******* BREAKING NEWS: I have been so overwhelmed at the response to this post and all the people who have told me that they LOVE this recipe because it is so easy & delicious so I decided to start an Instagram account (like today) dedicated to bringing you simple recipes that can be made quickly with only a few ingredients! I would love for you follow me there! Find me on IG as @easyfamilyrecipes*******
So if you have been reading The Pinning Mama for any length of time, you probably know that we L-O-V-E Panera! They have so many really yummy things. What we love even better though, is cracking the code to make their super yummy food at home. As a matter of fact, our all time biggest post has been our Panera Chocolate Chip Cookie Copycat, and we also have a delicious Double Chocolate Chip Muffie Top Copycat. Today though, is epic. I am sharing one of my all time Panera favorites, a copycat recipe for their Creamy Tomato Basil Soup.
With winter STILL in full force around the country, I think it is the perfect time to curl up on the couch with a piping hot bowl of creamy tomato basil soup. And Panera’s is fabulous. It is rich and thick. It is smooth and creamy. It is pretty much the tomato soup lover’s heaven!
The absolute best part about this soup is that it is extremely easy to make. You do not have to spend days laboring in your kitchen peeling tomatoes and chopping garlic. As a matter of fact, you can make one quick trip to the store and then whip this soup up in about 15 minutes right on your very own stove top! That’s my favorite kind of recipe, the kind that tastes like it took hours, days, years, to make, but really it was super easy!
So after your trip to the store, the rest is easy! Combine your tomatoes, broth, and garlic in a pot and let boil for 10 minutes. This recipe is perfect for our crock pot chicken broth! The can of diced tomatoes give it the same chunky texture that they serve at Panera. If you prefer a smooth texture you can use two cans of crushed tomatoes instead of one of each. Also, in a pinch I have used a can of whole tomatoes that I crushed with a fork and then added.
Next, turn the heat down to low and stir in the sugar and butter, stirring until everything has melted and dissolved and is well mixed.
After it is combined, stir in your chopped basil. You can use more or less depending on size but 15-20 leaves is a good estimate of what I use.
The next step needs to be done very carefully and takes either a little bit of coordination or a little bit of help. Pour in your heavy cream extremely slowly with one hand while mixing continuously with the other. By pouring it slowly while mixing you allow it to fully combine and achieve a really creamy and wonderful soup. If you get excited and just pour in all of the cream at once, it can separate and make a not horrible, but definitely not as wonderful texture. Trust me… do it slowly, it is worth the wait!
Now, if you are a freezer cooking junkie {which I am,} then you will be thrilled to know that this recipe freezes beautifully. I often double the recipe so I can freeze an entire batch! Just prepare the soup as directed, let cool, and then put into a tupperware or gallon sized bag or two and freeze. To reheat, place in a pot over medium until warmed through on the stove top, or my favorite way, just microwave for 6-10 minutes stirring each minute until heated through.
As promised! Quick and easy! And if you serve this with a big fat grilled cheese sandwich, you might just make all the worries in the world disappear. At least for as long as lunch lasts! This is one of my all time favorite recipes and I hope will be one of yours too! Make sure and check out all of our other tasty recipes here and follow us on Facebook and Pinterest to keep up with all of the new and super delicious recipes we post!
If you like this soup then you will love this Creamy Lemon Chicken soup recipe. It is just asquick and easy and every bit as delicious.
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Ingredients
- 1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 1 28 oz can diced tomatoes
- 1 tbsp crushed garlic
- 1 14 oz can chicken broth {or 2 cups}
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 1/3 cup butter
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 15-20 Basil leaves chopped
Instructions
Combine the tomatoes, broth, and garlic bring to a boil and let boil for 10 minutes.
Reduce the heat to low and stir in the sugar and butter and mix until they are dissolved, melted and well combined.
Very slowly pour in the heavy cream while simultaneously stirring until all the cream is combined and the soup is creamy.
Stir in the basil.
I like to serve it hot garnished with a dollop of pesto and freshly grated parmesan cheese!
(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.)
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FAQs
Detailed Ingredients
Tomatoes (Tomatoes, Tomato Puree, Citric Acid), Water, Heavy Cream, Onions, Contains 2% or less of: Butter (Cream, Salt), Seasoning (Sugar, Salt, Spices), Corn Starch, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Garlic and Nisin Preparation.
Is creamy tomato soup from Panera healthy? ›
The Creamy Tomato Soup provides 8 grams of saturated fat—62% of the American Heart Association's daily recommendation. And since just 1 gram of fiber and 4 grams of protein are all this soup has to offer, it's not a very balanced choice.
