My Amazing Tomato Basil Soup (Like Applebee's®)

This tastes just like the tomato basil soup they serve at Applebee's®. The hubs loved it so that's saying something! I always add a pinch of sugar to tomato-based sauce, but I'm not sure that it needed it. Served it with baked fries with seasoned salt and grilled gouda cheese sandwiches on thick crusty bread, panini-style.

• Preparation Time: 10 mins
• Cooking Time: 20 mins
• Total Time: 30 mins
• Calories: 350 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed tomato soup
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
• ½ (10.75 ounce) can water
• 1 small clove garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano, or to taste
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil, or more to taste
• ¼ cup bottled marinara sauce
• 6 Italian-style seasoned croutons, or as needed

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Saute garlic in hot oil until tender and fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir

Step 2

Stir condensed tomato soup and marinara sauce into garlic; slowly add water. Mix oregano and black pepper into soup; bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, and cook until flavors blend, about 15 minutes. Stir basil into soup. Ladle into bowls and top with croutons and Parmesan cheese.