The Ultimate Comfort Food Duo: Grilled Cheese Recipe & Tomato Basil Soup

January 7, 2026
Grilled Cheese Recipe - Tomato Soup
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The Ultimate Comfort Food Duo: Grilled Cheese Recipe & Tomato Basil Soup

Let’s be honest. There are some food combinations that just feel right. And today, we’re diving headfirst into one of the absolute best: Grilled Cheese Recipe & Tomato Basil Soup. It’s the epitome of comforting, a ridiculously easy weeknight dinner, and a fantastic way to use up leftover bread. Seriously, can you not love this?

This isn’t just slapping a sandwich next to a bowl of soup. We’re building a synergy here, folks. The tangy, bright soup perfectly cuts through the richness of the cheese, and the warm, buttery grilled cheese adds another layer of deliciousness. This recipe is adaptable – feel free to swap out the cheese, add a pinch of chili flakes for a kick, or use your favorite crusty bread.

Yields: 4-6 servings Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 30-40 minutes

Grilled Cheese Recipe - Tomato Soup

Ingredients:

For the Tomato Basil Soup:

  • 2 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 1 medium Onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves Garlic, minced
  • 28 oz Can Crushed Tomatoes (good quality matters!)
  • 1 (14.5 oz) Can Diced Tomatoes, undrained
  • 4 cups Vegetable Broth (or chicken broth for extra flavor)
  • 1 tbsp Tomato Paste
  • 1 tsp Dried Basil
  • 1/2 tsp Dried Oregano
  • 1/4 tsp Red Pepper Flakes (optional – for a little heat)
  • 1 Bay Leaf
  • 1 tbsp Sugar (balances the acidity)
  • Salt and Black Pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup Heavy Cream (optional, for extra creaminess)

For the Grilled Cheese Recipe:

  • 4 slices Bread (Sourdough, Brioche, or your favorite hearty bread)
  • 4 tbsp Butter, softened
  • 8 oz Sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded (or Gruyere, Provolone – experiment!)

Instructions for the Grilled Cheese Recipe and Tomato Soup:

Let’s Make the Soup (About 25-30 minutes):

  1. Sauté the Aromatics: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. Don’t let it burn!
  2. Build the Flavor: Stir in the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes (with juice), vegetable broth, tomato paste, dried basil, dried oregano, red pepper flakes (if using), and bay leaf.
  3. Simmer & Season: Bring the soup to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for at least 20 minutes. This allows the flavors to meld beautifully. Season with sugar, salt, and pepper to taste.
  4. Creamy Finish (Optional): If you’re using it, stir in the heavy cream during the last 5 minutes of simmering. Remove the bay leaf before serving.

Now, for the Grilled Cheese Recipe (About 10-15 minutes):

  1. Butter the Bread: Spread the softened butter evenly on one side of each slice of bread.
  2. Cheese It Up: Sprinkle a generous amount of shredded cheese (about 2 oz) evenly over the unbuttered side of two slices of bread.
  3. Grill to Perfection: Heat a skillet (cast iron is fantastic!) over medium-low heat. Place the sandwich on the skillet, butter-side down.
  4. Golden Brown & Gooey: Cook for 3-5 minutes per side, or until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is completely melted and gooey. Press down gently with a spatula to ensure even grilling.

Assembly & Serving:

  1. Ladle & Serve: Ladle the hot tomato basil soup into bowls.
  2. Top It Off: Place a grilled cheese sandwich on top of each bowl of soup.
  3. Enjoy Immediately: This is best enjoyed warm, while the soup is steaming and the grilled cheese is perfectly melted.

