Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Parmesan Soup
This Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Parmesan Soup is creamy and comforting. It’s chock full of fresh veggies and cooks in your slow cooker all day long. This is one of my tried and true favorites soups and my family literally licks their bowls.
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SLOW COOKER TOMATO BASIL SOUP
Who knew that the Roomba was the pet my kids always wanted? My husband surprised me with it for Christmas last year. If you don’t know what a Roomba is, it’s a flat black circular machine that roams around your house cleaning the floors. It even has a dock where it returns to once it’s finished. Supposedly it remembers where it’s been in your house so that it doesn’t retrace it tracks, but I’m not too sold on that. My kids follow it around and try to tell it what to do. It’s also has been quite useful to make crazy videos. Stick your phone on top of it and let it record you while you and your family hover over it. Hours of fun.
I guess I was expecting a magical machine – like a housecleaner packed into a little disk. I do admit my house might be a little much for the Roomba. Today I couldn’t find it anywhere. I had sent it off to clean while I was at the gym and it was nowhere to be found when I got home. I looked under couches, under tables,…nothing. I imagined that it was in a corner full of Legos somewhere rocking back and forth mumbling. Then I wondered if it had an S.O.S. button that it could trigger on itself if it felt like it was being abused.
Just when I had given up I checked the bathroom, whose door happened to be closed. Somehow that little sucker had gotten in there and closed the door behind him. Can he teach my boys to do that?
While the Roomba was cleaning today, I made this Tomato Basil Parmesan Soup. I thought it was fantastic. I’ve had a lot of soups like this, but this one is my favorite by far.
You can lighten this soup up by replacing the half and half with milk. Don’t feel too bad because the soup is packed with veggies. I used my mini food processor to chop them all up quickly. It doesn’t really matter if you do it by hand, it will just take longer. I ended up blending the entire soup in the end so it didn’t really matter how fine the vegetables were. I wanted a creamy texture but the original recipe does not call for blending. I might try it the chunky way next time to see if I like it, but this way was so good that I might have a hard time convincing myself. We started adding a small scoop of cooked orzo pasta to each bowl before serving just like Cafe Zupas does.
If you don’t have a slow cooker you can also do this on the stove top. Head over to 365 Days of Slow Cooking for directions on that.
OTHER SOUP RECIPES:
- Cauliflower Soup
- Creamy Potato Soup
- Easy Tomato Soup
- Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
- Lasagna Soup
- Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Parmesan Soup
- Panera’s Broccoli Cheddar Soup
- Zuppa Toscana Soup
- Egg Drop Soup
Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Parmesan Soup
Ingredients
- 2 (14 oz) cans diced tomatoes, with juice
- 1 cup finely diced celery
- 1 cup finely diced carrots
- 1 cup finely diced onions
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano or 1 Tablespoon fresh oregano
- 1/4 cup fresh basil
- 4 cups chicken broth
- ½ bay leaf
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup flour
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups half and half, warmed (substitute milk for less calories)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- optional cooked orzo pasta
Instructions
- Add tomatoes, celery, carrots, onions, oregano, basil, chicken broth and bay leaf to a large slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 5-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours, until flavors are blended and vegetables are soft. At this point I added all of the vegetables to a blender and blended until smooth. If you have a hand immersion blender that would work great. If you prefer a chunkier texture you can leave it as is or even blend just some of it. Return blended veggies back to the slow cooker.
- About 30 minutes before serving prepare the roux. Melt butter over low heat in a skillet and add the flour. Stir roux constantly with a whisk for 5-7 minutes. Slowly whisk in 1 cup hot soup. Add another 1-2 cups and stir until smooth. Add all back into the slow cooker. Stir and add the Parmesan cheese, warmed half and half, salt and pepper.
- Cover and cook on LOW for another 30 minutes or so. You can leave slow cooker on warm until ready to serve. Serve with warm rolls and a green salad. Add a spoonful of orzo to each soup bowl just like they do in the restaurants if desired.
Notes
This is such a wonderful recipe. We’ve made it several times and is a family favorite.
Thank you!!
LOVE this soup. I have made it dozens of times over the years. I generally do 3 or 4 cans of tomatoes, and lighter milk works totally fine. I add a red bell pepper sometimes and I like adding chicken! Delish!
Thank you!
Does this soup freeze well?
Yes it does
This was really good. I agree with another reviewer and would have liked just a little more kick of tomato flavor so next time I make it I will add a bit of tomato paste. Otherwise, this was absolutely YUM! The basil really makes it. I served it with orzo and a bit of fresh basil as a garnish. Even my hubby enjoyed it. I will for sure make this again.
