Ranking 13 Tomato Soup Brands

For many people, cozy food memories begin with soup. From sick days curled up with a mugful of chicken noodle to hearty beef stew served in handmade pottery for Sunday dinner, soup is comfort in a bowl. Tomato soup — that familiar staple often served with a side of gooey grilled cheese — is one of the more versatile varieties, easily functioning as both a meal by itself and a flavor bomb for tarting up simple dishes.

While some ambitious home cooks prefer to make tomato soup from scratch, others opt for premade store-bought versions for ease and convenience. That's not a bad thing, of course. Whether in a box or canned, store-bought tomato soup can make any weeknight meal more memorable.

But not all soups are created equal. And though taste is undeniably subjective, that doesn't mean it's impossible to make objective judgments. On that note, we ranked some of the more well-known premade tomato soup brands on the market. After looking at everything from taste to listed ingredients to nutritional profile, we've determined which tomato soup brand is the best — and which needs a little work. Without further ado, here's our ranking of 13 tomato soup brands from worst to first.

Aldi's Slow-Cooked Tomato & Sweet Basil soup is the chain's fresh and affordable take on tomato soup, with each 15.5-ounce container sold for around $3. When you're ready for lunch, you can just pop off the top, peel back the internal plastic, and microwave it for a few minutes until it's hot. Quick, easy, and not too bad for a healthy lunchtime staple, right?

But before you stack the pantry with these heat-and-eat gems, take a look at the label. Each container has 43 grams of sugar, 23 grams of fat, and a whopping 1440 milligrams of sodium — or nearly ⅔ of the recommended daily allowance. Additionally, Aldi's Slow-Cooked Tomato & Sweet Basil soup has a surprising ingredient that makes it potentially unsafe for some shoppers: wheat. Since the gluten in wheat can cause numerous health-related issues for those with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, according to Healthline, any gluten-sensitive individuals will want to steer clear — though everyone may want to stay away from this premade product.

Maybe folks with a sweet tooth will enjoy this soup. But if you're concerned about your sugar intake, you might be better off grabbing a chocolate bar instead.

First sold in the U.K. in 1910 — with a factory opening in London soon after World War I – Heinz Cream of Tomato Soup is a British classic. While you wouldn't be far off the mark to think of ketchup first when thinking of Heinz, the company has a successful track record with its tomato soup, too, having sold more than 8 billion cans over the product's century-plus on the market.

Heinz tomato soup has a loud and vocal group of nostalgic supporters who love its velvety texture and consistent, uncomplicated taste. It has no artificial flavors or preservatives and is lower in sugar, sodium, and carbs than many other soups. Just be aware that each can contains more than a single serving — meaning the lower sugar and sodium content goes out the window if you eat the whole can (which is easy to do at just over 14 ounces).

The good news is that this soup makes for a great base for other recipes. Use it to add depth to stews or as a base for pasta sauce that just needs a bit of brightness.

Everyone knows Rao's tomato sauce is good ... but what about the brand's Tomato Basil soup? For starters, like its pasta sauce, Rao's soup contains only natural ingredients. It has some of the lowest added sugars of any brand on the list, as well, and Rao's uses no added preservatives. Even better, the company's tomatoes are selected for their authentic Italian flavor, which translates to the soup.

Flavor-wise, Rao's packs a punch. It's bright and bursting with real tomato taste, and there's a nice balance of sweetness and acidity. The basil adds a depth and complexity that is missing in other tomato soups, making it perfect to play off of (and hold its own against) grilled cheese sandwiches with stronger cheese.

However, the texture is thinner and lacks chunks, which would make the soup more substantial. If you're looking for a flavorful tomato soup to serve as a jumping-off point for tomato-based recipes, Rao's is a good choice. But if you like your tomato soup as more of a hearty meal on its own, give this one a pass.

Trader Joe's is well-known for its unique products, quirky flyers, and different approach to customer service (the store will never deliver your groceries, for instance). But how does it do when it comes to boxed, ready-to-eat tomato soup? Pretty well, it turns out. Among premade tomato soup entries, Trader Joe's Tomato And Roasted Red Pepper soup has less fat and more protein per serving than any other soup on the list.

The nutritional profile isn't the only reason this soup is holding down the center of our rankings, though. Roasted red peppers add sweetness and interest to a pretty standard flavor profile. The brand uses organic ingredients and prides itself on offering a quality product at a reasonable price. There are four servings per carton, which means more bang for your buck, too. However, some likely prefer a thicker soup — and this one is not thick enough to stick to your ribs. But it's still great for cozying up by a fire after an afternoon in the snow.

Travel to West Africa, and you'll find cuisine packed with spices and deeply flavored soups and stews. Egunsi Foods has captured the essence of West African flavors in its Obe Ata West African Tomato Soup. Offered in a four-pack of resealable jars, this soup is delicious on its own or used as a base for stews, braises, and even other soups.

So what makes this worthy of such a high ranking? Straight-up flavor. Red bell pepper takes the top spot in the ingredient list, which some could argue is cheating when it comes to a list of the best tomato soups. But you'll be convinced this soup belongs once you get a spoonful and sample the perfect balance of sweet red pepper, tomato, and celery. Mushrooms bring a nice slap of umami to the party, while corn, habanero pepper, garlic, and lemon juice balance this deeply flavorful soup.

Just be mindful if you're trying to limit calories or fat, as this soup has plenty of both. That may provide a strong argument for utilizing this Egunsi Foods product as more of a sauce than by the bowlful. But more than likely, you won't be able to resist a second helping, so you might as well indulge.

It's a classic, and it's close to the top of the list for a reason. Campbell's Tomato Soup has served families a warm hug in a bowl for over 120 years. The Campbell's soup can is as iconic as the soup itself — which is the most consistent product on this list.

Serving this soup is simple: Open the can, add a can's worth of water or milk — milk is the only way to go in this writer's opinion (unless you use half-and-half) — heat, and serve. The texture is smooth, simple, acidic, and creamy, which makes it a perfect partner for sandwiches. Campbell's Tomato Soup isn't trying to upstage anyone or break any rules, and it seems content in a supporting role that's familiar rather than a wild, zany ride.

Unfortunately, Campbell's contains wheat, which won't be great for everyone. And yes: Even though there are a half-dozen tomatoes in every can, high fructose corn syrup makes an early appearance on the ingredient list. Adding high-fructose corn syrup is suboptimal, but honestly? It's a small price to pay for the occasional indulgence of our childhood favorite.