Quick and Easy Grilled Cheese Sandwich + Creamy Tomato Soup

It’s a classic, right? Grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup. I can’t tell you how many times we ate that for dinner when I was a kid. It’s the perfect combination of veggies and comforting, cheesy goodness; just the right amount of carbs with just the right amount of soup; and infinitely customizable. 

It’s also my go-to quick and easy dinner several times a month. It always good and everyone in our family will eat it. Don’t you love those kinds of meals?

Easy Grilled Cheese Sandwich + Creamy Tomato Soup

This sandwich is one of my family’s very favorites. It’s easy to adapt to everyone’s personal preference. I leave salami off mine, the kids don’t care for the sun-dried tomatoes and olive tapanade quite so much. Think of it as a build-your-own sandwich bar, which is something my kids will just dive into. 

I always, always, always make homemade tomato soup. And by homemade sometimes that means fresh tomatoes if it’s the summertime and our garden is plentiful, and in the winter it means using canned tomatoes. And it could not be easier, so I honestly never buy canned tomato soup. When I serve it, everyone thinks it took longer than the actual 10-15 minutes, including simmering time. This is a true 30-minute dinner if ever there was one.

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Quick and Easy Grilled Sandwich + Creamy Tomato Soup

This classic combo of grilled cheese sandwich plus tomato soup is comforting and quick for busy nights.

Course sandwich, Soup

Cuisine American

Servings 4

Author Lindsey Johnson

Ingredients

For soup:

• 1 Tablespoon olive oil or butter
• 1 medium onion diced
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic or 1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic
• 1 28 ounce can tomatoes (diced, whole, or crushed)
• 4 cups water or stock
• 1/2 to 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
• salt and fresh pepper to taste
• pinch sugar or little drizzle of honey
• fresh basil cut into ribbons, for garnish
• grated Parmesan cheese for garnish

For sandwiches:

• 8-10 slices artisan bread
• 8-10 slices mozzarella or fontina
• 4 Tablespoons prepared olive tapanade
• 4 Tablespoons julienned sun-dried tomatoes drained if packed in oil
• 8-10 large fresh basil leaves can use spinach
• a few tablespoons olive oil or butter for grilling

Instructions

For soup:

1. In a 3-quart pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes, until it starts to soften. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
2. Pour the tomatoes into the pot along with the other ingredients, except for the garnishes. Use an immersion blender to puree until smooth. (We leave ours a little chunky.) Alternatively, place everything in a blender jar, including the sauteed onions, and puree. Pour back into the pan.
3. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring every so often, while preparing the sandwiches.

For sandwiches:

1. Have a large non-stick or cast iron skillet ready to go.
2. Spread olive tapanade and sun-dried tomatoes on one side of half of the bread slices. Top with 1-2 slices of cheese depending on the size of the bread. Top next with the basil and slices of salami, followed by another 1-2 slices of cheese. Top with the other slices of bread.
3. Heat the skillet over medium heat. Spread one side of each sandwich with butter, or brush with olive oil. Working in batches, cook the sandwiches on each side until golden brown and the cheese has melted, being careful not to let them burn.

To serve:

1. Ladle hot tomato soup into bowls and top with fresh basil and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Cut sandwiches in half and serve on the side.