Tomato Basil Soup Recipe (Applebee's Copycat) + Video (2024)

This tomato basil soup recipe makes a filling, comforting, creamy soup from scratch. Make this Applebee’s copycat recipe in only 30 minutes!

This homemade soup tastes even better than the restaurant version, and is the perfect comfort food for cold winter months.

Full of fresh basil, herbs, and a hint of garlic, it’s sure to be devoured by kids and adults alike.

Pair it with a serving of Olive Garden Copycat Salad to make a delicious lunch combo.

Or make Panera Copycat Broccoli Cheddar Soup for a hearty alternative that’s loaded with veggies.

For another delicious Applebee’s copycat recipe, try my Spicy Queso Blanco. It combines two different kinds of cheese with fresh herbs and just enough heat to make your tongue tingle.

Tomato basil soup recipe notes

• Seasoning is important

Because ingredients range in flavor, always taste and adjust seasonings before serving.

You may find that the soup needs more sweetness or acidity for balance, or maybe the flavor from the herbs isn’t strong enough.

• Adjusting the texture

Pureeing the soup makes for a smooth, creamy finish. But, if you don’t mind little pieces of onion in the soup, you can skip this step entirely.

Ingredient notes and substitutions

• Chicken broth – If you use low-sodium or unsalted chicken broth, you may need to add more salt at the end. You can also substitute vegetable broth to make this recipe vegetarian.
• Heavy cream – Replace with half-and-half if needed.
• Sugar – Adjust the amount of sugar based on how sweet you like your soup. Some brands of canned tomatoes have higher acidity than others, so you may need a little more sugar to balance the flavor as well.
• Basil – While using fresh basil will give you the best flavor, you can also use the kind that comes in a squeeze tube from the produce section. Or use dried basil, but reduce the amount by at least half.
• Parmesan – Buy a fresh wedge and grate it yourself. The texture found in packaged shreds is much different, and it won’t melt into the soup the same way that fresh will.

Serving suggestions
Garnish your homemade tomato basil soup with croutons, fresh basil, and grated Parmesan cheese. Serve it with a grilled cheese sandwich, somemac and cheese bombs, or slices of thick, crusty bread.

It would also be delicious with a side ofTexas Roadhouse rolls!

FAQ: Recipe Questions

Can I use fresh tomatoes instead of canned?

You can use fresh Roma tomatoes if you prefer them. However, it will require a bit of prep work first.

One 28-ounce can of crushed tomatoes equals 8 to 10 Roma tomatoes, or about 2 pounds. For this tomato basil soup recipe, you will need twice that amount.

1. First, blanch the tomatoes– find instructions on how to do thathere.
2. Peel, core, and dice the tomatoes.Then, use a potato masher to crush them.

Alternatively, you can pulse them in a food processor or high speed blender, just until they are chunky.

Can the soup be frozen?

Freezing soups that have milk or cream in themisn’t a good idea.Thawing and reheating the soupchanges the consistency, causing the cream to separate from the.rest of the soup.

Although it’s possible to recombine them as they warm up, the texture of the soup changes and is usually unpleasant.

However, if you want to make the tomato basil soup recipe ahead and freeze it to serve later, you can simply leave out the heavy cream. Then, stir it in after reheating the soup.

Before freezing the soup, allow it to cool before transferring it to jars or airtight containers. It may be kept in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Reheating leftover tomato soup:

When you are ready to enjoy it, transfer the container of soup to the refrigerator so that it can thaw overnight.

Reheat it in a pan over medium heat on the stove. After it warms up, stir in the heavy cream and continue to cook on medium heat for another 5 minutes.

Enjoy!

With love from our simple kitchen to yours.

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Originally published March 2019, updated and republished October 2020

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