This is truly the best Broccoli Cheese Soup recipe. It’s rich and creamy and loaded with broccoli. Sometimes, I even take it a step further and add ham for added protein.
Best Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe
When it’s cold and blustery outside there is nothing like a big bowl of soup to warm your soul. This low carb Broccoli Cheddar Soup is one of my favorite recipes during the colder months. It reminds me of the Panera Bread Broccoli Cheddar Soup recipe with it’s rich flavor and it’s loaded with good-for-you broccoli.
{If you love soups, be sure to check out all my quick easy soup recipes.}
It’s a balmy 9 degrees outside right now in northeastern Pennsylvania. This easy Broccoli Cheddar Soup is always on my meal plan when the forecast calls for snow – along with my Italian Wedding Soup and my Cheeseburger Soup. Sometimes, I even boost it up a bit by adding cooked ham. It’s one of my son’s favorite meals.
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My family loves broccoli. Whether it’s steamed, raw, roasted or baked, we just can’t get enough of the green stuff. Some of our favorite broccoli recipes are Gnocchi and Broccoli in Parmesan Cream Sauce, Chicken and Broccoli Tortellini Casserole and Sicilian Roasted Broccoli (a spin off of my cauliflower recipe). And, this soup recipe will now be added to the top of the list!
We absolutely love this soup! It’s definitely the best Broccoli Cheese Soup recipe I’ve made. It was extremely hearty and filling and chocked full of lots of broccoli. Serve it with some crusty bread or in a bread bowl and you have a perfect meal.
And, if you’re looking for an Instant Pot version, this Broccoli and Cheese Soup is sure to hit the spot!
Tips for Making Easy Broccoli Cheddar Soup
- Use a heavy bottomed pot – this one is my favorite.
- Chop the broccoli into small, uniform pieces so it cooks through faster.
- You don’t have to trim too much of the stems off – the soup is pureed.
- To easily puree the broccoli, I use an immersion blender. This one is my favorite.
- I usually pull some of the cooked broccoli out of the pot before I puree it so that I have some bigger pieces left in the soup.
Flavor Ideas for Low Carb Broccoli Cheddar Soup
- I love to add cooked ham to this soup. Simply cut it into bite sized pieces.
- You could also add cooked chicken to the soup. Add it after you puree the base.
- This soup would also be great if you swapped half of the broccoli for cauliflower.
Looking for More Easy Soup Recipes?
{If you love soups, be sure to check out all my quick easy soup recipes.}
Items You Need to Make the Best Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe
- Heavy Bottomed Pot
- Immersion Blender
- Cheese Grater
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Best Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 whole onion, diced
- 2 carrots, peeled and diced
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/3 cup flour
- 4 cups milk
- 2 cups half and half
- 4 heads broccoli, cut into florets
- 1 pinch nutmeg
- 3 cups cheddar cheese, grated
- 1 teaspoon House Seasoning Blend
- 1 1/2 cups cooked ham, diced (optional)
- Vegetable broth, (optional)
Instructions
- Melt butter in a large, heavy bottomed pot (such as a dutch oven) over medium heat.
- Add onions and carrots and cook for 5-6 minutes or until softened.
- Sprinkle flour over top and cook for one minute.
- Pour in milk and half and half; Add nutmeg, broccoli, salt and pepper.
- Reduce heat to low, cover pot and simmer for 20 minutes, or until the broccoli is tender.
- Use an immersion blender or standard blender to puree the soup to your liking.
- Stir in ham and cheese, allowing cheese to melt.
- If soup is too thick, add chicken broth to thin it to your liking.
Expert Tips
- Add Toppers: Top with bacon bits, croutons or even more shredded cheese.
- Veggies: Replace some of the broccoli with cauliflower to make a mixed vegetable soup.
- Variation tip: Try using some more vegetables such as sauteed mushrooms or other delicious vegetables.
- Pull: Feel free to pull out some pieces of the broccoli before you blend so that you can have some bigger pieces nn the finished soup.
- Alternate cooking method tip: Make this soup in the instant pot. It is really a quick way to make this soup. Saute the vegetables then cook the broccoli in vegetable stock for four minutes, do a quick release then add the milk and cream.
Estimated Nutritional Information
The nutritional information provided are estimates. To learn more about how I calculate this information go to www.itisakeeper.com/about-its-a-keeper/privacy-disclosure-policies/
