******* 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, Â 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. Â And Panera’s is fabulous. Â It is rich and thick. Â It is smooth and creamy. Â 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. Â You do not have to spend days laboring in your kitchen peeling tomatoes and chopping garlic. Â 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! Â 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! Â 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! Â The can of diced tomatoes give it the same chunky texture that they serve at Panera. Â If you prefer a smooth texture you can use two cans of crushed tomatoes instead of one of each. Â 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. Â 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. Â Pour in your heavy cream extremely slowly with one hand while mixing continuously with the other. Â By pouring it slowly while mixing you allow it to fully combine and achieve a really creamy and wonderful soup. Â 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. Â 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. Â I often double the recipe so I can freeze an entire batch! Â Just prepare the soup as directed, let cool, and then put into a tupperware or gallon sized bag or two and freeze. Â To reheat, place in a pot over medium until warmed through on the stove top, or my favorite way, Â just microwave for 6-10 minutes stirring each minute until heated through.
As promised! Â Quick and easy! Â And if you serve this with a big fat grilled cheese sandwich, you might just make all the worries in the world disappear. Â At least for as long as lunch lasts! Â This is one of my all time favorite recipes and I hope will be one of yours too! Â 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
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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Emmapawprints says
This was a quick & easy soup to make on a cold rainy day. It hit the spot. I used reduced fat cream (8%) and added 2 tablespoons of pesto in addition to the chopped basil. I had used reduced sodium tomatoes so it needed a little something to replace the salt. The pesto worked beautifully. I also used my hand blender to puree the tomatoes a bit as they were a little too chunky for my liking. I will definitely make this one again.
Michelina says
This looks great!! Do you have to puree it with a hand blender or regular blender?
Carole says
Changed this up and is delicious. I sauted shallots and garlic in butter, then added that. I also omitted the diced tomatoes and instead added a can of campbells tomato soup.
Melody says
Hi! I made this today and it was delish! In one of the pictures, it looks like you added some seasoning to it. What did you add? I didn’t see it in the recipe. I added salt, pepper and a little Italian seasoning. Thanks so much!
Kimber says
It is just the basil! So glad you enjoyed it!
Ben says
How many servings does a single batch make?
Ruth says
How many servings does this recipe make?
Spencer says
15-20 basil leaves seems like an awful lot. Is this correct?
Kimber says
That is correct! If you want to use dried instead, I add it at the beginning instead of the end and use 1 Tbsp. Enjoy!
Anne says
Hi!!! Has anybody be tried this in the crockpot? Hoping to try it!
Jennifer G says
This recipe was actually pretty good! And really easy to do although I did use dried basil bits. For me, who doesn’t cook much it was perfect. Thanks for the recipe.
Mavis says
Just made this and it was delicious! Thanks so much for posting! I made a pig of myself and had three bowls!
Deanna says
Wow. This was fantastic. My four-year old loves tomato soup, but I was tired of the canned stuff. I have made this three times now. Tastes so good. I make sure to always have basil on hand. Oh, yeah. She loved it, too.