This Smoked Gouda Roasted Red Pepper Tomato Bisque has a silky smooth texture and is deliciously rich and creamy. Fire roasted tomatoes, roasted red peppers, aromatic garlic and onion, savory chicken stock, herbs and spices, slow simmered and pureed, and then swirled with heavy cream and melty smoked gouda cheese. It's the perfect soup recipe for those cool and cozy fall and winter days.

Ingredients in Smoked Gouda, Roasted Red Pepper Tomato Bisque
Ingredient Notes
How to make low carb tomato soup
Step by Step Instructions
STEP 1: Heat the butter in a large Dutch oven or stock pot, over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and sauté until the onions are translucent and the garlic is fragrant.
STEP 2: Add the tomato paste, basil, salt, oregano and pepper to the onions and sauté for 5 additional minutes.
STEP 3: Deglaze the pan with ½ cup of the chicken stock and using a rubber spatula, scrape up and mix in any bits that are stuck to the bottom.
STEP 4: Add the fire roasted tomatoes, roasted red peppers, and the remaining chicken stock. Bring to a boil over high heat, and then reduce to low and let simmer for 30 minutes. (The longer you let it simmer, the more the flavors will come together.)
STEP 5: Use an immersion blender to puree the soup to a smooth, silky consistency.
STEP 6: Add the heavy cream, and gouda cheese, mix in, and let simmer for an additional 15 minutes. Taste, and add additional salt and pepper, if desired.
Recipe Tips and Variations
Frequently Asked Questions
Tomato soup does not typically have cream and is made with a base of stock or water. Tomato Bisque is slow simmered, with lots of herbs and spices and a good amount of cream.
YES! A medium sized tomato has just under 5 grams of carb and 1.5 grams of fiber, making it just 3.5 net carbs for one whole tomato.
If you do not have an immersion blender, you can puree this in batches in a blender or food processor.
More low carb soup recipes
Smoked Gouda, Roasted Red Pepper Tomato Bisque
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 12 Servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This Smoked Gouda Roasted Red Pepper Tomato Bisque has a silky smooth texture and is deliciously rich and creamy. Fire roasted tomatoes, roasted red peppers, aromatic garlic and onion, savory chicken stock, herbs and spices, slow simmered and pureed, and then swirled with heavy cream and melty smoked gouda cheese. It's the perfect soup recipe for those cool and cozy fall and winter days.
Ingredients
- 2 - 14.5 ounce cans fire roasted tomatoes
- 12 ounce jar roasted red peppers
- 3 cups chicken stock
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 1 ½ teaspoons sea salt
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 large cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 8 ounces smoked gouda cheese, shredded
- ½ cup heavy cream
- Keto Croutons, for serving (get this recipe in my exclusive Patreon group)
- fresh basil, for garnish
Instructions
SLOW COOKER
- Heat the slow cooker on the low setting.
- To the slow cooker, add the tomatoes, roasted red peppers, chicken stock, tomato paste, basil, sea salt, oregano, and black pepper.
- In a medium sauté pan, over medium heat, sauté the onion and garlic in butter until soft and translucent, about 10 minutes.
- Add the sautéed onions to the slow cooker, cover and cook on low for 4 hours.
- After 4 hours, transfer the soup to a high-powered blender and puree until smooth. This can also be done using an immersion blender. (This is the one I have.)
- Pour the pureed soup back into the slow cooker. Stir in the heavy cream and Gouda cheese. Cover and cook for 1 additional hour.
STOVETOP:
- Heat the butter in a large Dutch oven or stock pot, over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and sauté until the onions are translucent and the garlic is fragrant.
- Add the tomato paste, basil, salt, oregano and pepper to the onions and sauté for 5 additional minutes. Deglaze the pan with ½ cup of the chicken stock and using a rubber spatula, scrape up and mix in any bits that are stuck to the bottom.
- Add the fire roasted tomatoes, roasted red peppers, and the remaining chicken stock. Bring to a boil over high heat, and then reduce to low and let simmer for 30 minutes. (The longer you let it simmer, the more the flavors will come together.)
- Use an immersion blender to puree the soup to a smooth, silky consistency.
- Add the heavy cream, and gouda cheese, mix in, and let simmer for an additional 15 minutes.
- Taste, and add additional salt and pepper, if desired.
