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4.6 from 42 votes

Tomato Bisque

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By: Joanna Cismaru •1/6/23 42 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This Tomato Bisque is made with roasted garlic, this creamy, blended to silky perfection, soup is always a huge hit. While it sounds and tastes gourmet, this recipe couldn’t get any easier. Serve it as an appetizer or a main course! No matter how it hits the table, it’ll be greatly appreciated.

side view shot of tomato bisque in a soup bowl with a grilled cheese sandwich
Table of Contents Open
  • Super Easy Tomato Bisque Recipe
  • Why You’ll Love This Tomato Bisque
  • Ingredients You’ll Need
  • How To Make Tomato Bisque
    • Sauté The Veggies
    • Create The Base
    • Puree The Soup
    • Finish And Serve
  • What Is Tomato Bisque?
  • What Makes A Bisque Different From Soup?
  • Can I Make Vegan Tomato Bisque?
  • How To Roast Garlic
  • How To Serve
  • Expert Tips
  • Storage
  • Other Delicious Soups To Try
  • Tomato Bisque
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Equipment
    • Notes
    • Nutrition Information
  • Did You Make This?

Super Easy Tomato Bisque Recipe

Tomato soup has to be one of my favorites. Served with a hot grilled cheese fresh off the skillet? Now that, my friends, is heaven on a plate. This tomato bisque really brings the flavor. With the addition of onion, carrot, celery, roasted garlic, and heavy cream, we’re entering a world of flavor you didn’t think possible with a bowl of tomato soup.

I know, I know. Making soup from a can is just so easy and tempting! I promise this recipe is not much harder. The most complicated and time consuming part is chopping the veggies. After that, the process is an absolute breeze. Plus, you have to admit, using that immersion blender to turn the soup into a smooth, creamy masterpiece is so satisfying.

overhead shot of tomato bisque soup in a beige dutch oven with a drizzle of heavy cream garnished with parsley

Why You’ll Love This Tomato Bisque

  • Simple Recipe! This is a very easy recipe that doesn’t require a long list of steps or fancy ingredients. You only need one pot, an immersion blender, and about 45 minutes!  
  • Refined Tomato Soup! Pureed until smooth and creamy, a touch of heavy cream and the addition of perfectly roasted garlic take simple tomato soup to a whole new delicious  level. 
  • Perfect Main or Side! You can serve this elegant soup with a grilled cheese sandwich, as a main dish with fresh crusty bread, or as a starter at a multicourse dinner party.

Ingredients You’ll Need

ingredients needed to make tomato bisque.
  • Olive oil – Avocado, sunflower, safflower, canola, or vegetable oils will work instead.
  • Onion – I used a white onion. Yellow onion or shallot will work instead.
  • Carrot & celery – You can us as much or little as you like.
  • Roasted garlic – If you use regular garlic instead, use half as much.
  • Flour – All-purpose. You can add a cornstarch slurry instead at the last step if you’d like the soup to be gluten-free.
  • Chicken broth – Or any type of broth you have handy.
  • Crushed tomatoes – 28 oz can. Crushed tomatoes will work too.
  • Bay leaves – Fresh or dried.
  • Heavy cream – Higher fat percentage will work best, but if you want to cut down you can use cream as low as 10%MF.
  • Salt & pepper – To taste. Freshly cracked pepper will be best for this soup.
  • Parsley – Freshly chopped for garnish.

How To Make Tomato Bisque

You are not going to believe how easy it is to produce sophisticated rich tomato flavor in so little time with this easy recipe! And if you don’t own an immersion blender, don’t worry! You can use a regular blender or food processor instead. 

Sauté The Veggies

process shots showing how to make tomato bisque.

To begin, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large pot or Dutch oven. Next, add the onion, carrot, and celery and cook for 5 to 6 minutes or until the onion is soft and translucent. Then add the roasted garlic and cook for another 30 seconds while stirring. 

Create The Base

process shots showing how to make tomato bisque.

Now that your veggies are soft, stir the flour into the mixture and let it cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Next, stir in the chicken broth, canned tomatoes, and bay leaves and bring the soup to a boil. Then reduce the heat to a simmer, cover it with a lid, and cook it for 30 minutes while stirring occasionally. 

Puree The Soup

process shots showing how to make tomato bisque.

After the soup has cooked for a bit, remove the bay leaves from the pot and then puree it with an immersion blender until it’s completely smooth. You can also do this step with a blender or food processor if you prefer. Yet, be careful when transferring the hot soup as it can burn. 

Finish And Serve

process shots showing how to make tomato bisque.

Once the soup has been blended, stir in ¾ cup of the heavy cream. Then taste the soup and season with salt and black pepper as needed. Now, ladle the finished tomato bisque into your favorite bowls and garnish with a drizzle of heavy cream, a bit of fresh basil, and some freshly ground black pepper to serve.

What Is Tomato Bisque?

