Published March 1, 2024.This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
This tasty Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup recipe is taken to the next level with smoked cheeses, cream, and prosciutto ham for an incredible meal. There’s nothing more comforting than a homemade bowl of tomato soup with a delicious, easy-to-make grilled cheese that comes together in under 30 minutes.
I am a huge fan of pairing up soups and sandwiches to serve to my family and friends. If you’re similar, try making my Beef and Barley Soup with my Croque Monsieur.
Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup
Grilled cheese and tomato soup is a simple American recipe consisting of a cheese sandwich that is grilled or seared until toasted and melty, which is then served with tomato soup. This is an easy-to-make quicker recipe that is great served for lunch or as a weeknight meal.
While tomato soup was created a century before grilled cheese, both were made popular when paired up during WWII when it was made and served to military personnel. After the war, it became widespread among schools and government institutions. My take on this classic meal is next level, and I hope you have the opportunity to make it.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Butter – I always use unsalted butter in my cooking and baking to fully control the sodium content.
- Onion – You can use a white, sweet, or yellow onion for the soup. I believe yellow onions are best for caramelizing. In addition, you’ll need some whole garlic cloves.
- Sugar – Some granulated sugar will help balance out the flavors of the soup.
- Tomatoes – I used canned San Marzano tomatoes for this recipe. However, any canned tomatoes will work. In addition, you can use fresh tomatoes in this tomato soup.
- Stock – I used chicken stock for the main liquid in the soup. However, you can also use vegetable stock, brodo, or water.
- Vinegar – Finishing the soup with balsamic vinegar makes for incredible flavor. You can substitute it with red wine or white vinegar as well.
- Cream – Heavy whipping cream is used to finish the soup. Substitute with half and half.
- Bread – Brioche bread was used for the grilled cheese. However, any white bread or artisan bread will also work.
- Jam – This is optional, but I use fig jam on the grilled cheese to balance all the salty and savory flavors with a bit of sweetness.
- Cheese – I used a combination of cheddar, smoked gouda, and provolone. However, you can be as simple as you’d like by using cheeses like American, Mozzarella, or pepperjack. This part is up to you, but the combination I used works well, especially with the jam.
- Ham – Some prosciutto ham makes the grilled cheese a little heartier. This is an optional topping. Another option would be ham.
How to Make Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup
Add butter to a large pot along with diced yellow onions and brown.
After 5-6 minutes sprinkle in some sugar and cook for 7-9 minutes.
Add in the garlic and brown with the onions. Once you smell the garlic, it’s done.
Pour in the tomatoes and chicken stock and cook for 5 to 6 minutes.
Pour in some balsamic vinegar.
Puree the tomato mixture with the basil leaves.If doing it in a blender be sure to remove the center cap of the lid from the blender.
Finish with cream, salt, and pepper.Remember, soup gets better with time so it will likely be even better the next day.
Add butter to a large pan over low heat until melted.
Place the bread into the melted butter and cook for 90 to 2 minutes.
Flip the bread over and add the fig jam, cheese, and prosciutto to 1 toasted piece of bread and cook for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes.
Add the other piece of bread to the top of the bread with fig jam, cheese, and prosciutto.
Slice the grilled cheese and serve with the tomato soup
Make-Ahead and Storage
Make-Ahead: The soup can be made up to 2 days ahead for freshness. Grilled cheese is best to serve as soon as it is finished cooking.
How to Store: The tomato soup will hold in the refrigerator covered for 5 days.It will also freeze well covered for up to 3 months. The grilled cheese will hold, covered in plastic in the fridge for up to 3 days. It will not freeze well.
How to Reheat: Add the soup to a small pot and heat over low heat until hot. For the grilled cheese place on a tray and cover in foil and bake in the oven at 350° for 6-7 minutes or until warm and the cheese has melted.
chef notes + tips
- Try serving the tomato soup with croutons for more texture and flavor.
- Drizzle some creme fraiche onto the soup to make it creamier.
- If you want the soup healthier, use no butter or cream in your tomato soup.Add all of the ingredients together and stew it over low heat. Puree it, season it.
