Two Easy Dinners That Start with a Box of Tomato Soup

Comforting, Quick Recipes for Overwhelming Weeks

I’ve been on record that I love a dinner hack, particularly if you happen to be stuck inside with two children, frigid temps, and a string of snow days. Whether it’s using frozen wontons for a quick soup, turning pre-made dumplings into a salad, or making the most of a rotisserie chicken, I am a huge fan of using a store-bought ingredient to make dinner time a bit easier.

One of my pantry staples is boxed tomato soup. Of course, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with opening the soup, heating it in a pot, and calling it dinner (especially with some grilled cheese croutons! 🤤), but boxed soup can also be a short cut to a fantastically easy and robust meal.

Below, I’ve got two variations on tomato soup that each include some extra veggies and protein for a complete meal. Each of them can be whipped up with just 5 extra ingredients and in under 30 minutes. TRULY. Not the fake “I have the ideal kitchen set up and no distractions” 30 minutes, but an actual 30 minutes. I hope it gives you some great inspiration for the week ahead!

Bonus neighbor note: This would be a super easy dinner kit to take to someone who could use a little extra support. Put the ingredients together in a bag with a loaf of crusty bread and attach the recipe—there’s a printable version of both recipes available for paid subscribers below!

Recipe #1: Spinach Tomato Tortellini Soup