The word “bisque” may have you thinking of seafood, and for a legitimate reason. A bisque is usually made with seafood broth, particularly lobster, shrimp, or crab. Not in this case! Tomato bisque uses ingredients that are very reminiscent of cream of tomato soup.

A modern day tomato bisque is recognizable with it’s completely smooth, thickened, and perfectly pureed consistency. While some swear by using rice to thicken the soup, I’ve used flour to make the process a little easier.

What Makes A Bisque Different From Soup?

Bisques are French, but still a soup. However, what sets a bisque apart from just a soup is the texture and the addition of heavy cream. Soups are not always pureed till smooth and oftentimes can even be chunky. They also don’t always include cream. Whereas, bisques are always pureed till smooth and include heavy cream.

Can I Make Vegan Tomato Bisque?

Yes! Just leave out the chicken broth and heavy cream. You can replace the chicken broth with vegetable broth and the heavy cream with a plant-based plain yogurt or milk. 

side view shot of tomato bisque in a soup bowl with a a hand dipping half a grilled cheese in the soup

How To Roast Garlic

The deep, sweet flavor of roasted garlic works so well with the acidic tomatoes in your tomato bisque. While you can use regular garlic, I suggest taking the extra steps to really transform your soup into a gourmet experience. It’s really simple, so here’s my recipe for roasted garlic.

How To Serve

Feel free to enjoy this recipe as an appetizer or as the main course. I’ve gone with a classic garnish of fresh parsley and a drizzle of heavy cream. You can also serve your bisque with a few croutons floated in the center of the bowl or like I did with a grilled cheese.

When I think of a rich, creamy, flavorful soup like this, I crave some good homemade bread. Here are my favorite recipes anyone can master, regardless of their baking abilities:

  • No Knead Bread
  • No Knead Skillet Bread
  • Artisan Bread
  • Honey Rolls
  • Dark Rye Bread
tomato bisque in a soup bowl with a grilled cheese sandwich

I’ll also serve this soup up with a simple, fresh salad on the side:

  • Chickpea Tomato Salad
  • Kale and Quinoa Salad
  • Tomato Basil Salad
  • Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Salad
  • Cobb Salad

Expert Tips

  1. Roast your garlic. Use roasted garlic as instructed in the recipe for the most flavorful soup. You can even roast extra to smear on some fresh bread or make my Roasted Garlic Hummus.
  2. Season at the very end. All soup reduces as it cooks and thickens up. If you season the bisque too early in the cooking process you risk it turning out too salty.
  3. Healthier Version. To make it healthier you can use vegetable broth in place of the heavy cream and just cook it for a bit longer to thicken up.

Storage

Leftover tomato bisque will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months in an airtight container.

To reheat, just put it in the microwave for a few minutes on medium power or reheat it in a saucepan. If the soup has been frozen, you can let it thaw out first or reheat it from frozen in the microwave or on the stovetop. 

side view shot of tomato bisque in a soup bowl with a half a grilled cheese resting on the bowl

Other Delicious Soups To Try

  • Roasted Tomato Soup
  • Lasagna Soup
  • Easy Tortellini Soup
  • Chicken and Rice Soup
  • Lentil Soup
  • Minestrone Soup
  • Easy Hamburger Soup
  • Italian Meatball Soup
  • Buffalo Chicken Wing Soup

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

tomato bisque in a soup bowl with a grilled cheese sandwich
Print
4.62 from 42 votes

Tomato Bisque

Prep 15 minutes
Cook 45 minutes
Total 1 hour
Rate Recipe
Tomato Bisque – Made with roasted garlic, this creamy, blended to silky perfection, soup is always a huge hit. While it sounds and tastes gourmet, this recipe couldn't get any easier. Serve it as an appetizer or a main course! No matter how it hits the table, it'll be greatly appreciated.
4

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium onion (diced)
  • 1 medium carrot (sliced)
  • 1 stalk celery (sliced)
  • 1 tablespoon roasted garlic
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (all-purpose)
  • 4 cups chicken broth (low sodium)
  • 28 ounces diced tomatoes (1 can)
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper (freshly ground)
  • 1 tablespoon parsley (chopped for garnish, or fresh basil)

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions 

  • Heat the olive oil in a pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrot, and celery. Cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring often, until the onion is softened and translucent. Add the roasted garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
  • Stir in the flour and cook for another 1-2 minutes, then add the chicken broth, tomatoes, and bay leaves. Stir to combine, then bring the soup to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover with a lid, and cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
    process shots showing how to make tomato bisque.
  • Remove the bay leaves from the pot. Use an immersion blender and blend the soup until it's completely smooth. If you don't have an immersion blender, you can transfer the soup to a regular blender.
    process shots showing how to make tomato bisque.
  • Stir ¾ cup of the cream into the pot. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish each bowl with a drizzle of the remaining heavy cream, the fresh basil, and a crack of pepper.
    process shots showing how to make tomato bisque.

