This post contains affiliate links.

Your family will go nuts for this creamy Instant Pot Tomato Soup with basil and parmesan cheese, that's loaded with veggies. It's absolutely delicious, full of flavor and has the perfect thick and smooth texture.

Instant Pot Tomato Basil Soup with parmesan served in a white bowl with a handle and topped with homemade croutons.

I've officially converted my favorite slow cooker soup to an instant pot version that's way quicker and easier (like all things with the instant pot seem to be). This is one of those soups that I can really eat all year round, and my family loves it too! It's packed with “hidden veggies” like carrots, celery and onion, which add to the flavor and make me feel even better about how much my kids enjoy it.

How to make Tomato Basil Soup:

Start by sautéing vegetables, and then add diced tomatoes (or fresh garden tomatoes!) chicken broth and spices. Cook in the instant pot, slow cooker or on the stovetop. At this point I like to puree the mixture, but that's optional if you like your soup chunkier.

Chopped carrots, celery and onion in the bottom of the instant pot next to another photo of the instant pot mixture with chicken broth, diced tomatoes and spices added to it.

Make a roux in a separate saucepan. As a side note, some recipes for instant pot tomato basil soup will have you add the flour and butter mixture directly to the pot, rather than cooking it in a saucepan first. Even though that method is more convenient, that really defeats the purpose of the roux, and more importantly, you'd really miss the deep and rich flavor that comes from cooking the roux until it's golden brown.

Process photos for making a roux for tomato basil soup including butter and flour cooked until golden brown and then tomato soup added to it.

Once the roux is golden, add a cup of the cooked soup to the roux and stir to combine. You'll notice the roux will thicken significantly. Add another few cups of soup to the pot and stir well, and then add the roux mixture back to the rest of the soup.

Tomato basil soup in the instant pot with parmesan cheese and heavy cream added to the pot.

Stir in parmesan cheese and half and half. Half and half is a mixture of half heavy cream and half milk but you could use regular milk, to cut calories, if you'd like.

I love to serve tomato soup with homemade croutons, or a piece of crusty garlic bread.

Overhead photo of a white bowl filled with tomato basil soup with parmesan cheese, croutons, and a spoon.

Other popular Instant Pot recipes:

Instant Pot Chicken Taco Bowls

Instant Pot Tuscan Chicken Pasta

Instant Pot Jambalaya

4.87 from 136 votes

Instant Pot Tomato Basil Soup

Author: Lauren Allen
Your family will go nuts for this creamy Instant Pot Tomato Basil Soup with parmesan cheese, that's loaded with veggies. It's absolutely delicious, full of flavor and has the perfect thick and smooth texture.
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 50 minutes
Servings: 8

Email This Recipe!

Enter your email and we'll send it directly to you!

By entering your phone number you consent to receive marketing text messages (e.g. meal plans) from TBFS at the number provided, including messages sent by autodialer. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Msg & data rates may apply. Msg frequency varies. Unsubscribe at any time by replying STOP or clicking the unsubscribe link. Reply HELP for help. Privacy Policy.

Equipment

Ingredients  

Instructions 

  • Add oil to the instant pot and turn to saute. Add carrots, onions and celery to the pot and saute for 2 minutes. Add diced tomatoes, tomato paste, chicken broth, oregano, and basil and stir to combine. 
  • Turn Instant pot off. Secure instant pot lid and set the valve to “sealing”.
  • Cook on Manual/High Pressure for 5 minutes. When the timer beeps allow the pressure to naturally release for 5 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, make the roux. Add butter to a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Once butter has melted, stir in the flour.
  • Cook, stirring constantly for about 10 minutes or until the roux is a nice golden brown color.
  • Pour the soup from the instant pot into a blender and blend until smooth (please do this in 2-3 batches, depending on how big your blender is).
  • Add one cup of the pureed soup from the instant pot to the roux and stir to combine. The mixture will start to form a thick paste. Slowly add another 3 cups of soup to the roux. Add the roux mixture back to the instant pot and stir until smooth.
  • Stir in the Parmesan cheese, half and half and salt and pepper. Tastes and add additional oregano and basil if desired, to taste. 

Notes

Stove Top Method:
  1. Add diced tomatoes, carrots, onions, celery, tomato paste, chicken broth, oregano, and basil to a large soup pot. Bring to a gently boil and cook for several minutes, until the vegetables are tender.
  2. In a separate pot, prepare the roux. Add butter to the pot over medium low heat and allow to melt. Stir in the flour and whisk together constantly for about 10 minutes or until the roux is a nice golden brown color. Slowly add 1 cup of the soup from the other pot to the roux--it will start to form a thick paste.  Slowly add another 3 cups of warm soup to the roux. Whisk together until smooth. Add the roux mixture to soup pot and stir to combine.
  3. Pour soup into blender (you may need to do this in batches, depending on how big your blender is)
  4. Purée until smooth. Return to soup pot.
  5. Stir in the Parmesan cheese, half and half (or milk), and salt and pepper. Add additional oregano and basil if needed, to taste. Stir well. Cook for a few more minutes until warmed through.
Slow Cooker Method, follow this recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 297kcal, Carbohydrates: 14g, Protein: 10g, Fat: 22g, Saturated Fat: 13g, Cholesterol: 58mg, Sodium: 690mg, Potassium: 338mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 3455IU, Vitamin C: 4.2mg, Calcium: 212mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Text me new recipe ideas!

Simple, tasty ideas sent once a week. No spam.

Text Signup

Related Posts

Share Recipe

About The Author

Lauren Allen

Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos.

4.87 from 136 votes (85 ratings without comment)
Subscribe
Notify of

94 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Dianne Cummings
6 years ago

3 stars
Did not care for the butter taste in this recipe. My husband and I love Tomato Basil Soup. We have a favorite recipe, but thought why not give this one a try. We’ll be sticking with our old recipe.

Nancy J
6 years ago

5 stars
I’ve been looking for a great tomato basil soup for years. This is it finally! I used a can of evaporated milk instead of half and half. It’s what I had. I know I’ll be enjoying this soup for years to come. Thanks so much.

Debbie
6 years ago

5 stars
Great soup and I love me some tomato basil soup. I used evaporated milk in place of half and half and it was still yummy. Adding this to my soup recipe repertoire.

Cindy
6 years ago

5 stars
Delicious!!!! The best tomato bisque recipe I’ve tried and I’ve tried several versions. This one is the Keeper!! Thanks for posting the recipe.

Linda W
6 years ago

2 stars
Says 1/2 cup butter and 1/2 cup flour. Honestly feel that it must be a typo. As any time I’ve made roux its never been 50/50 to make roux. Could taste flour and i didnt put in all the mixture in soup.
So will try again w roux being different measurements.

Lori
6 years ago

5 stars
We had this tonight for dinner. We used the Instant Pot method and it turned out great. I used the Mirepoix from @traderjoes and blended with a stick blender, which made it even easier. Making the roux is a little tedious, but only 10 minutes and worth it! It made a quick and delicious weeknight meal with a side salad. Thanks for the recipe, it will be used again!

Diane
6 years ago

5 stars
I’m pretty much a soup snob 😬 and I absolutely love this recipe! Easy, rich and flavorful, and made from scratch so you know what’s in it! I’ve served it with grilled caprese and bacon sandwiches for dipping- heavenly!

Tammy Dancik (@cookiebellaskitchen)
6 years ago

5 stars
Amazing!! Made this and it was a hit! Thank you, Lauren!

Margaret Tobolaski
6 years ago

5 stars
absolutely loved it. Will definitely make again and again.

Kelly
6 years ago

5 stars
Have made it several times, love this recipe!