Does it freeze well?
Thanks!
Yes it freezes great.
I love this recipe! Very yummy! I used 1/4 C. cornstarch instead of 1/2C. flour because you can cut down carbs by half that way ( I’m diabetic) and also almond milk since I had that on hand. Very good! It would be good with spinach to even add more veggies!
( You need to add in the recipe to take out the bay leaf before blending the soup)
Thank you!
The consistency of this soup was great, but it was disappointingly lacking in tomato flavor. It was a nice creamy cheese soup rather than the tomato i wanted to accompany my grilled cheese. I think it needs 1-2 TB of tomato paste, perhaps, to kick it up a bit. I’d try it again with that addition.
Sorry you feel that way.
This is one of our favorite soups ever! Even those in my family who don’t like “tomato soup” love this. I’m in WW so cut the butter, flour and cheese in half. Also used fat free half and half. Still, this soup was rich and delicious and by using the immersion blender, as smooth and creamy as you like. I leave it a little chunky to make it feel more like a meal than just a soup.
So glad you liked it!
This is an excellent recipe.. during this lockdown, I have to use Ingredients that I have on hand. I was out of chicken, and so I used vegetable. I made croutons out of homemade bread. I have simplified our meals, so I had the soup, croutons, and peaches that were canned in their own juice. It was a wonderful meal.
Sounds delicious!
I absolutely LOVE this soup! I use a can of fire roasted tomatoes and a can of basil, garlic and onion tomatoes. Also, I make grilled cheese with gouda cheese and cook it on the George Forman, then cut them into little squares (think croutons) and put them in my bowl of soup! DELICIOUS!!!!
How many does this serve please?
This serves about 8.
This soup was AMAZING! And I ate it all myself over three days. I will make the again and again.
Barbara
It’s a good one!
What is the best way to prepare this for a days stay in the crockpot? Our work does monthly food events and I want to prepare this soup. Should I make it a day ahead fully and reheat in the crockpot? Or should I make it on the stove the morning of and simply keep it warm in the crockpot. Keep in mind I will not be able to make the roux onsite. Many thanks for great recipes!
You can either make it the day before and reheat or make the day of. It can work either way.
Is this soup freezable? there are only 2 of us and I would love it instead of breaking it down to serve 2, that I make the whole thing and freeze. Thanks!
I’ve never tried it but I don’t see why not.
So so so good! Made this many times and it’s always a hit! We prefer it blended and with cream (not milk), grilled cheese on the side 🙂
Cream is always a good idea in my opinion.
Just finished eating this! 😀 Had it with rolls and a green salad, as recommended. Everyone loved it and my toddler had seconds. I had fun making the roux, too. =P
It’s one of my favorites…
Looks yummy!
Not to be snarky, but just FYI it’s chock-full. 🙂
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chock-full
Thanks. Autocorrect gets the best of me so I appreciate the heads up.
This looks really good. I’m going to try it.
I think I’ll leave mine chunky instead of blending it.
Thanks for the idea.
Gary
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Just made this. DELICOUS!!
It’s one of my favorites…
Should the grated parmesan cheese be the kind you buy in the tall container or should it be the fresh, refrigerated kind?
I used the green container kind but fresh would be great I’m sure…
I love this recipe! And couldn’t help but share it on my blog today 🙂
THE AROMA OF THIS WONDERFUL TOMATO SOUP WAS ACTUALLY WAFTING OUT THE KITCHEN WINDOW INTO MY GARDEN….VERY DISTRACTING FOR THE AVID, AND FOCUSED SUNDAY AFTERNOON GARDNER. I CANT WAIT TO SPOON UP A BOWL. IT MADE MY FLORIDA HOME FEEL LIKE FALL.
Fellow Floridian! I know how you feel. It’s warm here!
I don’t even know how I ended up here, but I thought
this post was great. I don’t know who you are but definitely you are
going to a famous blogger if you aren’t already 😉 Cheers!
How many servings does this recipe yield?
8 servings.
Wow that was unusual. I just wrote an incredibly long comment but after I clicked submit my
comment didn’t appear. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyway, just wanted to say great blog!
I just made this today and it turned out great! I did end up using a food processor for the vegetables, and it gives the soup a nice consistency. Thanks so much for the recipe–I know that I will use it again!