- Try using 100% whole grain bread with a piece of low-fat or vegan cheese for a healthier grilled cheese.
- If blending the soup in a blender be sure to remove the center cap of the lid from the blender.
- Remember, soup gets better with time so it will likely be even better the next day.
More Simple Recipes
- Homemade Sloppy Joe Recipe
- Easy beef stir fry recipe
- Beef Stroganoff
- Easy Broiled Salmon Recipe
- Philly Cheese Steak
Video
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Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Recipe
5 from 49 votes
This Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup recipe is taken to the next level with smoked cheeses, cream, and prosciutto ham for an incredible meal.
Servings: 4
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes
Total Time: 1 hour hour
Ingredients
For the Tomato Soup:
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 peeled medium diced yellow onion
- 1 ½ tablespoons sugar
- 3 finely minced cloves of garlic
- 2 28- ounce cans san Marzano tomatoes in juice
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- ½ cup heavy whipped cream
- coarse salt and pepper to taste
For the Grilled Cheese:
- 4 teaspoons unsalted butter
- 4 slices brioche bread
- 4 teaspoons fig jam
- 2 slices cheddar cheese
- 2 slices smoked gouda cheese
- 2 slices provolone cheese
- 2 slices prosciutto ham
Instructions
Tomato Soup: Add the butter to a large pot over medium-low heat until melted.
Add in the onions and cook for 5–6 minutes before adding in the sugar.
Mix and cook for a further 7-9 minutes until browned while occasionally stirring.
Add in the garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or just until fragrant.
Pour in the tomatoes and stew for 5-6 minutes, add in the chicken stock and then add in the balsamic vinegar.
Transfer the mixture to a blender and blend on high until smooth.
Add the soup back to the pot over low heat and stir in cream, salt, and pepper. Keep it warm.
Grilled Cheese: Add the butter to a large grilled or frying pan over low heat until melted.
Add the brioche and cook for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes or until it is browned and toasted.
Flip the bread over and spread on the fig jam to two slices of bread.
Next, layer on 1 slice of cheddar, 1 slice of gouda, 1 slice of provolone, and 1 slice of prosciutto over the fig jam. Repeat with the other piece of bread with fig jam. Cook for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes or until it is browned and toasted.
Add the bread with nothing on it to the tops of the cheese and prosciutto.
Slice and serve.
Notes
Make-Ahead: The soup can be made up to 2 days ahead for freshness. Grilled cheese is best to serve as soon as it is finished cooking.
How to Store: The tomato soup will hold in the refrigerator covered for 5 days. It will also freeze well covered for up to 3 months. The grilled cheese will hold, covered in plastic in the fridge for up to 3 days. It will not freeze well.
How to Reheat: Add the soup to a small pot and heat over low heat until hot. For the grilled cheese place on a tray and cover in foil and bake in the oven at 350° for 6-7 minutes or until warm and the cheese has melted.
Try serving the tomato soup with croutons for more texture and flavor.
Drizzle some creme fraiche onto the soup to make it creamier.
If you want the soup healthier, use no butter or cream in your tomato soup. Add all of the ingredients together and stew it over low heat. Puree it, season it.
Try using 100% whole grain bread with a piece of low-fat or vegan cheese for a healthier grilled cheese.
If blending the soup in a blender be sure to remove the center cap of the lid from the blender.
Remember, soup gets better with time so it will likely be even better the next day.
Nutrition
Calories: 826kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 39gFat: 64gSaturated Fat: 37gCholesterol: 193mgSodium: 1678mgPotassium: 1079mgFiber: 5gSugar: 16gVitamin A: 3265IUVitamin C: 60.1mgCalcium: 947mgIron: 3.8mg
Course: dinner, lunch, Soup
Cuisine: American
Author: Chef Billy Parisi
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71 comments
- Rob
Great tasting tomato soup. Scaled up to 12 servings, but dialed back the total balsamic to 3T (instead of 6).
- Reply
- Sandra Thomas
A question Chief. Can you please explain why you use fig jam on the grilled cheese.
Can you any other jam? Thank you for time Chief
- Reply
It’s just a nice not overpowering jam with the right amount of sweetness. It’s a known thing that figs go well with prosciutto.
