Homemade Slow Cooker Tomato Soup

Homemade Slow Cooker Tomato Soup delivers the nostalgia of childhood, but with a richer, more elevated taste and texture. This creamy soup, made with canned tomatoes, has a velvety texture that’s perfect for a cozy meal at home. Enjoy this tasty comfort meal with a slice of crusty bread or your favorite sandwich!

What’s To Love About This Recipe

• Enjoy a rich and velvety tomato soup that reminds you of your childhood – only much tastier! This soup is made with simple ingredients, but after hours in the slow cooker, it turns out smooth and deeply flavorful.
• This homemade recipe keeps simplicity in mind, using canned whole tomatoes and easy pantry staples. It tastes luxurious, but couldn’t be more accessible to make right in your kitchen.
• The whole tomatoes bring exceptional flavor and quality – canned at the freshest stage! Use an immersion blender to create the silkiest texture that pairs perfectly with a slice of crusty bread or a sandwich on the side.
• This comforting, familiar soup is a delicious option to serve as a first course, with a side salad, or simply a light meal on its own with crackers or toast.

Ingredients Needed

• Whole peeled tomatoes (with juices) – Use canned whole tomatoes for this recipe to get the richest flavor. These whole, peeled tomatoes make up the base of the soup and produce a much smoother texture than diced – they also retain so much more flavor! Look for the highest quality you can find for the best results.
• Tomato paste – Adding tomato paste deepens the flavor and creates a more concentrated base.
• Vegetable broth – Vegetable broth thins the tomato mixture, while still adding richness and savory flavor to the soup base.
• Onion powder and garlic powder – A mix of onion and garlic powder adds slight sweetness and depth to the soup, without changing the texture.
• Salt and black pepper – Salt balances the intensity of the tomato flavor, and black pepper adds warmth.
• Herbs – Together, dried basil and dried oregano bring classic herbal flavors familiar to tomato-based recipes. They add earthiness and a deeper flavor while keeping the soup base smooth.
• Heavy cream – Heavy cream is key to achieving the creamy, velvety finish that you know and love in tomato soup! Stir it in at the end of cooking to prevent curdling.
• Butter – Add a small amount of butter at the end of cooking for extra richness and a smooth finish.
• Tapioca flour or cornstarch and water (slurry) – A slurry is used to thicken the soup slightly without making it overly heavy. The texture and thickness should be just enough to stick to your spoon for every tasty bite!
• Sugar – Add a bit of sugar after cooking (and tasting) to balance the tomatoes’ acidity. This creates a perfectly delicious balance to the recipe. Taste and adjust as needed. 

How To Make Slow Cooker Tomato Soup 

1. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, vegetable broth, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, basil, and oregano to the slow cooker.
2. Use a spoon to gently break up the tomatoes.

3. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
4. Blend the soup until completely smooth using an immersion blender or blender.

5. Stir in the heavy cream, butter, slurry, and sugar until melted and incorporated well.

6. Taste and adjust seasoning. Add more sugar if the soup tastes overly acidic.

Recipe Substitutions and Variations

• Canned, peeled whole tomatoes are the best choice for homemade tomato soup because they are packed at the most ripe stage, preserving rich flavor and color. If necessary, you could substitute crushed tomatoes, but refrain from using canned diced tomatoes, as they can cause textural changes.
• Since canned whole tomatoes are preserved at their peak, they are often more flavorful and richer than average grocery-store fresh tomatoes. If you prefer fresh tomatoes, they need to be roasted before slow cooking.
• Vegetable broth keeps the soup vegetarian, but you could also swap it with chicken broth for a more savory flavor. Bone broth is another option for boosting protein content!
• For a dairy-free version of this tomato soup, omit the heavy cream and butter, and simply add the slurry and sugar as directed near the end.
• Feel free to experiment with other veggie additions that can be easily pureed in the slow cooker, such as diced red pepper, zucchini, or celery. Keep in mind that these will alter the soup’s texture, and it won’t be quite as smooth and velvety.
• Dried herbs make the best option for slow cooking, but you can add a bold finish to the soup with a garnish of fresh basil or parsley before serving.

How To Serve Slow Cooker Tomato Soup

There’s something nostalgic about a cup of tomato soup with simple crackers or a homemade grilled cheese sandwich on the side! Serve an easy, light meal with something to dip in the soup, like buttered toast, or pair the soup with a heartier sandwich, wrap, or panini.

For other meal pairings, add a bowl of soup to the menu alongside Roasted Corn Chopped Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette or a serving of Summer Peach and Goat Cheese Pasta Salad for a meal that tastes fresh from garden to table!

Garnishes & Toppings 

Dress up your creamy tomato soup with a handful of garnishes or toppings. Try these options to elevate a cup of classic soup to a more gourmet option:

• Chopped fresh basil or parsley 
• A sprinkle of shredded Parmesan or mozzarella cheese
• A drizzle of olive oil or a small pat of butter
• Croutons or oyster crackers
• A dollop of ricotta cheese or sour cream
• Extra salt and cracked black pepper
• Roasted garlic cloves

Storing and Reheating

How To Best Store Leftovers

Fridge

Store leftover tomato soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. 

Freezer 

Leftover tomato soup will freeze best without the heavy cream added. If you like, you can prepare the soup as directed, let it cool without adding cream, butter, and slurry, and freeze it for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge, and add the remaining ingredients when reheating.

How To Best Reheat Leftovers

Reheat single portions of soup in the microwave in short bursts, or more servings in a saucepan on the stove over medium heat. Add a splash of broth or cream as needed to thin the soup.

More Slow Cooker Soup Recipes

• Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup
• Slow Cooker French Onion Soup Recipe
• Hearty Homestyle Slow Cooker Loaded Potato Soup
• 35+ Slow Cooker Soup Recipes
• Slow Cooker Tortellini Soup