I’m sorry, but this recipe was a huge disappointment! The addition of the parmesan cheese absolutely ruined the taste of this soup for me. TB bisque is an absolute favorite of mine, so I was heartbroken that many ingredients were wasted on a large pot of soup that is completely inedible to me. I looked at other recipes to see if the cheese was a staple ingredient. 5 recipes layer, and not one mentioned parmesan cheese IN the soup. So I’d suggest avoiding it altogether. It tastes like a low budget Campbell soup version of TB bisque. Yuck. SUPER sad. I can’t give this soup away fast enough.
That is so sad to me! Sorry you didn’t like it. Everyone always raves about it.
Wonderful soup! Freezing cold night – it hit the spot!
I made this soup tonite and it was absolutely delicious?
Delicious? Or Delicious! haha.
I love that I can just throw all of the ingredients in the slow cooker!
I know this is old, but you linked to it and I went. this looks amazing!
I got a roomba but took it back because I didn’t think it worked well at all, but I loved your story! I think I am going to LOVE your soup too, thanks so much!
This soup is yummy! It is for dinner tonight but I had to sneak a small cup when it was done!!!! Yummo!
I did blend the veggies like you suggested- praying my two year old will gobble it up! And I added 4oz cream cheese into the roux right at the end before I put it in the veggies. It is so creamy and yummy! Feels like Fall outside and inside now too thanks to your soup! We are gonna go real healthy and have ours with grilled cheese sandwiches!!!!
So it’s over 90 degrees outside right now, and just yesterday I made a crockpot chili. I will be making this tomato soup once all the chili is gone. Thanks for such an easy recipe! Sounds delicious and a good mix of ingredients. Might consider adding jalapeño peppers and some cayenne for some kick.
Just made this tonight and loved it- not your typical tomato soup! I didn’t use a blender, so there were still some little crunchy bits, but I like that kind of thing 🙂 I also used skim milk instead of cream, and with the roux, it still was creamy. Any ideas of how to do it without butter? Greek yogurt something maybe?
I’m not sure how to eliminate the butter completely. You could cut down the amount perhaps?
MY ROOMBA STORY
My friend asked me to look after her 2 cats over a 3-day weekend. The temperatures were to be near 100 degrees, and she only had A/C in her bedroom. So she sequestered her cats in her bedroom, which is very spacious and has wood floors. AND she has a Roomba (which I had never seen in action).
As she handed me her house key, she told me that she had turned off the Roomba for the weekend, worried it might get “stuck” somewhere. Well, a day later I went to clean the litter and feed the cats. When I got into the bedroom, the Roomba had found its way into the bathroom, and had dragged YARDS of toilet paper back into the bedroom. It was totally sitting in a nest of TP! One of the cats apparently had played with the toilet paper roll, and rolled out enough to for the Roomba to suck up…and exit the bathroom, dragging a trail behind it.
I untangled the mess, turned the thing off, and hoped that it was OK. As usual, I didn’t have the presence of mind to take a picture with my phone. When my friend got home we had a great laugh and some wine, and she had no doubt which cat (“Twig”) was the culprit. The Roomba survived.
That story is hilarious…
Tried this tonight and absolutely loved it, my husband who doesn’t like tomatoes and 2.5 year old loved it too!
It is so cold and gross outside in Oregon right now. This soup sounds SO comforting and good. Thanks for the recipe!!!
Christy, when you say grated parmesan cheese, do you mean like the shredded kind or the powdered kind? this looks soooo good & i don’t wanna mess it up !
I used the powdered kind but I think both would work!
Just saw your notes on the Roomba!! I have one too, and I know exactly what you mean!! My 2 year old grandson lives here, and he follows it around yelling at it! HYSTERICAL!!!
Anyway, I can’t wait to try to soup, tomato basil is my favorite!!
I make something similar but omit the cream because I have never much liked cream of tomato soup. Normally serve parmesan in a bowl for my diners to sprinkle over to their own taste but I’m going to try mixing it in next time I make.
Also I make mine early then leave to stand for at least 2 hours before re-heating to serve as I find that this enhances the tomato flavour. Prepare when making dinner then set to cook until bedtime. Switch off and leave overnight. In the morning, blend if desired then slow cook for another 1-2 hours. Ready to serve for lunch
Hi! I am including this in a slow cooker recipe collection here http://mommyssweetconfessions.blogspot.com/2012/12/34-slow-cooker-soups-stews-and-chilis.html
Looks awesome. I too would love to know if this can be frozen (I imagine the milk/half-n-half might have to be added later). Any advice?
I haven’t actually froze it but others have had success freezing it, with the milk!