- Reply
- Donna A Pollock
Looks so delicious, I’m always looking at your recipes when I’m so hungry…
- Reply
- Mentina
thank you for your recipes delicious and easy .Thanks on your tips.
- Reply
- Victoria
So dang good!
- Reply
- Melody
I didn’t think you could improve on a classic grilled cheese sandwich. I was wrong. My traditional way was buttering one side of each slice of bread with the cheese inside and flipping once. I tried this method of melting the butter in the pan and grilling both sides as instructed. Game changer!!! Crispy and melted deliciousness😋,!
- Reply
- Carolyn Melf
First time making tomato soup. I added more cream. Very satisfying.
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- Ronda White
Very rich love this recipe! Can’t go wrong!
- Reply
- sue 😁
Thank you ChefBilly yes hubby a sandwich person every day me not so much 😁🤩😋
- Reply
- Teresa
We made both the tomato soup and grilled cheese for dinner tonight and this was the best snowy day meal for the family!!
We had enough leftovers to give to our neighbor as well!
Every one of your recipes has been on point!- Reply
- Diana
Delicious. Made for our first “snow storm” this year and although the storm didn’t deliver the comfort food definitely did. I love the videos and all of the extra suggestions/substitution ideas. Thank you. This was a win at my house! Oh and the ability to change serving size amount is extra helpful!
- Reply
- sue
Tankk you Chef Billy hubby will love this also 😋😁🤩👋
- Reply
- Ms Eileen Shea
Wow. New twist on a very old favorite. I live to try it.
- Reply
- Paula Greco
This soup is perfection! The only one I will make!
- Reply
- Linda
Made this for a family Luncheon. They all loved it and wanted the recipe as well! Thankyou
- Reply
- Cheryl James
This soup is delicious. Made this several times now. Thanks Chef
- Reply
- Chef Billy Parisi
Thanks!
- Reply
- Elizabeth Motteler
I love this tomato soup recipe. Nothing better than grilled cheese and your tomato soup on a cool, brisk day. Thank you.
- Reply
- Chef Billy Parisi
Thank you for trying this!
- Reply
- Cathie Martorelli
The tomato soup was delicious! Thanks for your easy to follow and straight forward recipes.
- Reply
- Ray Fisher
My pleasure, thank you!
- Reply
- Elizabeth
This soup recipe is delicious and easy to make. The balsamic vinegar gives it a rich flavor.
- Reply
- Chef Billy Parisi
thank you for trying this!
- Reply
- LUC TRIGATTI
HI!
WHAT a coincidence (the recipe was in my FB-feed as of today). As temperatures start to drop here in Luxembourg, this one will be on the menu on Saturday night. Although tomato soup is not a mystery (check my family name), one can ALWAYS learn from a great professional. So, thank you for that!
- Reply
- Chef Billy Parisi
thank you!
- Reply
- thess
Dear Chef Billy
3 words-
So Dang Delicious! 😋- Reply
- Chef Billy Parisi
thank you!
- Reply
- Paula
Yes! This is truly special! The sweetness from the Mariano tomatoes- this is a keeper! Thank you, Chef Parisi! I plan to make many more of your recipes!!!
- Reply
- Chef Billy Parisi
thank you!
- Reply
- WJ
Excellent!!! Deserves more than 5 stars!
- Reply
- Chef Billy Parisi
appreciate you trying this!
- Reply
- Joanne Hepler
Nothing better than a delicious tomato soup with the ultimate grilled cheese sammich!
- Reply
- Chef Billy Parisi
appreciate you trying this!
- Reply
- Patricia Simon
I will never eat tomato soup any other way. This is so delicious!
- Reply
- Steve Black
Delicious but simple to make!
- Reply
- sue
Taste sooo yummy thankyou
- Reply
- sue
Yummy delicious thank you chiefBilly
- Reply
- Gail Armand
Great classic combo. Made it tonight. Used shallot instead of onion. Began with fresh tomatoes and cooked em down. For bread, sourdough rustic loaf. For cheese, manchego. Garnished with shredded light basil. I would do it the same way again. Served with Sauvignon Blanc
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- Beverly
This tomato soup was so easy to make and delicious!
