Tomato Soup with Pasta Sauce

This easy recipe turns a humble jar of pasta sauce into a delicious homemade tomato soup. Tomato soup with pasta sauce needs only 6 simple ingredients and is ready in 30 minutes. Pair it with a grilled cheese or sandwich for a hearty, satisfying meal.

Can you make tomato soup from tomato sauce?

Do you crave homemade tomato soup but only have pasta sauce in your pantry?

Good news! You can prepare a super scrumptious tomato soup with pasta sauce!

It has a rich tomato flavor and a thick, creamy texture. The perfect meal for a cold day!

The recipe is so easy to make, with simple pantry ingredients, and comes together in less than 30 minutes.

You can enjoy pasta sauce tomato soup as a main dish with a grilled cheese sandwich or crusty bread or a starter for a family meal.

Ingredients

Tomato soup with pasta sauce calls for just 6 ingredients. See the recipe card below for exact amounts.

• Pasta sauce: You can prepare this easy tomato soup recipe with any type of pasta or spaghetti sauce. I usually use tomato basil sauce, but garlic, fire-roasted, and four-cheese sauce will work. Feel free to use what you have. You can even opt for pasta sauce with meat or sausage for a hearty tomato soup.
• Broth: You need chicken broth or vegetable broth to thin out the pasta sauce and get the perfect soup consistency.
• Onion: I used a yellow onion. Yellow onions or shallots are also fine.
• Butter to sauté the onion. Olive oil, vegetable oil, or canola oil can be used instead.
• Salt + pepper: Pasta sauce is often already seasoned, so add salt and pepper to taste. If your pasta sauce and broth are already salty, you may not need any extra salt.

How to make tomato soup with pasta sauce

Making tomato sauce from pasta sauce is as easy as can be. Here’s how to do it, step by step.

1. Saute the onion

• In a heavy-bottomed pot or a Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until translucent and fragrant – about 5 to 8 minutes.

2. Simmer soup

• Next, add the pasta sauce and broth and bring the soup to a low simmer. Let it cook, uncovered, until for about 15 minutes.

3. Season and serve

• Remove the tomato soup from the heat and season with salt and pepper according to your taste. Depending on how salty your pasta sauce and broth are, you may only need a little or no salt at all.
• Ladle the soup into bowls. Serve warm with toasted bread, grilled cheese, croutons, grated parmesan, a dollop of cream, fresh basil, and a few cracks of black pepper. Enjoy!

Tips

Pasta sauce comes in countless flavors and textures. So, think of tomato soup with pasta sauce as more of a blueprint than a definite recipe. I have put together a few tips to ensure your soup turns out perfect every time.

• Taste the soup before seasoning: Pasta sauce has already spices and herbs added. Be sure to taste the soup first and start small when adding salt and pepper to avoid over-seasoned tomato soup.
• Add sugar: Adding a pinch of sugar is an old trick to balance the acidity and tangy flavor of your pasta sauce.
• Too thick: If your soup is too thick, stir in additional broth or heavy cream to thin out the tomato soup.
• Too thin: In case you find the texture too thin, continue simmering the soup over medium-low heat to cook off more liquid.
• Too chunky: If you use a chunky pasta sauce and prefer a velvety consistency, blend the soup with an immersion blender (or a regular blender) until smooth.
• Vegetarian/vegan version: The soup is easy to make vegetarian or vegan. Simply use vegetable stock or broth and replace the butter with olive oil or vegan butter.

Topping ideas

Add extra flavor and texture to your pasta sauce tomato soup. Try some of these topping ideas.

• Parmesan: Adding a bit of grated parmesan cheese is the perfect finishing touch.
• Crème fraiche or heavy cream: A dollop of crème fraiche or a spoonful of heavy cream adds creaminess and tastes delicious melting into hot tomato soup.
• Croutons: Buttery, crispy croutons are a classic topping for tomato soup.
• Fresh herbs: Sprinkle a few torn basil or parsley leaves over the soup before serving for a pop of fresh taste and green color.
• More garnishes: Try topping your tomato soup with a drizzle of olive oil, balsamic reduction, roasted pumpkin seeds, freshly cracked black pepper, or red pepper flakes.

Serving suggestions

Feel free to enjoy tomato soup from pasta sauce as an appetizer or as the main course.

A grilled cheese sandwich, crusty toasted bread, and fresh green salad make the perfect meal.

We also love warm tomato soup with mac and cheese, chicken spaghetti, and salmon pasta.

Storage instructions

This easy tomato soup recipe is quick enough to make in a pinch, but it also stores and freezes well.

You can make a double or triple batch to freeze and pull a bag out of the freezer whenever you need a quick meal.

• Refrigerate: Cover the pot tightly or store the soup in an airtight container. It will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days.
• Freeze: Once the soup has fully cooled, transfer it into freezer bags or a freezer-friendly container. Leave a small amount of space for the soup to expand as it freezes. Freeze the soup for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight before reheating.
• Reheat: Pour the desired amount into a saucepan and warm over medium heat until the soup is hot and steaming.