Go Back
a white bowl full of tomato soup for toddlers and kids sitting on a beige kitchen towel with spinach, tomatoes, and an onion

Healthy and Easy Tomato Soup Recipe for Toddlers and Kids

5 from 3 votes
The delicious soup is truly one of my go-to's when my babies are sick, need some comforting, or just need a quick nutritious meal.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 6
Course: Soup
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tbsp olive oil butter
  • 1/2 medium yellow onion peeled and chopped
  • 2 large carrots peeled and chopped
  • 2-3 cloves of garlic minced
  • 2 cups spinach
  • 28 oz can of diced tomatoes (2 1/2 cups) fired roasted is best
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1-2 tbsp Italian seasoning
  • 1 1/2 tsp sea or kosher salt or to taste
  • 4 cups bone broth bone, beef, chicken or vegetable work great

Equipment

  • Pressure Cooker (I use an Instant Pot)
  • Immersion Blender (food processor or blender)
  • Cutting board
  • Sharp knife
  • Wooden spoon

Method
 

  1. First, gather all ingredients together. Prepare and chop onion and carrots. Peel and mince garlic. Roughly chop these ingredients.
  2. Second, press the Sauté button on the Instant Pot. Heat olive oil in the pot. Once, the Instant Pot reads "hot," add the chopped onions and carrots. Cook for about 5 minutes. Then, add garlic and sauté for 2 more minutes.
  3. Next, pour in the broth to deglaze the pot. Scrap the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon to remove any pieces that are stuck.
  4. Then, add the remaining ingredients. Press the cancel button on the Instant Pot.
  5. Now, place the lid on the Instant Pot and lock it into place. Make sure the valve is switched to "seal." Turn on the pressure cooker function on HIGH and set for 15 minutes. It will take 12 minutes for the pressure cooker to pressurize. Allow, the Instant Pot to naturally release for 10-15 minutes. Then, following your Instant Pot manual , quick release the rest of the remaining pressure from the Instant Pot. I do not allow my kids to assist with this step. The steam is too hot; the risk is too great.
  6. Then, carefully use an immersion blender to puree the soup to your desired consistency (use top tips for alternative method).
  7. Lastly, ENJOY a warm nutritious meal!

Notes

  • Time for this recipe: 5 minutes to prep ingredients, 8 minutes to sauté ingredients, hands-off time 12 minutes to pressurize, 15 minutes to cook, 15 minutes to naturally release, 5 minutes for immersion blender.
  • This is a "mama-make-do" recipe. Use what is available, what is in season, and what you can budget.
  • If you do not have an immersion blender, then once the soup is cooled and safe to handle, remove the soup in batches and add to the blender (or food processor) and blend each batch to the desired consistency.
  • If you do not have an Instant Pot, then grab a stock pot and sauté your onions and carrots until soften. Add garlic and sauté for 2 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients to the pot. Bring the soup to a simmer and cook for 25-30 minutes on the stove top on medium heat. Use your judgment and supervise your soup; stir as needed. Follow the instructions above for the immersion blender or food processor in order to adjust the consistency of the soup.
  • If using fresh tomatoes, you will want to roast 2 pounds of fresh tomatoes in the oven first. Preheat the oven to 400F. Spread quartered tomatoes on a large pan. Drizzle with oil (add chopped onions and carrots to speed up the cooking process). It is good to note that 450F is too high of heat to use olive oil, so I recommend using avocado oil or another oil that has a smoke point of higher than 400F. Roast for about 25 minutes. Broil for the last 3-4 minutes to achieve a bit of char. Now, your tomatoes are good to go.
  • If you want a creamier soup, add about 3/4 cup of full fat cream or coconut milk after the soup is cooked. Dairy is not a friend to pressure cookers, the quick heat function will cause the milk product to curdle and cheese to clump together. Always  add dairy products after the pressure cooking is complete.