Easy Tomato Bisque Recipe (2024)

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This Easy Tomato Bisque Recipe is absolutely sinful! I’m telling you, there is nothing that will warm you faster than a bowl of this creamy tomato soup. Typically, most tomato soup recipes are one-note and plain and boring, but THIS one, oh my goodness gracious…this is anything but plain and boring. It’s fabulous. I want to bathe in it that’s how good it is. It is filled with lots of veggies, plus butter and cream for good measure, then blended to perfection! Serve with grilled cheese sandwiches or homemade crackers.

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Not Your Average Tomato Bisque

I’m not sure there is a better tomato soup I love more than this Tomato Bisque. This is a recipe that I got from my mom who got it from a lady at church. She served it one night at a church event and basically made everyone fall in love with tomato bisque. It seriously has the most delicious rich tomato flavor paired with warm herbs and seasonings. You can leave yours a little chunky or feel free to keep that blender going until it’s completely smooth.

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Tomato Soup vs Tomato Bisque

Technically, soup is a very general term. It can mean broth-based, cream-based, chowders, or bisques. Bisque is a kind of soup – generally creamy, very smooth, and made with some kind of shellfish or roasted/sauteed vegetables like this one. All bisques are soups but all soups are not bisques.

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Ingredients Needed

Soup season is a vibe and I’m here for it! This tomato bisque soup recipe uses simple pantry staples as well as fresh veggies. Here is what you need to make this delicious soup!

  • butter– used to sauté the celery, onions and carrots. Olive oil can be used instead of butter.
  • celery, onion+ carrots– adds tons of flavor…let’s sneak in the veggies wherever we can!
  • all-purpose flour– creates a roux when added to the sautéed veggies and butter. Helps to thicken the soup.
  • diced canned tomatoes– canned, peeled whole tomatoes or fire-roasted tomatoes are fine as well.
  • white sugar– adds a little sweetness.
  • dried basil + marjoram– added herb flavoring
  • chicken broth/chicken stockbone brothor vegetable broth works too
  • curry powder– a mix of cumin, coriander, turmeric, ginger, and black pepper. Adds warmth to the soup.
  • half & half– whole milk or heavy whipping cream are good substitutions.
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Tomato Bisque Substitutions

One of the things I love about soups is that I can sneak a bunch of vegetables in there without anyone knowing! In this recipe, I add onions, carrots and celery. Use what you have! Here are a couple common substitute ingredient questions I get asked.

Vegetable Stock – If you want to make this soup completely vegetarian friendly, substitute chicken broth with vegetable stock.

Whole Milk – You can substitute half & half with whole milk if you’re wanting a “lighter” option or happen to have whole milk on hand.

Here are some other soups that will knock your socks off:Chicken Noodle Soup with Homemade Noodles,Cream of Cauliflower Soup,Taco Soup Recipe & Broccoli Cheese Soup.

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How to Make Tomato Bisque

Do not be fooled by the fancy name! Tomato Bisque is such an easy soup to make! For full details, see the printable recipe card down below. Here is what you can expect when making this recipe.

Sauté Chopped Veggies

In a large pot, melt the butter. Stir in celery, onion, and carrot and sauté over medium heat until veggies are soft, about 10-15 minutes.

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Add Flour to Veggies + Remaining Ingredients (except Half & Half + Curry Powder)

Sprinkle flour over vegetables and stir until well incorporated. Mix in the rest of the ingredients (tomatoes, sugar, basil, marjoram, and chicken broth), except the half & half and curry powder. Cover and simmer 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Puree the Soup

Blend soup with an immersion blender or a regular blender until it’s as velvety smooth as you want it. But be really careful! It is HOT STUFF! Pour blended soup back into the soup pot.

Pro Tip: I really like using an immersion blender. It’s so darn convenient. If you are one who does not have an immersion blender, a high powdered blender works just as well.

Stir in Half & Half, Curry Powder + Serve!

Stir in half & half and curry powder. DO NOT boil once this has been added! Serve your creamy tomato bisque hot! Top with a little fresh basil, croutons and parmesan cheese (totally optional!).

