Description
All the cozy flavors of tomato soup and grilled cheese baked into one bubbling, cheesy casserole with a crisp top and silky tomato base.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cans crushed tomatoes (28 ounces each)
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 loaf Italian bread, cut into 1 inch cubes
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Sauté onion 4 to 5 minutes until translucent, add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
- Stir in crushed tomatoes, vegetable broth, sugar, salt, and black pepper. Simmer 15 minutes, then stir in heavy cream and remove from heat.
- Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Add half the bread cubes, pour over half the tomato soup, sprinkle with half the cheddar, half the mozzarella, and half the basil. Repeat the layers with remaining bread, soup, cheeses, and basil.
- Brush the top with melted butter.
- Bake uncovered 25 to 30 minutes until golden and bubbling. Rest 5 minutes, then serve warm.
Notes
- Use day old bread for the best crisp top and tender interior.
- Shred cheese from the block for smoother melting.
- Add a squeeze of lemon to the soup for brightness or a pinch of red pepper flakes for gentle heat.
- If the top browns too quickly, tent loosely with foil.
- To make ahead, assemble, cover, and refrigerate up to 24 hours, then bake.
- Leftovers reheat best in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10 to 15 minutes.
- For freezing, wrap portions tightly and freeze up to 2 months. Reheat from frozen at 350°F (175°C) until hot.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 820 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 16 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg