Easy Tomato Bisque Soup is rich, creamy, and perfectly smooth — the ultimate comfort food in a bowl. Made with simple pantry ingredients, this homemade tomato bisque delivers deep tomato flavor balanced with a touch of cream for a velvety finish.
Ready in under 30 minutes, this classic soup is perfect for busy weeknights or cozy weekends at home. Serve it alongside a grilled cheese sandwich or crusty bread for a comforting meal that feels both nostalgic and elevated.
Table of Contents
I couldn’t have been happier with the way this tomato bisque soup turned out. It’s got a rich tomato flavor and has quickly become a family favorite!
Ingredient notes
- Butter – I like to use unsalted butter so that I can control the salt better.
- Onion – Yellow onions are preferred for their sweetness.
- Canned Diced Tomatoes
- Salt + Pepper
- Baking Soda – Baking soda helps to counteract the acidity of tomatoes.
- Dried Thyme – Or, use twice as much fresh thyme.
- Fresh Orange Juice – It took me about 6 oranges to get all the juice needed for this recipe. Note: you can also use fresh squeezed bottled orange juice in this recipe. Just be sure that it’s really good quality OJ.
- Heavy Cream – Want to make a vegan tomato bisque? Simply substitute the heavy cream for coconut milk.
- Fresh Basil – To finish things off, I topped my bowls of creamy tomato bisque with a few sprigs of fresh basil. It gave a great aroma and looked pretty. But, if you don’t have fresh basil on hand, feel free to add in about 1/4 teaspoon of dried basil to your soup when you add the dried thyme.
How to make tomato bisque soup
- Saute: Melt butter in a large saucepan over moderate heat. Add onion and saute until translucent.
- Simmer: Add canned tomatoes and spices. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer uncovered about 15 minutes or until slightly thickened.
- Puree: Using a blender, food processor or immersion blender, blend soup until smooth.
- Season: Slowly stir in heavy whipping cream & orange juice. Season with kosher salt and black pepper.
How to make ahead and freeze
This homemade tomato bisque can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Or, freeze it for up to 3 months.
What is the difference between tomato soup and tomato bisque?
The traditional usage of the term bisque means a soup that is made with shellfish stock, like lobster bisque. But in more modern times, the word bisque has been used to define any soup that is made with the use of heavy cream.
What to serve with it
- Alongside some crusty bread, garlic bread or pesto garlic bread.
- Topped with crunchy baked croutons or air fryer croutons.
- Paired with a grilled cheese sandwich.
- With a green salad.
- More → 20+ Sides for Tomato Soup
Erin’s wine pairings
- For a white wine option, try a Viognier – Its viscosity and lush flavors stand up well to this rich soup.
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Did you try this tomato bisque recipe?
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Full Recipe
Tomato Bisque
Ingredients
- 6 Tablespoons butter (unsalted )
- 1/2 yellow onion (diced)
- 2 14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 1/4 cups fresh orange juice (***)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- Fresh basil (to garnish)
Instructions
- Melt 6 Tablespoons butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add 1/2 yellow onion and saute until translucent.
- Add 2 14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes and their juice, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1/4 teaspoon baking soda and 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer uncovered about 15 minutes or until slightly thickened.
- Using an immersion blender, process until smooth. Alternatively, transfer contents to a blender and process until smooth.
- With soup over low heat, slowly stir in 1 1/4 cups fresh orange juice and 1/2 cup heavy cream. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish with fresh basil, if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
- This homemade tomato bisque can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Or, freeze it for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
This post was originally published in 2016. It was updated in 2025 to revise the content. The tomato bisque recipe remains the same. Enjoy!
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