Cozy Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup: A Heartwarming Duo for Any Day

Grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup make up a classic pair that has warmed hearts for years.

The gooey cheese tucked between crispy bread goes perfectly with the tangy, rich taste of the tomato soup.

This meal brings back memories of cozy kitchens and childhood days.

Across the country, people enjoy this combo for lunch, dinner, or even as a quick snack.

Foods like these bring people together through shared experiences at the table.

The true charm of this pairing is its straightforward nature, its warmth, and how it instantly comforts both body and mind.

Why Grilled Cheese And Tomato Soup Feels So Right

• Savor Quick Comfort: This grilled cheese and tomato soup recipe offers incredible home-style satisfaction.
• Minimal Effort, Maximum Flavor: Crafting this meal requires basic cooking skills and just 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends.
• Nostalgic Crowd-Pleaser: Combines classic comfort food elements that appeal to both kids and adults, creating an instant mood-lifting dining experience.
• Chef-Level Technique Upgrade: By using a blender for smooth soup texture and mixing cheese varieties, home cooks can elevate a simple childhood favorite into a restaurant-quality dish.

What Goes In Grilled Cheese And Tomato Soup

• Olive Oil: Provides a smooth, rich base for sautéing ingredients, choosing a high-quality extra virgin olive oil for best flavor.
• Onion: Adds depth and sweetness to the soup, fresh and firm onions work best.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and helps draw out moisture from onions.

• Tomato Paste: Concentrates tomato flavor and adds richness, opt for a good quality brand.
• Crushed Tomatoes, Whole Peeled Tomatoes: Creates a smooth, robust tomato base with layered texture.

• Broth: Provides additional depth and liquid for the soup, chicken or vegetable broth work well.
• Worcestershire Sauce: Adds complex umami flavor and slight tanginess.
• Brown Sugar: Balances acidity and adds subtle sweetness.

• Sourdough Bread: Offers tangy flavor and crisp texture, choose a fresh artisan loaf.
• American Cheese, Gouda: Melts beautifully and provides creamy, rich cheese flavor, select high-quality sliced cheeses.

• Butter: Creates golden, crispy exterior for the sandwich, use unsalted for better control of saltiness.
• Mayonnaise: Helps achieve extra crispy and golden-brown sandwich surface.

Steps To Make Grilled Cheese And Tomato Soup

Step 1: Sauté Aromatic Base

• Olive oil
• Onion
• Salt

Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Toss in chopped onions and sprinkle salt. Cook until onions become soft and translucent, releasing their sweet fragrance.

Step 2: Build Flavor Foundation

• Tomato paste
• Garlic

Add tomato paste and minced garlic. Stir and cook until the mixture becomes incredibly aromatic and slightly darkened.

Step 3: Create Soup Liquid

• Crushed tomatoes
• Whole peeled tomatoes
• Broth
• Worcestershire sauce
• Brown sugar

Pour in crushed tomatoes, whole peeled tomatoes, broth, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar. Stir thoroughly and bring the mixture to a rolling boil.

Step 4: Simmer and Develop

Reduce heat to low and let the soup simmer, allowing flavors to meld and intensify.

Step 5: Blend to Silky Smoothness

Transfer soup carefully to a high-speed blender. Blend until completely smooth and creamy.

Step 6: Keep Warm

Return soup to Dutch oven and maintain on low heat.

Creating Golden Grilled Cheese

Step 1: Assemble Sandwich

• Sourdough bread
• American cheese
• Gouda cheese

Layer cheese slices between two pieces of sourdough bread.

Step 2: Prepare for Grilling

• Butter

Spread butter generously on one outer side of the sandwich.

Step 3: Start Grilling

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Place sandwich butter-side-down and cook until bottom turns golden brown.

Step 4: Add Final Touch

• Mayonnaise

Spread mayonnaise on the top slice while bottom cooks.

Step 5: Complete Grilling

Flip sandwich and cook other side. Cover pan to ensure cheese melts completely.

Step 6: Serve and Enjoy

Remove from heat, slice diagonally, and serve alongside warm tomato soup.

Easy Tips For Grilled Cheese And Tomato Soup

• Perfectly Blend Tomatoes: Use a high-speed blender to create an ultra-smooth soup texture without any lumps, ensuring a silky consistency that coats your spoon beautifully.
• Cheese Melting Hack: Cover the skillet when grilling the sandwich to trap heat and help cheese melt evenly, creating that perfect gooey center every sandwich lover craves.
• Flavor Boost Trick: Add a splash of Worcestershire sauce to the tomato soup for depth and complexity, introducing a subtle umami flavor that elevates the entire dish.
• Bread Selection Wisdom: Choose a sturdy sourdough bread that can withstand buttering and grilling while providing a tangy flavor complement to the rich, creamy soup.
• Optional Dairy-Free Swap: Replace dairy cheese with plant-based alternatives and use olive oil instead of butter to make this classic comfort meal completely vegan-friendly.

Storing Grilled Cheese And Tomato Soup Made Simple

• Refrigerate: Store leftover tomato soup and grilled cheese in separate airtight containers for up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
• Freeze Soup: Pour cooled tomato soup into freezer-safe containers, leaving some space for expansion. Freeze for 2-3 months, ensuring a tight seal.
• Reheat Soup: Gently warm soup in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Add a splash of broth if needed to restore consistency.
• Revive Sandwich: Quickly crisp grilled cheese in a skillet or toaster oven for 1-2 minutes to restore its original crunch and melty texture.

