An easy, flavor-packed creamy tomato soup paired with a gooey and perfectly crunchy 3 cheese grilled cheese sandwich. This decadent, cozy meal is also made lighter with a few easy swaps!

cozy meal alert

Creamy tomato soup and grilled cheese are the epitome of comfort food. On a cold winter’s day, there is just nothing better than a bowl of warm, creamy, flavor-packed tomato soup paired with a golden brown and gooey grilled cheese sandwich. Amiright?! It’s what I look forward to every time we get the first snow in Illinois. To me, a snowy day is my signal to whip up this delicious combo!

In fact, we took our 18-month son Grayson out to play in the snow for the first time a couple of Sundays ago. It was a special moment watching him discover the magic (and fun!) of snow! After a playful snow fight and failed attempt at building a snowman, we came inside and the inspiration struck. It was time to make this classic comfort food combo!

ingredients in creamy tomato soup

This soup is made mostly with pantry staples. I also added a few secret (but still simple) ingredients to really amp up the flavor:

carrots and onions, help build depth of flavor and add extra veggie goodness.
fresh garlic + Italian seasoning + bay leaves, these three work together to amp up the flavor of the soup. Fresh garlic adds a punchy kick that wakes up the soup. I always have Italian seasoning in my pantry because it combines multiple herbs, making it a one-stop shop for adding wondrous herbaceous flavor. Finally, the bay leaves, as Serious Eats culinary director J. KENJI LÓPEZ-ALT put it “add[s] a layer of subtle background music for the stars of your dish to play over.” Basically, it helps the other flavors shine and gives your soup that little extra something special.
tomato paste, adds richness and helps the tomato flavor shine.
whole San Marzano tomatoes with basil and garlic + crushed tomatoes, San Marzano tomatoes are the king of tomatoes; they are juicier and less acidic, making the perfect for tomato soup. I use the ones flavored with basil and garlic as a short cut to add extra flavor. I also used crushed tomatoes to make the soup the right consistency.
chicken or vegetable broth, helps thin out the soup while adding subtle umami flavor.
coconut sugar + balsamic vinegar, these two act as my secret ingredients in the soup. The coconut sugar (you could use regular sugar too) helps tone done the acidity of the tomatoes creating a more balanced and delicious soup. The touch of balsamic vinegar adds a subtle layer of flavor that makes the soup rich and sophisticated without being overly fussy.
heavy cream, makes the soup a little creamier while rounding out the acidic flavors.

how to make creamy tomato soup

Melt Fat. Add the planted based butter (regular works too) and olive oil to a large pot over medium heat until butter is fully melted.

Sautéed onions and carrots. Add in the diced carrots and onions and cook for about 5–6 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season veggies with 1/2 teaspoon salt and add in sugar and stir until sugar is fully mixed in with veggie mix. Cook for another 7-9 minutes or until onion and carrots are golden brown and caramelized.

Add in seasonings. Add in the garlic, tomato paste, and Italian seasoning and stir for another 1-2 minutes or until the paste begins to brown and turn a slight rusty color.

Add in Flour. If pan seems dry, add another 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil. Then add flour, cook for another 1 minute.

Add liquids. Pour in the tomatoes, chicken or veggie broth, balsamic vinegar and bay leaves and again season to taste. I add another 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Increase heat to high and cook fo 8-10 minutes.

Blend. Using an immersion blender, blend the soup until velvety smooth. Or carefully transfer the mixture to a blender, and blend on high until smooth. Return to the pot. Taste and season again to you liking.

Make it creamy. Return the pot to low heat on the stove and stir in cream. Taste once again for any additional seasonings needed.

Assemble the grilled cheese. Spread desired amount of butter (I used a plant-based kind) on one side of each slice of bread and season with garlic salt. With butter side down, top each slice of bread with one slice of each kind of cheese. Top each sandwich with other slice of bread, butter side up.

Make the grilled cheese. In a skillet over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add sandwiches to the pan, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. Cook for 2-4 minutes, or until first side is golden brown. Flip and top skillet with lid (this helps cheese fully melt and become gooey.) Cook for another 2-3 minutes or until second side is golden brown. Repeat until all sandwiches are cooked, wiping skillet clean if necessary.

Enjoy! Serve warm grilled cheese with the warm bowl of soup. Yum!!

swaps to make it healthier

As always, I love to lighten up dishes to make them easily and secretly healthier. Here is what I did to lighten up the soup and grilled cheese.

The soup:

Many store-bought tomato soups (or other online recipes) are chalked full of sugar. Admittedly, I believe a little sugar does help balance out the acidity of the tomatoes. But just a touch of coconut sugar does the trick while keeping this soup refined sugar free!
I added tons of veggies, like carrots and onion (and of course, tomatoes,) to make this a hearty and nutritious soup.
I do add a touch of heavy cream to add extra creaminess. My recipes calls for only a touch and much less than some recipes that add almost a cup of heavy cream. Woah! You can omit this step all together or try greek yogurt or coconut cream instead.
This soup is also easily made vegan. Just omit the heavy cream and use plant-based butter instead of regular butter.
This soup is also gluten-free (plus, if you use gluten-free bread, so is the grilled cheese). So this is a great option for those avoiding gluten but still want cozy, comfort food! 🙂

The grilled cheese

I used a hearty, low calorie, and fiber rich whole grain bread, my favorites are Dave’s Killer Bread + Angelic Bakehouse
I used real, all natural cheese (no processed cheese here!)
I used a plant-based butter and olive oil to crisp up and make the bread golden brown.
I also add a touch of garlic salt which amps up flavor without any extra calories.

other cozy meals

enjoy!

This creamy tomato soup with 3 cheese grilled cheese is delicious comfort food at it’s best. Plus, made easily healthier through some clever swaps!

If you make this creamy tomato soup with 3 cheese grilled cheese, please leave a comment below. I absolutely love to hear from you guys and your thoughts on my recipes. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram or pin it on pinterest so I can see your creations!