Notes
- KITCHEN TOOLS: I use this Dutch Oven and this Immersion Blender
- Net carbs per serving: 5g
- Storage: Store the leftover tomato bisque in an air-tight container for up to 5 days. Alternatively, you can freeze it for up to 2 months.
- Reheating: I recommend reheating this on the stove top and adding a little extra cream to help bring it back to life.
- Add a splash of vinegar: For an even deeper flavor, try adding 1 to 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar.
- Make it dairy free: To make this a dairy free low carb tomato soup, simply swap out the heavy cream for full-fat coconut milk and omit the cheese. Alternatively, you can use a nut based cheese.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Soup Recipes
- Method: Simmered
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Cup
- Calories: 165
- Fat: 12.6g
- Carbohydrates: 5.9g
- Fiber: 0.9g
- Protein: 6.2g
DWC says
Your soup is one of my favorites! I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to post something but I have made it many times and it’s absolutely delicious! I cook it on the stove and the only thing different is I add a little cayenne to give it a bit of a kick. It’s easy to make and always comes out perfectly. Thanks for a fantastic recipe!!
Rhonda says
I have made this soup numerous times! BEYOND DELICIOUS! My husband hates tomato soup, but absolutely loves this soup!! The flavor is phenomenal! Super easy to make as well, so it’s a win-win!
Connie Remkus says
I have made this soup numerous times. One time It didn't taste like the other times. I always use the slow cooker. So I have wondered if the amounts for the tomatoes is correct when switching from 1 to 2x. I sent 3 emails to your administrative address, but have received no response.
Thank you. I love all of your recipes.
Tiff says
Watched your demo on Instagram and instantly knew I needed to make this. Turned out amazing!
Kyndra Holley says
So happy you enjoyed it. And thanks for taking the time to come back and leave a review. I really appreciate it.
Melissa says
This soup is FANTASTIC!! I made it on the stove and followed the recipe exactly - we enjoyed every single bite. Thank you Kyndra!
Kyndra Holley says
So happy you enjoyed it. Thank you for taking the time to come back and leave a comment and a star rating. I really appreciate it.
Ari says
The hospital I work at used to make a roasted red pepper Gouda bisque that was so so so delicious with grilled cheese and then they completely changed the recipe to a white cream/Gouda base which is not good. So I went looking for a comparable recipe to the original soup and this it pretty much spot on the same soup! It turned out really good! I recommend removing some of the red peppers before blending and either chop into small pieces or roughly blend them so that there’s some red pepper pieces throughout to add some texture. I also wasn’t sure about adding the liquid from the jar of roasted peppers but did end up adding about 1/3 cup, figured it would only add more flavor but didn’t want to add too much additional liquid.
Barb says
That is exactly why I am looking for this recipe. I was recently at the hospital for several weeks with a family member, and ate this soup several times at the hospital cafeteria. I couldn't get enough, it was so good. Someone who worked at the hospital told me it comes to them in a bag to just warm up for them. It was amazing soup.
Christa says
I also first heard of this bisque from having it out of the Cafe' here at the UK Hospital I work at. It's amazing! This recipe looks spot on for the same bisque! If you haven't tried this, GO NOW!!! Haha Just kidding, but really - Wisp it up and enjoy on ANY day & especially chilly days with a grilled cheese is best!!!! Peace, Love, and Low Carbs, Thanks so much!
Christa says
I followed the recipe exactly as is. DELICIOUS! My family loves it, and I have some picky kids. This will definitely make the soup rotation this fall/winter!
D says
I use this as my go to tomato soup recipe now. I sub out the broth for a vegetarian broth, and use the soup any recipe I’d normally use tomato soup in. It’s delicious.
Laurie Gilmore says
I made this and it was great although the cheese didn't melt as fully as I thought it should. I drained the peppers before using because the recipe did not say - I assumed the tomatoes would not be drained, bu/t wasn't sure about including the pepper liquid. Can someone please advise
Haley says
I also didn’t know! Ended up putting about 1/2 cup of the pepper jar liquid in and it still turned out wonderfully! Nice and thick still.
Sharon Chastain says
Wow! This was a hit and will definitely be in the weekly rotation over this fall/winter. I made this in my instant pot and let the flavors meld for an hour before I put the cream and cheese in. I actually got groans (the good kind) when my family ate it. I always know it's good when people start asking each other who had how much and who most deserves what's left in the pot. LOL! Excellent recipe.