What's the difference between creamy tomato soup and tomato soup? ›
But what about cream of tomato soup? Any “cream of” soup, tomato included, is pureed like a normal soup but then goes through a “creaming” process, wherein cream is added to the mixture. Cream of tomato soup is actually cooked at a much lower temperature than normal tomato soup.
What does tomato soup taste like Panera? ›
About This. Vine-ripened pear tomatoes pureed with fresh cream for a velvety smooth flavor accented by hints of red pepper and oregano and topped with black pepper and sea salt croutons.
Does Panera tomato soup have cream in it? ›
Vine-ripened pear tomatoes pureed with fresh cream for a velvety smooth flavor accented by hints of red pepper and oregano and topped with black pepper and sea salt croutons.
What is tomato basil soup made of? ›
Tomato Basil Soup Ingredients
Tomato juice: Cook the diced tomatoes in four cups of tomato juice. Basil: You'll need 14 leaves of fresh basil. Cream: Heavy whipping cream creates a rich and creamy texture. Butter: A stick of butter adds to the richness and lends flavor.
What is the most unhealthy food at Panera? ›
Panera Bread's Bacon Mac and Cheese Bread Bowl is the least healthy option despite its comfort-food appeal. With 1,180 calories per bowl, 19 grams of saturated fat, and 2,640 milligrams of sodium, this menu item checks all the boxes we recommend limiting for heart health.
What is the healthiest soup at Panera? ›
#SpoonTip: For a full list of Panera's nutrition facts, be sure to check out their complete nutrition guide.
- Black Bean Soup. Calories: 140 Fat: 2g Carbs: 40g Protein: 7g. ...
- Low-Fat Chicken Noodle Soup. ...
- Cream of Chicken & Wild Rice Soup. ...
- Vegan Lentil Quinoa Broth Bowl. ...
- Soba Noodle Broth Bowl with Chicken.
6 delicious and healthy soups
- Chicken Vietnamese Pho.
- Green spring minestrone.
- Herb and yoghurt-based soup.
- Lamb shank and barley soup.
- Pumpkin soup with star croutons.
- Lentil and vegetable soup with crusty bread.
A soup made with milk is usually richer and more luxurious than one made with just water or stock. This addition helps make the soup feel more comforting. Adding milk or cream to a soup can balance contrasting tastes and help ingredients that don't typically mesh blend seamlessly.
To replace 1 cup (237 mL) of heavy cream in your recipe, add 2 tablespoons (19 grams) of cornstarch to 1 cup (237 mL) of milk and stir, allowing the mixture to thicken. You can use whole milk or opt for skim milk to help slash the calories and fat content of your recipe.
Is creamy tomato soup good for you? ›
Heart Health Hero: Tomato soup is excellent for heart health. Thanks to its lycopene content, potassium, and fiber, it helps in lowering high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The soup's low saturated fat content also makes it a heart-friendly choice.
What is Panera's best selling soup? ›
What Is the Most Popular Soup at Panera?
- Broccoli Cheddar Soup. A creamy, cheesy soup made with chopped broccoli and shredded carrots. ...
- Chicken Noodle Soup. ...
- Baked Potato Soup. ...
- Creamy Tomato Soup. ...
- French Onion Soup. ...
- New England Clam Chowder. ...
- Turkey Chili. ...
- Vegetarian Autumn Squash Soup.
Blount Fine Foods, formerly Blount Seafood, is a prepared foods and soup manufacturer that produces wholesale frozen and fresh soups under the Blount brand as well as Panera Bread and Legal Sea Foods. Blount Fine Foods is headquartered in Fall River, Massachusetts with a production facility in Warren, Rhode Island.
What is comparable to Panera? ›
Panera Bread's competitors and similar companies include Sweetgreen, Del Taco, Starbucks, Restaurant Brands International, Au Bon Pain and Dine Brands Global. Panera Bread is a company that owns and operates a chain of bakery cafés.
Does Panera's Tomato Soup have dairy? ›
CONTAINS: Milk. * The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet.
Does Panera use artificial ingredients? ›
Our Food Beliefs serve as a compass, helping us provide meals that are delicious, and made with high-quality, select ingredients. Clean Foods - Clean simply means we don't fill our pantry with the artificial preservatives, sweeteners, flavors, and colors from artificial sources that are listed on our No No List.
Is tomato soup good for you? ›
Heart Health Hero: Tomato soup is excellent for heart health. Thanks to its lycopene content, potassium, and fiber, it helps in lowering high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The soup's low saturated fat content also makes it a heart-friendly choice.
What is cream of tomato soup made of? ›
Add tomatoes, sugar, tomato paste, basil, chicken stock, salt and pepper and stir well. Bring the soup to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer uncovered for 30-40 minutes. Add the cream to the soup and process it in a blender (small batches work best).