Any advice from ppl who’ve made this on how well it freezes? I love making soups on the weekend and freezing them for busy week night dinners! I’m making it right now, just need to decide if I should eat it all right away or freeze some and am unsure as I’ve never tried with cream/milk based soups.
I have made this a couple times and have frozen it in lunch size portions with no issues. Sort of separates as it thaws, but once you heat it up and stir it, it thickens back up and is wonderful.
Thanks for sharing this, I am making it now! : )
Love your site. The soup was super easy to put together. It was much more flavorful than expected from the simple ingredients.
I made this last night with grilled cheese sandwiches and it was delicious! I’m actually eating left-overs right now 🙂
One thing I would suggest to anyone who makes this: I used an immersion blender to get it as smooth as possible but it still had tiny chucks of celery and carrot that the blender couldn’t smooth out. I ate half of my bowl of soup and then decided to strain it. It brought it to the next level! It’s so decadent when it’s completely smooth
i made it and loved it!my husband loved it too…and that is saying something considering it had multiple vegetables
This recipe decieved me a bit because it’s a little more work than typical crockpot recipes, but was well worth the extra work involved. I looove how creamy and rich this soup is. I used almond milk in place of the half and half (we don’t drink cow’s milk). Also, I didn’t bother finely chopping the veggies (just roughly chopped) since I knew from the get-go I wanted to blend it after it’d been cooking all day. Be very careful blending hot soup! This is a fantastic soup and is so yummy on a chilly fall or winter day!
I just made this and consider myself a better person for it!
@Anonymous,
You’re totally right. You could definitely use vegetable broth and then it would vegetarian :).
I have a roomba and it shuts itself into rooms every so often. I think it’s hilarious when that happens! And you’re right, it’s definitely not a replacement for a regular vacuum, but it sure does a decent job. I have a dyson slim vac as my other vac, and between the two, my house stays fairly clean.
The tomato soup looks delish! I wonder if veg broth would work, since this isn’t really vegetarian with chicken broth.
My friend has an awful story of her dog leaving a surprise on the carpet and Roomba finding it and smearing it all over the entire house!! That might be my worst nightmare!
this looks so good. perfect for fall and love that it can be made in slow cooker! yeah
LOL, I’ve always wanted one of the vacuums. That soup looks perfect for a nice lunch on the back porch!
oh my, this looks sooo delicious!
i Love tomato soup, so thanks for that wonderful recipe.
anything that has tomato and cheese is right up my alley!
can’t wait to try this!
@JoJo,
We had these with fresh croissants. I think grilled cheese would be PERFECT with these.
I too am a confessed food aholic! That’s the only reason i might take the dog on a forced walk. I have six boys to fill, plus my husband, and I think this recipe would be great with grilled cheese sandwiches to dip!
Ha ha ha I love that you have a Roomba. That’s awesome. This looks delicious, thanks for sharing!
We are on our third Roomba in about 4 years. We love it. We have 3 cats, 1 large black dog, and 6 kids. It cleans great, when I remember to use it. If I use it everyday, the house looks great, if I miss days, it can’t “catch up”, so to speak, and I have to actually use my stick vacuum. Oh, I have all hardwood, laminate, and tile. No carpet. Carpet gives me the creeps….
This looks delicious!! wow’ i must try this one!!!! thanks♥
Lior 🙂
So glad you tried this recipe! I love it. I would like all the veggies blended except for the tomatoes. I like chunks of tomatoes. But I can’t figure out a good way to do that. Thanks for linking back to my site!
I laughed about your roomba story! I’m torn though – I want a new DSLR and I think asking for that PLUS a roomba is a bit much! LOL
I LOVE LOVE LOVE tomato soup so THIS ONE, I have to try!! 🙂
@Sarah,
I definitely think it would work with fresh tomatoes…
This is one of my FAVORITE things to make! Make it with these baguettes for a YUMMY meal! http://blogs.babble.com/family-kitchen/2011/02/21/crusty-baguettes-made-fresh-in-30-minutes/
A friend of mine has a roomba : the second revolution for women, after washing machine 😉
Would this work with actual tomatoes rather than canned ones? I just got a ton of them and this looks amazing.
Yum…looks delicious for a day like today!
I want a Roomba. I’m afraid all the dog hair would kill it though.
My hair kills it so ya probably.
Does the roomba work?? This soup looks wonderfuL!
Ooh, that looks delicious! I’ve been craving some tomato soup. And I’d probably kill for a Roomba.
This looks so yummy! I love tomato soup
Mal @ The Chic Geek