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Storing Leftover Tomato Bisque

Store any leftover Tomato Bisque in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in small batches in the microwave.

FAQ About Tomato Bisque

Can I freeze tomato bisque?

Unfortunately, no. Soups with any cream or milk in them tend to separate when frozen, and changes the texture from smooth to grainy.

Is it ok to make this tomato soup ahead of time?

Yes! Like many soups, tomato bisque tastes even better the 2nd day! Reheat on the stovetop or in small batches in the microwave.

What can I add to make this bisque have a little more kick to it?

You can add a couple shakes of red pepper flakes to the soup while it’s simmering. You could also replace the regular diced tomatoes with fire-roasted canned tomatoes.

Can I use coconut milk instead of half & half?

Sure! I would substitute the same 2 cups of coconut milk in place of the half & half. Yum!

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Love Warm, Comforting Soup? Try These Family Favorite Recipes:

  • Sweet Potato Curry Soup
  • Tomato Basil Soup
  • Chicken Pot Pie Soup
  • Hamburger Soup
  • Loaded Baked Potato Soup
  • Zuppa Toscana

There’s nothing better than soup on a chilly day. This Easy Tomato Bisque Recipe is comfort food to the max! The printable recipe is below! Enjoy, friends!

If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you wouldgive it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.

4.34 from 3 votes

Easy Tomato Bisque Recipe

This Easy Tomato Bisque is absolutely sinful! This creamy tomato soup is filled with lots of veggies, plus butter and cream for good measure and blended to perfection!

servings 4 Servings

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Ingredients

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • In a large pot, melt butter over medium-low heat. Stir in celery, onion, and carrot and sauté until veggies are soft, 10-15 minutes.

    Easy Tomato Bisque Recipe (10)

  • Sprinkle flour over vegetables and stir until well incorporated. Mix in the rest of the ingredients (tomatoes, sugar, basil, marjoram, and chicken broth), except the half & half and curry powder. Cover and simmer 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally.

    Easy Tomato Bisque Recipe (11)

  • Puree soup with an immersion blender or a regular blender (but be really careful! It's HOT STUFF!) until smooth. Pour blended soup back into the soup pot.

    Easy Tomato Bisque Recipe (12)

  • Stir in 2 cups half & half with 1/2 teaspoon curry powder. DO NOT boil once this has been added! Serve hot!

    Easy Tomato Bisque Recipe (13)

Video

Notes

You could use whole milk, but after the 1/4 lb. of butter, why would you choose the ‘lighter’ option?!

Nutrition

Calories: 479kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 23g | Cholesterol: 105mg | Sodium: 1165mg | Potassium: 904mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 4155IU | Vitamin C: 40.7mg | Calcium: 240mg | Iron: 3.4mg

Course: Lunch, Soup

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Tomato Bisque, Tomato Bisque Recipe, Tomato Bisque Soup

Easy Tomato Bisque Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the most common ingredient used in bisque? ›

The main ingredient of a bisque is usually a shellfish like lobster, crab, shrimp, or crayfish, but occasionally other ingredients such as tomato, pumpkin or chicken are used.

What is tomato bisque made of? ›

This creamy tomato bisque recipe uses a combination of store-bought shortcuts like chicken broth and canned tomatoes along with aromatic vegetables to create a deeply flavorful soup that's ready in just over half an hour. Pureeing half of the bisque in a blender helps thicken it, as does adding a splash of heavy cream.

What is the difference between tomato soup and tomato bisque? ›

While both are delicious, they are quite different, especially when it comes to the texture. Tomato bisque is thicker and creamier in texture, and calls for the use of milk and/or cream.

Can you use milk instead of water for Campbell's tomato bisque? ›

Just add the appropriate amount of water, then simmer and serve for a deliciously filling soup in an instant. For a creamier result, add milk in place of water.

What is in a traditional bisque? ›

A bisque is a thick cream soup that chefs purée and strain for a fine, smooth final result. Traditional bisque recipes feature seafood like lobster, crayfish, shrimp, or crab as the main ingredient—chefs typically grind the crustacean shells into a fine paste to thicken the mixture.