- Reply
love it!
- Reply
- Nancy
We made the grilled cheese sandwich several times and it was delicious. Haven’t made the soup yet because soup season is shorter in Central Florida than where Chef Billy Parisi lives.
- Reply
- Neil
Makes a great soup. Perfect!
- Reply
- Eddie Jordan
Chef, Tomato soup is my favorite soup this is so good!
- Reply
- Luis
I made the sandwich and the soup and they were both super delicious!
- Reply
thanks for giving it a shot!!
- Reply
- Kathy Romans
This is an amazing soup and the grilled cheese with that fig jam is crazy good! My family loves this so much they request it regularly!
- Reply
Awesome!
- Reply
- Tracy Arsuaga
Absolutely loved this soup!
- Reply
Great!
- Reply
- Donna Renner
The best tomato soup,I have ever eaten. It is the only tomato soup I cook. No more from the can.
- Reply
Awesome!
- Reply
- Curtis Campbell
Had it again last night.
How can something so simple be so good!!
In the words of chef Billy, dang delicious!!
Thanks Billy- Reply
awesome!
- Reply
- Anna
Delicious!!🤩🤩
- Reply
thanks for giving it a shot!!
- Reply
- Liz Purcell
Made this for my hubby and I. He is not crazy about soups but he loved it. So good! This will be a soups I will make more often.
Thank you!
Liz
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- Heather Butt
I have made the tomato soup several times. I double or triple the batch and freeze it. It’s so good. I have also made the sandwich and it is also delicious. I have made many of your recipes for my Saturday night guests. You haven’t failed me yet. Thank you so very much for sharing so many recipes. My husband has a heart condition and cannot eat greens. I find it very hard to find recipes with out green food in it. So I leave it out or try to substitute it for something else. And it still has lots of flavour. Keep cooking and keep sharing your recipes and I’ll keep following . . I’m from Newfoundland Canada.
- Reply
- HCampbell
Who doesn’t love a bowl of tomato soup and a grilled cheese!? This tomato soup is delicious! It now makes regular appearances on our table!
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- Angela Puca
Chef Parisi, I love listening to and watching you. I made your Grilled Cheese sandwich tonight. I didn’t have any fig jam so I substituted Red Pepper jelly. It was fantastic! Thank you so much.
- Reply
- Linda
My husband loves tomato soup (canned) with a grilled cheese sandwich (basic low fat sliced cheese and low calorie bread). Last night I decided to surprise him with your recipes, and I followed them preciously. To say he LOVED the meal is an understatement and he’s still giving me high praise. This was my first time cooking a homemade soup and your recipe/video where easy to follow. I’m going to share this recipe with my sister but she doesn’t eat pork. Is there a substitute for the prosciutto ham? Thank you for the terrific recipes.
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- Daisy Luz Vargas
The best tomato soup ever!!! Thank you, chef Parisi. Your recipes are the best.
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- AC
Chef, the recipe does not list blending the basil like it does in the video. You are right, the fresh basil blended in gives it a special flavor! This was is FANTASTIC!
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- Maryann
The best homemade tomato soup I’ve ever had.
Thank you Billy!- Reply
- Rehab
Love this!
- Reply
- wilhelmina
This made such a perfect and simple lunch for my daughter and myself. We loved it!
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- Laura Reese
This recipe takes a classic to a whole new level. The soup is rich and creamy and this is the best twist on grilled cheese.
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- Rachael Yerkes
My favorite fall comfort food!
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- Jennifer
Can never go wrong with grilled cheese and tomato soup! LOVE this recipe!
- Reply
- Becky Hardin
The perfect comforting lunch! So delicious
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- Betsy
I’m not usually a fan of tomato soup (especially the stuff from a can) but your version is so tasty – savory and a touch sweet, and creamy all at the same time! Love the idea of prosciutto in the grilled cheese, it’s a nice deviation from bacon! Personally I love having a combination on cheeses in my grilled cheese…a little Asiago cheese spread, a slice of cheddar, and a sprinkle of bleu cheese…heaven. 🙂
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