half for another time. After reading Lindsay’s note about it not being quite as good in the IP, I decided to give the onions and garlic a few minutes of saute time with the butter before I added the tomatoes.
Served with fresh warm bread and pesto, and a few of us added some mozzarella pearls and chili flakes to the soup. Will definitely make this one again!
Glad to hear it, Nora!
Amazing soup!!
I used onion powder and garlic powder since I didn’t have any fresh ingredients and it turned out great in the Instant Pot. The hardest part was waiting for it to cool down so we could eat it!!
Can the canned tomatoes be substituted with tomatoes from my garden?
That could work, though we’ve never tried so can’t say for sure! You may need to add some additional liquid.
Can you blend the tomatoes before cooking?
I made this tonight (with the house garlic bread for dipping) and it was great! I did everything as listed on the recipe (except maybe shaved a few minutes off the simmering time … other than that part of it, very much in the spirit of SOS, which I love!). So nice on a chilly night.
Yay! Glad you enjoyed it!
Outstanding! Followed exactly, just a little less salt, came out so beautifully. It’s so easy and delightful to cook, made the whole house smell good and I barely did any chopping. My husband and I devoured a bowl with some garlic toast. I almost halved the recipe but decided against it, so glad I have leftovers now!
Glad you loved it, Karolyn!
Hi! I haven’t tried this recipe yet — but plan to do so as it looks delish! Question — can you leave the onion in and puree it with everything else? I realize that the recipe says to infuse it with the onion flavor so perhaps doing so would be too overwhelming? Thank you!
If you really love onion flavor, sure! But we prefer it without it. 🙂
Outstanding! Followed exactly, just a little less salt, came out so beautifully. It’s so easy and delightful to cook, made the whole house smell good and I barely did any chopping. My husband and I devoured a bowl with some garlic toast. I almost halved the recipe but decided against it, so glad I have leftovers now! Apartments for rent in Lebanon
The tomato soup making recipe is very deficolt but i like your idea so please don’t mind this is my first coment i had read your bloge i will try your resipe one day sure thank you (sir) (mam)
Simplest soup, so easy to make, loved by everyone in our family. And the ‘House Favorite Garlic Bread’ was the perfect addition.
I was very curious about this soup. I couldn’t believe it wouldn’t just taste like canned tomatoes. It’s delicious! Very creamy and tasty and so easy I did not add milk. It didn’t need it. Will definitely make this again!
Soooo good and easy. I have made this twice this week! It warms me from the inside out, yum!
This simple tomato soup recipe is all about minimal, classic flavors – tomatoes, butter, a little onion, and garlic. It’s easy to make and perfect for a cozy meal, especially when served with garlic bread.
Perfect! I love this tomato soup recipe! I haven’t made one in ages. Thanks for the idea!
I made this light night for dinner and my girls RAVED about it. 1x the recipe made enough for two meals for our family of four, when coupled with grilled ham and cheese sandwiches. I’ll be making this in bulk and freezing it for an easy hit on busy nights!
Oh my—thanks for sharing such an incredibly easy and delicious tomato soup recipe! I knew it would not disappoint, and sure enough, Hubs and I loved it! I made a fancy grilled cheese along with it (blending several cheeses on sourdough) and tore off chunks of the sandwich to dip in the soup—a bit like a religious experience!!
Sounds amazing! Glad you loved it!
Can you please not leave recipe ratings on recipes you haven’t even made? It skews the data for those of us genuinely trying to determine which recipes are worth making.
Not only is this recipe easy, it tastes amazing! I’ve made this twice already this fall. Since we had leftover fresh herbs from thanksgiving, we tossed in thyme and basil, which I took out with the onion. Also added some vegetable broth and a splash of cream at the end. Thanks for such an easy and delicious recipe. Trying the garlic bread next time!
Love that! Glad you enjoyed it!
Amazing soup!!
I used onion powder and garlic powder since I didn’t have any fresh ingredients and it turned out great in the Instant Pot.
Yum! This tomato soup looks amazing! Have you tried adding a dash of balsamic vinegar? It takes it to the next level!
This is the BEST tomato soup I’ve ever had. It was so easy and better than any canned soup. And no added sugar!
LOVE this sos soup! 5 ingredients, so quick, simple, but filling! I typically leave 1/2 the onion in for extra flavor boost (I recommend taking it out as the recipe says, blend and see if you like it without… then you can add it back in if you prefer- thats how I started and landed on 1/2 the onion). Ive made this 3 times since its debut. We love it so much! *pairs well with (store bought) cheesy garlic bread* chef’s kiss
Can u post the recipe for the bread in the picture that’s accompanying it please? Looks delicious!!
Here’s the recipe for the garlic bread! 🙂
That is a lot of sodium in the tomato soup recipe!