Pair Grilled Cheese And Tomato Soup With These

• Pair with crisp white wine like Sauvignon Blanc to cut through the rich, creamy cheese and complement the tangy tomato soup's acidity.
• Refreshing Side Complement
• Add a simple mixed green salad with light vinaigrette to balance the hearty sandwich and provide a fresh, crisp contrast to the warm soup.
• Textural Crunch Booster
• Include homemade croutons or toasted sourdough bread chips as a crunchy topping for the tomato soup, enhancing the overall dining experience with added texture.
• Palate-Cleansing Beverage
• Select sparkling water with lemon wedge to cleanse the palate between bites, helping to reset taste buds and highlight the sandwich's melted cheese complexity.

New Takes On Grilled Cheese And Tomato Soup

• Vegan Cheese Delight: Replace American and gouda cheese with dairy-free alternatives like cashew cheese or plant-based cheddar. Use vegan butter and bread for a completely plant-based meal.
• Gluten-Free Comfort: Swap sourdough for gluten-free bread made from rice or almond flour. Ensure all ingredients like Worcestershire sauce are certified gluten-free to accommodate celiac needs.
• Spicy Mediterranean Fusion: Add roasted red pepper flakes to tomato soup. Use provolone and feta cheese instead of traditional options. Incorporate fresh basil leaves into the grilled cheese for extra Mediterranean flavor.
• Low-Carb Protein Boost: Replace bread with large lettuce leaves or low-carb cauliflower bread. Use extra-sharp cheddar and add crispy bacon bits for increased protein content. Reduce brown sugar in soup for lower carbohydrate profile.

Questions On Grilled Cheese And Tomato Soup

• Why use both American and gouda cheese in the grilled cheese?

The combination provides a perfect balance of creamy, melty texture from American cheese and rich, slightly sharp flavor from gouda, creating a more complex and delicious sandwich.

• Can I make the tomato soup less acidic?

Adding brown sugar helps balance the tomatoes’ natural acidity, creating a smoother, more rounded flavor profile without making the soup sweet.

• What's the purpose of Worcestershire sauce in the tomato soup?

Worcestershire sauce adds depth and umami flavor, enhancing the overall taste of the soup by providing a subtle savory complexity that complements the tomatoes.

• Why spread mayonnaise on the outside of the grilled cheese?

Mayonnaise creates a crispier, more golden-brown exterior than butter, resulting in a perfectly crunchy and evenly toasted sandwich that has a richer flavor.

Cozy Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Recipe

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4.8 from 30 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Comfort classics collide in this grilled cheese and tomato soup duo, blending crispy golden bread with a silky, herb-infused broth. Each spoonful promises warmth and nostalgia, inviting you to savor a timeless culinary embrace.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 28 ounces (794 grams) crushed tomatoes
• 28 ounces (794 grams) whole peeled tomatoes
• 6 slices sourdough bread
• 8 slices American cheese
• 4 slices gouda cheese
• 1 cup (240 milliliters) chicken broth

Vegetables and Aromatics:

• 1 medium white onion, diced
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1.5 tablespoons tomato paste

Seasonings and Condiments:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1.5 teaspoons sea salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise

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Instructions

1. Sauté diced onions in olive oil with a pinch of salt, allowing them to soften and become translucent over medium-high heat for about 8 minutes.
2. Introduce tomato paste and minced garlic, stirring continuously to release their aromatic essence for approximately 2 minutes.
3. Pour in crushed tomatoes, whole peeled tomatoes, vegetable broth, Worcestershire sauce, and a touch of brown sugar, mixing thoroughly and bringing the mixture to a vigorous boil.
4. Reduce the temperature to a gentle simmer, allowing the flavors to meld and intensify for 5 minutes.
5. Transfer the soup to a high-powered blender, processing until achieving a velvety, uniform consistency.
6. Return the smooth soup to the Dutch oven, maintaining a low heat to keep warm while preparing the grilled cheese.
7. Layer slices of American and gouda cheese between two pieces of sourdough bread, creating a rich, flavorful sandwich.
8. Generously spread softened butter on the exterior of the sandwich.
9. Position the sandwich butter-side-down in a preheated skillet over medium heat, allowing the bread to golden and crisp for 3-4 minutes.
10. Brush the exposed side with mayonnaise while the first side cooks to enhance browning and flavor.
11. Carefully flip the sandwich, covering the skillet to ensure complete cheese melting and even browning for an additional 2-4 minutes.
12. Remove from heat, slice diagonally, and serve alongside the warm, silky tomato soup.

Notes

• Select ripe, flavorful tomatoes for an intensely rich soup base that brings depth to every spoonful.
• Use room temperature butter for easier spreading and more even browning on the grilled cheese sandwich.
• Experiment with different cheese combinations like sharp cheddar or smoked gouda to create unique flavor profiles.
• Blend soup carefully and remove center lid cap to prevent pressure buildup when processing hot liquids, ensuring smooth and safe blending.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 450
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 950 mg
• Fat: 24 g
• Saturated Fat: 12 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 46 g
• Fiber: 4 g
• Protein: 18 g
• Cholesterol: 60 mg