What is the classic thickener for a bisque? ›

Most modern bisques are thickened using rice. Some cook the rice in the broth and strain it out later, using only the left-behind rice starch to thicken the soup. Others puree the rice into the soup to thicken it. Almost all bisques are finished with hot cream for a velvety texture.

What are the ingredients in Campbell's tomato bisque? ›

WATER, TOMATO PASTE, DICED TOMATOES (TOMATOES, TOMATO JUICE, CITRIC ACID, CALCIUMCHLORIDE), CANOLA OIL, CREAM, SUGAR, ONIONS, BUTTER, SALT, MODIFIED CORN STARCH, BASIL, YEASTEXTRACT (BARLEY), WHEAT FLOUR, MODIFIED MILK INGREDIENTS, DRIED GARLIC, DRIED PARSLEY, ONIONPOWDER, ANNATTO, SPICES (CONTAINS CHILLIES).

How long does homemade tomato bisque last? ›

In a sealed nonreactive container, tomato soup will keep up to one week in the refrigerator, or six months in the freezer.

How do you thicken tomato bisque? ›

Add flour or cornflour

Put a tablespoon of either into a small bowl and stir in 2-3 tbsp of the soup until you have a smooth mixture. Stir this back into the soup and bring it to a simmer. Cook for a few minutes to allow the starch granules to burst to thicken, and to cook out any flour flavour.

What goes good with tomato bisque soup? ›

18 Must-Try Toppings for Your Tomato Soup
  • Pretzels!
  • Pepperidge Farm® Goldfish® Crackers.
  • Pumpkin Seeds.
  • Croutons.
  • Tortilla Strips.
  • Cheese.
  • Avocado.
  • Sour Cream.

Is tomato bisque soup good for you? ›

Tomato soup is an excellent source of antioxidants, including lycopene, flavonoids, and vitamins C and E, among many others ( 3 , 7 ). Consuming antioxidants has been linked with a lower risk of cancer and inflammation-related diseases, such as obesity and heart disease ( 3 , 8 , 9 ).

What can I add to tomato soup for more flavor? ›

10 Simple Ingredients to Add to Tomato Soup
  1. 1) Fresh Rosemary. Kicking off the list is the simplest way to jazz up your tomato soup – fresh herbs. ...
  2. 2) Sauteed Onions. ...
  3. 3) Crispy Bacon. ...
  4. 4) Cream. ...
  5. 5) Chutney. ...
  6. 6) Melted Cheese. ...
  7. 7) Tinned Anchovies. ...
  8. 8) Toasted Pine Nuts.
Mar 21, 2022

How do you make tomato soup taste better? ›

You can sauté minced garlic in a bit of olive oil before adding the canned sauce to release its flavors. Onion: Chopped or minced onions, whether white or red, can provide a subtle sweetness and depth of flavor. Sauté them before adding the tomato sauce. Basil: Fresh or dried basil is a classic herb t.

Why does my milk curdle when I make tomato soup? ›

Tomatoes are very acidic and milk or cream is added to them, curdling can occur. Curdling will be more likely to happen when the ratio of acid to cream increases or when mixing a cold and hot mixture. To thwart the curdling tendency, changing procedures will render a smooth tomato soup.

What are the finishing ingredients for most bisques? ›

Cream and sherry are the finishing ingredients for most bisque's.

Does bisque contain flour? ›

A bisque is a rich, creamy soup made with one or more types of seafood, cream or milk, and the bisque is often thickened with flour.

What makes a bisque a bisque and not a soup? ›

What sets bisque apart from other soups is its rich and velvety texture, which is achieved by pureeing the ingredients until they reach a smooth consistency. Additionally, bisque is often enriched with heavy cream, giving it a luxurious and indulgent quality.

What alcohol is used for a bisque? ›

The addition of alcohol is a classic flavoring method but can provide more than just flavor. White wine, brandy or sherry can be used and are all excellent liquids for deglazing. This ensures every bit of flavor is cooked into the soup as opposed to being stuck to the bottom of the pan.

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