Copycat Panera Creamy Tomato Basil Soup Recipe

******* 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 as quick and easy and every bit as delicious.

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Copycat Panera Creamy Tomato Basil Soup Recipe

Author Kimber

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

1. Combine the tomatoes, broth, and garlic bring to a boil and let boil for 10 minutes.
2. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the sugar and butter and mix until they are dissolved, melted and well combined.
3. Very slowly pour in the heavy cream while simultaneously stirring until all the cream is combined and the soup is creamy.
4. Stir in the basil.
5. I like to serve it hot garnished with a dollop of pesto and freshly grated parmesan cheese!