Equipment

  • 6 Quart Dutch Oven
  • Multi-Speed Immersion Blender

Notes

  1. Roast your garlic. Use roasted garlic as instructed in the recipe for the most flavorful soup. You can even roast extra to smear on some fresh bread or make my Roasted Garlic Hummus.
  2. Season at the very end. All soup reduces as it cooks and thickens up. If you season the bisque too early in the cooking process you risk it turning out too salty.
  3. Healthier Version. To make it healthier you can use vegetable broth in place of the heavy cream and just cook it for a bit longer to thicken up.
  4. Leftover tomato bisque will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months in an airtight container. To reheat, just put it in the microwave for a few minutes on medium power or reheat it in a saucepan. If the soup has been frozen, you can let it thaw out first or reheat it from frozen in the microwave or on the stovetop.  

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1servingCalories: 375kcal (19%)Carbohydrates: 20g (7%)Protein: 9g (18%)Fat: 31g (48%)Saturated Fat: 15g (94%)Cholesterol: 82mg (27%)Sodium: 689mg (30%)Potassium: 736mg (21%)Fiber: 3g (13%)Sugar: 7g (8%)Vitamin A: 3779IU (76%)Vitamin C: 24mg (29%)Calcium: 129mg (13%)Iron: 3mg (17%)
© Author Joanna Cismaru

Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.

tomato bisque in a soup bowl with a grilled cheese sandwich

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Joanna Cismaru

Joanna Cismaru

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

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42 Comments
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Barbara A Fernandez
Barbara A Fernandez
Posted: 1 month ago

5 stars
Just made this on a cold January evening. Delicious! Easy! and warms the soul. I served the soup with a bowl of sour cream mixed with plain yogurt sprinkled with chopped scallions, to dollop on top of the soup. Will add this to my soup collection.
Thank you

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Barbara A Fernandez
Posted: 1 month ago

So glad you liked it!

0
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Corinne Edwards
Corinne Edwards
Posted: 1 month ago

5 stars
This recipe was great.

0
Reply
Rachael P
Rachael P
Posted: 2 months ago

4 stars
Very tasty soup! I like some tomato chunks, so I saved half a can of tomatoes and added at the end. The roasted garlic definitely took it to a higher level! I gave it 5 stars, my family gave it 4, but it will definitely be made again and again.

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Rachael P
Posted: 2 months ago

Glad you enjoyed it!

0
Reply
Martha
Martha
Posted: 5 months ago

5 stars
This is one of the best recipes for tomato bisque that I have found! (And it is so easy!) I accidentally added more of the roasted garlic than the recipe called for, but that was not a problem at all. Delicious!

0
Reply
Deborah Emerson
Deborah Emerson
Posted: 1 year ago

5 stars
This was perfect!

0
Reply
Jean Petitt
Jean Petitt
Posted: 2 years ago

I love all your recipes!!!

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Jean Petitt
Posted: 2 years ago

Thank you!!!

0
Reply
Samatha
Samatha
Posted: 2 years ago

Do you have a recipe for the “dipper” that appears in the tomato soup recipe?

1
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Samatha
Posted: 2 years ago

LOL I do, but it’s not published yet, it’s grilled cheese sandwich. 🙂

0
Reply
Sue
Sue
Posted: 2 years ago

Oh! I thought this was going to be a recipe for me to use all of these lovely tomatoes I’m picking from my garden right now.

1
Reply
Judy Tiziani
Judy Tiziani
Posted: 2 years ago

5 stars
Delicious with a nice kick. So easy to make too.

0
Reply
Alysa
Alysa
Posted: 2 years ago

Tried this with great results! Love how amazing the roasted veggies smell and fill the house!

0
Reply
Karen
Karen
Posted: 2 years ago

I want to make this but I’m confused. Do I add the whole garlic bulb in the processor with the tomatoes and onions etc or just the juice of the garlic

0
Reply
Jo Cooks Team
Jo Cooks Team
Reply to  Karen
Posted: 2 years ago

You’ll use the whole bulb. Since the garlic is roasted in step 1, it becomes very soft and can be squeezed out.

0
Reply
Rodgers
Rodgers
Posted: 4 years ago

i love the soup so good

0
Reply
Heather
Heather
Posted: 5 years ago

5 stars
Wow! Is this ever delicious! I had tons of tomatoes from my CSA so I tripled the recipe and omitted the broth. Great recipe and sooo easy!

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Heather
Posted: 5 years ago

Thanks Heather, glad you liked it!

0
Reply
Anna
Anna
Posted: 6 years ago

Making this today and going to try and freeze it for after my baby gets here next month to make life a little easier, roasting the veggies now and it smells incredible!

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Anna
Posted: 6 years ago

Congrats on the new baby, hope you like the recipe!

0
Reply
Marina
Marina
Posted: 6 years ago

Yum

0
Reply

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