The Best Easy Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Recipe

Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup is one of those classic recipe combos that never go out of style. For this easy healthy recipe, we’re making the creamy tomato soup in a dutch oven for convenience. 

Table of Contents

• What is Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup
• Ingredients and Substitutions
• How to make it
• What sides go with Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup
• Frequently asked questions
• Save this recipe for later
• Recipe

What is Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup

Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup, a timeless duo that's the epitome of classic comfort food!

In this scrumptious and easy-to-follow recipe, we're elevating the classic by crafting a creamy, dreamy tomato soup right in the convenience of a Dutch oven.

Imagine a velvety blend of ripe tomatoes, a hint of aromatic herbs, and a touch of creaminess, all simmering together to create a soup that’s both comforting and heartwarming.

Paired with the golden, crispy-on-the-outside, ooey-gooey-on-the-inside grilled cheese sandwich, it's not just a meal; it's a nostalgic experience.

Each bite is a delightful combo of flavors.

The tangy and rich soup perfectly complemts the buttery, cheesy crunch of the grilled cheese, making it an unbeatable combo that promises to warm the soul with its comforting goodness.

Ingredients and Substitutions

For the Tomato Soup

• Tomatoes - I'm using big juicy beefsteak tomatoes but you could absolutely use another variety such as vine ripe, roma, cherry or grape tomato.
• Sweet Onions - If you don't have sweet onions, you could swap them out for white or yellow onions. I haven't tried it with red onion but I'm sure it would work just fine although the color might be a little off.
• Garlic - Fresh whole cloves of garlic work best. I do not recommend swapping it for the jarred, pre-minced variety.
• Olive oil - You could use any neutral oil like avocado oil or sunflower seed oil if you don't have olive oil.
• Italian seasoning - If you don't have Italian seasoning, you could swap it for your favorite all purpose blend. You could also just use dried garlic, dried basil, dried oregano and dried rosemary.
• Salt - Kosher salt is best. If you use another salt, it can get too salty tasting.
• Heavy Cream - You could absolutely swap heavy cream out for half and half or milk but it won't be as rich. If you want, you can also try to use unsweetened almond milk or another thick nut milk if you're vegan.
• Salted Butter - If you're using unsalted butter, just add more salt to make up for it.
• Basil - I use fresh basil for garnish but if you don't have any or are looking for a substitution, I would just leave it off.

For the Grilled Cheese

• Sourdough - If you don't have sourdough, you can use whatever sliceable sandwich bread you prefer. Just make sure to adjust the cheese as the ratios will change depending on the size of the bread.
• Cheese - I'm using a combination of sliced colby jack and shredded unexpected cheddar from Trader Joe's but you could absolutely use any meltable cheese you prefer. Some of my favorites are cheddar, muenster, white cheddar, pepperjack, provolone, havarti, fontina, gouda and of course - american cheese!
• Salted Butter - If you're using unsalted butter, you can totally do that - just add an extra pinch of salt to make up for it.

How to make it

For the Tomato Soup

Making tomato soup in a dutch oven is super easy -- you'll never want to make it any other way!

Prep the Ingredients: You'll want to start by preheating your oven to 450F degrees.Add tomatoes, onions, garlic, olive oil, half of the salt and Italian seasoning to a large dutch oven and toss. 

Cook the Ingredients: Turn all the tomatoes cut side up and then place in the oven for 1 hour.

Blend the Soup: Remove from the oven and use a blender or immersion blender to blend the tomatoes up.Stir in heavy cream, remaining salt, and pepper.

Finish the Soup: Give it a taste and add more salt and fresh cracked pepper if needed. Finish with a sprinkle of fresh basil before serving. 

For the grilled cheese

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches are my speciality and also one of the easiest things to make. If you're looking for other cheese combos, check out the ingredients and substitutions section above.

Build the Sandwiches: Add two slices of Colby jack to 3 of the pieces of bread and then evenly distribute the shredded unexpected cheddar on top. Add the remaining bread to the top then smear ½ tablespoon of butter on the top of each sandwich. 

Cook the Sandwiches: Heat a large fry pan over medium and place the sandwiches in, butter side down. Smear the rest of the butter over the top of the sandwiches while they’re cooking. Once the bottoms are golden brown, carefully flip the sandwiches and cook the other side; about 4 minutes on each side.

Plate the Sandwich and Soup: Once golden brown on all sides and the cheese has melted, remove from heat and serve with a big bowl of tomato soup. 

What sides go with Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup

I love serving grilled cheese and tomato soup with a cold salad. Here are 10 of my favorite sides for grilled cheese and tomato soup!

• Shaved Carrot Salad with Cranberries & Feta
• Winter Pasta Salad
• Kale Butternut Squash Salad with Feta, Avocado & Hot Honey Vinaigrette
• Asian Avocado Salad with Cucumbers and Furikake
• Tortellini Pesto Salad
• Dirty Martini Pasta Salad
• Caprese Pasta Salad Recipe
• Poolside Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad
• Viral Grinder Pasta Salad
• Spinach Artichoke Pasta Salad

Frequently asked questions

I don't have a dutch oven? Can I make the tomato soup on a sheet pan instead?

Absolutely! If you don't have a dutch oven, just add the soup ingredients to a sheet pan. Since they're more spread out, it will take less time so be sure to keep an eye on it. Once they're roasted, simply add to a large blender or food processor. If you have an immersion blender, just add the soup to a large pot and blend.

What Cheese is best for a grilled cheese?

Any meltable cheese works well for a grilled cheese sandwich! I recommend going for any cheese that you find sliced in the deli department if you're unsure. Here are some of the best cheeses for grilled cheese in no particular order:

• cheddar
• white cheddar
• gouda
• fontina
• havarti
• pepperjack
• colbyjack
• low moisture mozzarella
• gruyere
• comte
• brie
• camembert
• muenster

What country is grilled cheese and tomato soup from?

Grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup, as a combined dish, are quintessentially American. The grilled cheese sandwich began to gain popularity in the U.S. in the 1920s, thanks largely to the availability of sliced bread and American cheese.

Tomato soup, also a staple in American cuisine, became a common pairing with grilled cheese during the 20th century, solidifying this comfort food duo as a beloved American classic.

While both grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup have roots and variations in other cultures, it's their combination that is particularly iconic in the United States.

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