This gorgeous Low Calorie Red Pepper and Tomato Soup is the perfect soup for chilly weather. It comes together on the stovetop in under 25 minutes with a short list of pantry and refrigerated ingredients you probably already have.
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Check out my Pumpkin Soup Without Coconut Milk and my Instant Pot Vegetable Soup With Pasta for more meatless soup recipes!
Temperatures are dropping, and you know what that means - it's soup season! And what could be better on a chilly afternoon than a rich and creamy bowl of low calorie red pepper tomato soup?
These step-by-step instructions will show you how to transform jarred roasted red peppers and canned tomatoes into a luxurious pot of tomato and roasted red pepper soup. The extra sweet and smokey roasted red peppers in this recipe upgrade classic creamy tomato soup to a gourmet meal. The vibrant flavors are perfectly balanced.
I love enjoying bowls of this tomato red pepper soup with a few garlicky crunchy croutons. It's also delicious with a side of French bread or cornbread to soak up every last drop of deliciousness, but for the ultimate warm and cozy cold weather meal, a grilled cheese sandwich is non-negotiable. Enjoy!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It's super quick and easy. Great for winter weeknights!
- It's healthy and easy to modify with dairy-free, vegan, and vegetarian ingredients.
- The flavor and texture are PERFECT! It's smooth and creamy, and there's nothing bland about it.
- If you like Trader Joes's or Pacific Foods roasted red pepper and tomato soup, you will LOVE this one even more!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Roasted Red Peppers (jar): I love making this soup with a jar of roasted red peppers. The flavor from the brine enhances the sweet and tangy red bell pepper flavor.
- Diced Tomatoes (can): A can of plain diced tomatoes works, but a can of fire-roasted diced tomatoes or Italian-seasoned diced tomatoes is even better!
- Olive Oil: To coat the bottom of the soup pot and prevent sticking. You can also use extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil here.
- Tomato Puree (can): Adds rich, tomato-forward flavor and volume to the soup mixture.
- Low Sodium Chicken Broth: Adds a layer of deep, savory flavor and thins the pureed peppers and tomatoes into a velvety smooth soup.
- Granulated Sugar: Balances the acidity and sharpens the dynamic flavors.
- Salt & Ground Pepper: Salt improves flavors, and pepper adds a touch of warmth.
- Heavy Cream: Makes the soup extra rich with a satiny smooth mouthfeel. You can use whole milk or half & half here as well.
- Croutons: For crunch!
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: Puree roasted red peppers and tomatoes. Drain the red peppers from the brine and place them in a food processor along with the can of diced tomatoes. Blend until the red peppers and tomatoes are smooth and pureed.
Step 2: Combine soup ingredients and simmer. Add the olive oil to a large pot and heat over medium heat. Then, add the pepper and tomato mixture, canned tomato puree, chicken broth, sugar, salt & pepper, and mix well. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, and cook until heated through (about 10 minutes).
Step 3: Add cream. Whisk in the heavy cream and simmer for 5 more minutes (or until steaming hot).
Step 4: Serve. Ladle the soup into bowls, top with a few croutons, and enjoy!
NOTE: You can print the FULL recipe with all ingredients & detailed instructions below!
Expert Tips
- If you prefer a more rustic, chunky tomato soup, only puree half of the diced tomatoes with the roasted red peppers. Add the other half of the can of diced tomatoes to the soup as is.
- Add even more flavor by sauteing diced onion and minced garlic in olive oil until soft and fragrant before adding the rest of the soup ingredients to the pot. Let simmer, then blend directly in the pot with an immersion blender (or in a high-speed blender) until smooth.
- Allow the heavy cream to come to room temperature beforehand, or it may curdle when it comes in contact with the hot soup.
Variations & Serving
In addition to croutons, bowls of this creamy roasted red pepper tomato soup are delicious with fresh basil, a swirl of Greek yogurt, sour cream, creme fraiche, goat cheese, feta, or freshly grated Parmesan. Check out the list below for more perfect pairings:
- Plantain Croutons
- Low Calorie Biscuits
- Low Calorie Cornbread
- Air Fryer Pita Chips
- Crispy Oven Roasted Chickpeas
Storing & Freezing
Storing: Have leftovers? Lucky you! This tomato red pepper soup tastes even better the next day. To store, let the soup cool to room temperature, then pour it into an airtight container, and keep it in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Freezing: You can also freeze the leftovers. After cooling to room temperature, pour the soup into a freezer-safe ziptop bag (leaving some room to accommodate for expansion). Lay the bag flat in the freezer, and keep it frozen for 4-6 months. Let thaw in the fridge before reheating.
Recipe FAQ‘s
Absolutely! You can use unsweetened canned coconut milk instead of heavy cream, and you're all set!
The bulk of the ingredients are inherently plant-based, so all you need to do is substitute a good quality vegetable broth for the chicken broth and coconut milk for heavy cream.
More Healthy Soups You’ll Love
Low Calorie Red Pepper and Tomato Soup
Ingredients
- 12 ounce jar roasted red peppers in brine drained
- 14.5 ounces diced tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 28 ounces tomato puree
- 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
- 1 cup heavy cream
- Croutons for topping optional
Instructions
- Drain the red peppers from the brine and place them in a food processor along with the can of diced tomatoes. Blend until the red peppers and tomatoes are smooth and pureed.
- Add the olive oil to a large pot and heat over medium heat. Then, add the pepper and tomato mixture, canned tomato puree, chicken broth, sugar, salt & pepper, and mix well. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, and cook until heated through (about 10 minutes).
- Whisk in the heavy cream and simmer for 5 more minutes (or until steaming hot).
- Ladle the soup into bowls, top with a few croutons, and enjoy!
Notes
- If you prefer a more rustic, chunky tomato soup, only puree half of the diced tomatoes with the roasted red peppers. Add the other half of the can of diced tomatoes to the soup as is.
- Add even more flavor by sauteing diced onion and minced garlic in olive oil until soft and fragrant before adding the rest of the soup ingredients to the pot. Let simmer, then blend directly in the pot with an immersion blender (or in a high-speed blender) until smooth.
- Allow the heavy cream to come to room temperature beforehand, or it may curdle when it comes in contact with the hot soup.
- Storing: Have leftovers? Lucky you! This tomato red pepper soup tastes even better the next day. To store, let the soup cool to room temperature, then pour it into an airtight container, and keep it in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- Freezing: You can also freeze the leftovers. After cooling to room temperature, pour the soup into a freezer-safe ziptop bag (leaving some room to accommodate for expansion). Lay the bag flat in the freezer, and keep it frozen for 4-6 months. Let thaw in the fridge before reheating.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Srikanth
Loved making this soup for the entire family. It was easy to make and there's plenty of leftovers too 🙂
Priya Lakshminarayan
Nice idea to use red bell peppers to this soup..will lend to a nice flavor.
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry
I love how quick and easy this is to make - it sounds super delicious too!