Tips & Variations:

  • Bread Choice: Sourdough and brioche are fantastic, but don’t be afraid to experiment with different breads – baguette slices work really well too!
  • Cheese Combos: Gruyere, provolone, or even a little mozzarella can add amazing depth to the soup.
  • Spice it Up: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper, a dash of hot sauce, or some chopped jalapeños to the soup for extra heat.
  • Herb Boost: Fresh basil, parsley, or chives, chopped and stirred in at the end, elevate the flavor.
  • Make it Hearty: Add cooked shredded chicken or Italian sausage to the soup for a more substantial meal.
Grilled Cheese Recipe - Tomato Soup

Nutritional Information (approximate, per serving – excluding grilled cheese):

  • Calories: 250-300
  • Protein: 8-10g
  • Fat: 15-20g
  • Carbohydrates: 30-35g

Also Try: Waffle House Patty Melt

Or Try: The Viral Chopped Italian Sandwich

Grilled Cheese Recipe - Tomato Soup

The Ultimate Comfort Food Duo: Grilled Cheese Recipe & Tomato Basil Soup

Let’s be honest. There are some food combinations that just feel right. And today, we’re diving headfirst into one of the absolute best: Grilled Cheese & Tomato Basil Soup. It’s the epitome of comforting, a ridiculously easy weeknight dinner, and a fantastic way to use up leftover bread. Seriously, can you not love this?
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 793.1 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the Tomato Basil Soup:

  • 2 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 1 medium Onion chopped
  • 2 cloves Garlic minced
  • 28 oz Can Crushed Tomatoes good quality matters!
  • 1 14.5 oz Can Diced Tomatoes, undrained
  • 4 cups Vegetable Broth or chicken broth for extra flavor
  • 1 tbsp Tomato Paste
  • 1 tsp Dried Basil
  • 1/2 tsp Dried Oregano
  • 1/4 tsp Red Pepper Flakes optional – for a little heat
  • 1 Bay Leaf
  • 1 tbsp Sugar balances the acidity
  • Salt and Black Pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup Heavy Cream optional, for extra creaminess

For the Grilled Cheese:

  • 4 slices Bread Sourdough, Brioche, or your favorite hearty bread
  • 4 tbsp Butter softened
  • 8 oz Sharp Cheddar Cheese shredded (or Gruyere, Provolone – experiment!)

Instructions
 

Let’s Make the Soup (About 25-30 minutes):

  • Sauté the Aromatics: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. Don’t let it burn!
  • Build the Flavor: Stir in the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes (with juice), vegetable broth, tomato paste, dried basil, dried oregano, red pepper flakes (if using), and bay leaf.
  • Simmer & Season: Bring the soup to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for at least 20 minutes. This allows the flavors to meld beautifully. Season with sugar, salt, and pepper to taste.
  • Creamy Finish (Optional): If you’re using it, stir in the heavy cream during the last 5 minutes of simmering. Remove the bay leaf before serving.

Now, for the Grilled Cheese (About 10-15 minutes):

  • Butter the Bread: Spread the softened butter evenly on one side of each slice of bread.
  • Cheese It Up: Sprinkle a generous amount of shredded cheese (about 2 oz) evenly over the unbuttered side of two slices of bread.
  • Grill to Perfection: Heat a skillet (cast iron is fantastic!) over medium-low heat. Place the sandwich on the skillet, butter-side down.
  • Golden Brown & Gooey: Cook for 3-5 minutes per side, or until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is completely melted and gooey. Press down gently with a spatula to ensure even grilling.

Assembly & Serving:

  • Ladle & Serve: Ladle the hot tomato basil soup into bowls.
  • Top It Off: Place a grilled cheese sandwich on top of each bowl of soup.
  • Enjoy Immediately: This is best enjoyed warm, while the soup is steaming and the grilled cheese is perfectly melted.

Notes

The Ultimate Comfort Food Duo: Grilled Cheese Recipe & Tomato Basil Soup

Nutrition

Calories: 793.1kcalCarbohydrates: 67.4gProtein: 27.2gFat: 50.8gSaturated Fat: 26.3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 15.3gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 120.4mgSodium: 3291.4mgPotassium: 2419.3mgFiber: 11.2gSugar: 36gVitamin A: 5109.4IUVitamin C: 56.6mgCalcium: 582.9mgIron: 8.6mg
Keyword Grilled Cheese, Tomato Soup
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