Make this delicious and simple Broccoli Cheese Soup recipe for a classic and comforting dish that’s perfect to warm you up on even the coldest nights!
Warm and flavorful, this broccoli cheddar soup recipe is a classic recipe that’s beyond easy to make!
This delicious recipe rivals Panera’s broccoli cheddar soup for a comforting dish that’s great for a hearty lunch, or a main course or side dish for dinner.
Packed with cheesy flavor, this rich and creamy soup comes together in under an hour.
Why You’ll Love this Healthy Broccoli Cheese Soup
Next time you find yourself craving a delicious bowl of broccoli cheddar cheese soup, don’t bother with a bowl of expensive soup from a restaurant!
You can make this fantastic soup, and all in one pot at that. It’s got healthy broccoli and several other veggies, as well as two different kinds of cheese.
Flavorful and comforting, this hot and rich soup is a major step up from a canned version like Campbell’s broccoli cheese soup, but won’t take too much more effort.
Gather your ingredients, break out your favorite big pot, and prepare for a kitchen filled with the aroma of a fantastic dish that’s sure to please any crowd.
Top with more cheese, crumbled crackers, and more! You’ll fall in love with the familiar, savory flavors that you can easily achieve in your own kitchen.
You could even pair this soup with some Cheddar Cheese Crisps to really emphasize the cheddar goodness!
And if you’re a big soup fan, I also recommend this Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup for a hearty soup recipe that’s so easy to put together!
Just mix everything together, set it, and forget it!
Ingredients for Homemade Broccoli Cheese Soup
- Broccoli Florets – broccoli adds a great amount of nutrition and veggie flavor. If you’ve got leftover broccoli, use it for this Broccoli Cheese Dip!
- Carrots – for added pops of color and a healthy and filling addition.
- Onion – provides depth of flavor.
- Minced Garlic – either use fresh garlic or buy your garlic jarred and pre-minced for easier prep.
- Asiago Cheese and Mild Cheddar Cheese – using two different kinds of cheese gives this soup a deliciously cheesy finish.
- Chicken Stock – chicken broth and vegetable broth both work, though chicken stock adds more flavor.
- Heavy Cream – helps thicken the soup and provides a rich texture
- Butter
- Flour
- Seasonings – I used garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and nutmeg to give this soup a super savory and warm flavor palette.
- Salt and Pepper
Helpful Tools and Supplies
- Large Soup Pot
- Glass Bowl
- Spoon or Whisk
- Cutting Board and Knife – If you’ve bought a whole head of broccoli, you’ll need to cut it into bite sized pieces, as long as chopping up the carrots, onions, and garlic.
How to Make Cheese and Broccoli Soup
- In a large pot on the stove top, combine the broccoli, onions, carrots, chicken stock. Bring to a boil and cook for about 5 minutes, until broccoli is tender. Remove the pot from the stove and pour into a glass mixing bowl.
This soup is packed with healthy veggies for lots of nutritional value. - Rinse the pot and use it to melt 4 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the flour to the melted butter, stirring constantly until thoroughly mixed.
Combining flour and butter creates a rich and reliable base for any homemade soup. - Add the chicken stock mixture back into the pot and stir well. Slowly pour the heavy cream into the chicken stock mixture, mix, and let simmer.
I love that this soup can all be made in one pot for super easy prep and cleanup. - Mix in the cheese and spices until the cheese is completely melted.
Use two different types of cheese to ensure this soup is loaded with savory, cheesy flavor! - Serve in a bowl topper with shredded cheddar cheese and enjoy.
Popular Recipe Variations and Substitutions
- For an even cheesier flavor, use sharp cheddar cheese instead of mild.
- You can also add other kinds of cheese like Gruyere, pepper jack, colby jack, or fontina.
- Give your soup added flavor by using additional seasonings like mustard powder, red pepper flakes, or whatever other herbs and spices you have on hand.
- Make this soup even healthier by mixing in extra veggies: red and green bell peppers, peas, green beans, and potatoes all work great.
- Add cooked macaroni or another kind of cooked noodles to make this an even more filling soup.
Essential Tips
- Buying pre-shredded cheese is a great way to cut down on prep time, but for a higher quality soup and cheese that will melt more easily, buy blocks of cheese and grate the cheese yourself.
- Serve in a bowl with some crackers or sprinkled with additional cheese.
- For an even more filling dish, serve your soup in a bread bowl. Buy circular loaves of crusty bread, or even make your own bread bowls.
- Be sure to constantly stir the butter and flour mixture to prevent burning.
- Feel free to double or even triple this recipe and make a large batch of soup to keep around for the future.
Storage and Reheating Tips
- Broccoli cheddar soup will last 3-4 days in the fridge. I recommend letting it cool, then transferring to an airtight container.
- Can you freeze broccoli cheese soup? Yes, this soup is great to make in large batches and freeze for later! Stored properly in airtight containers, the soup will last 2-3 months in the freezer.
- To reheat in a pinch, heat the soup in the microwave in 30 second increments, stirring in between. You can also pour it back into a pot and heat it over the stove top.
- From frozen, simply let the soup thaw in the fridge. It’s best to let it thaw overnight, but it could be thawed in as little as a few hours.
FAQs
Why does my Broccoli soup taste bland?
If you find your soup isn’t as flavorful as you’d like, feel free to add more or additional seasonings. This recipe calls for two different kinds of cheese, as well as several seasonings, so taste it before serving to be sure you’re happy with the flavor.
How can I thicken my Broccoli Cheese soup?
There are several ways to make your soup thicker. An easy way is to add more cheese, or even mix in some cream cheese.
You can also add some kind of thickener, like corn starch. When all else fails, be aware that as it cools the soup will continue to thicken as well.
Broccoli Cheese Soup
Broccoli Cheese Soup
Creamy, thick, and savory, this broccoli cheddar soup is so easy to make in your own kitchen and yields perfect results every time!
Ingredients
- 3 cups broccoli, raw and washed
- 1/4 cups carrots, raw and shredded
- 1/2 small onion, chopped
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 cup Asiago cheese, grated
- 1 cup mild cheddar cheese, grated
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- In a large pot, combine the broccoli, onions, carrots, chicken stock.
- Bring to a boil and cook for about 5 minutes.
- Remove the pot from the stove and pour into a glass mixing bowl.
- Rinse the pot and use it to melt 4 tablespoons of butter over medium heat.
- Add the flour and whisk until throughly mixed.
- Add the chicken stock mixture back into the pot and stir well.
- Slowly pour the heavy cream into the chicken stock mixture, mix, and let simmer.
- Mix in the cheese and spices until the cheese is completely melted.
- Serve in a bowl topper with shredded cheddar cheese and enjoy.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 241Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 57mgSodium: 518mgCarbohydrates: 8gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 9g
