Broccoli Cheddar Soup Recipe – For Two! Ready To Eat In Only 30 Minutes!

In the middle of winter, when you want a delicious and warming comfort food meal this Broccoli Cheddar Soup is your answer. Tender bits of broccoli nestled in a cheese infused, creamy soup.

It is a soup that will not only warm you up from the inside out. It is also hearty enough to be a stand alone meal, leaving you full for hours.

Best of all it is easy to make and is ready to eat in under 30 minutes! A delicious and easy to make soup recipe that tastes even better than the popular soup served at Panera Bread!

In addition, when you make homemade soup it is much healthier as well. You might be shocked at the amount of sodium that is in store bought and restaurant made soups.

For example, this popular soup served at Panera Bread has nearly 1500 mg of sodium in one serving. However, when you make it home you can decrease the sodium amount almost in half!

It is a guilt free way of indulging in a delicious bowl of soup in the comfort of your own home.

Broccoli Cheddar Soup Recipe

*A printable recipe card is located at the bottom of this article which contains the specific measurements, temperatures and cook times. However, continue reading below to learn about more helpful tips about this specific recipe.

INGREDIENTS

• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 cup butter, cubed
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1-1/2 cups milk
• 3/4 cup chicken broth, low sodium
• 1 cup cooked chopped fresh or frozen broccoli
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Optional Ingredient

• 1/4 cup shredded carrots

INSTRUCTIONS

The first step in making broccoli cheddar soup is to saute the onions. In a small saucepan placed over medium heat add the butter. Once the butter melts add the diced onion.

Saute until the onions are tender. This will take approximately 5 minutes.

Then use a silicone whisk to add the flour, salt and pepper. Continue to whisk constantly until a paste forms.

With the pot still on medium heat, gradually whisk in the milk and broth. Continually whisk until the mixture is completely smooth.

Then increase the heat to medium-high and bring the mixture a boil, whisking constantly. Turn the heat down to to medium to maintain a low simmer.

Let the soup simmer for 2 minutes or until it becomes slightly thick. Then stir in the broccoli florets.

Fresh Broccoli

*If you are using fresh broccoli it must be cooked prior to adding it to this soup recipe. Steam the broccoli using your preferred cooking method until it is fork tender and set it aside.

Frozen Broccoli

However if you are using frozen broccoli, you do not need to cook it prior to adding it to the soup. Nor do you need to thaw it out first. Simply add the frozen florets to the broth as instructed.

Cook until the broccoli is heated through and tender. This will take approximately 5 minutes.

Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until it melts. If you would like a smoother consistency soup, puree the mixture in a blender filled no more than half full or use an immersion blender until the desired consistency is reached.

Optional Ingredient

Some Broccoli Cheddar Soups contain shredded carrots. You can easily add the carrots to this recipe by adding them in at the same time as the broccoli florets.

However, if you purchase a bag of shredded carrots from the grocery store you will most likely need to cut the shreds into smaller pieces. This will prevent long strands of shredded carrots being scattered throughout the soup.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why won’t the cheese melt completely?

If you use store bought, shredded cheese the cheese may not melt completely or it will become grainy. That is because the cheese is coated with an anti-caking agent to prevent it from clumping together in the package.

This coating prevents the cheese from melting properly. Therefore, it is best to use fresh grated cheese instead.

You can do this by grating a block of sharp cheddar cheese with a hand grater or with a food processor fitted with a grater blade.

Then measure the amount needed and stir it into the broccoli cheddar soup. The cheese will melt completely and the soup will be velvety smooth.

2. How do I prevent the milk from curdling?

To prevent the milk from curdling be sure that the pot isn’t too hot when you add it to the flour mixture. The heat should be set to medium and when you add the milk, constantly whisk until it the liquid is well incorporated.

Once the mixture is smooth you can then increase the heat to medium-high. This will prevent the milk from curdling in the soup.

3. How do I get a smoother soup?

If you like a smoother soup you have two options. First you can finely dice the broccoli with a knife or use a food processor before adding it to the soup.

Or after the broccoli cheddar soup is cooked you can puree it until the desired consistency is reached. Do this by placing the soup in a high speed blender, filling it no more than half full.

Then push pulse until the soup is smooth. Although my preferred method of pureeing soup is to use an immersion blender.

This method allows you to puree the soup directly in the pot. Not only is it an easy way to get a smooth consistency, it is a much easier appliance to wash when compared to a blender.

4. How do I store leftovers?

Allow the leftovers to cool to room temperature. Then place in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

It is not recommended to freeze broccoli cheddar soup as it will become grainy once reheated.

Reheat refrigerated leftovers in a pot placed over medium heat, stirring frequently. You may add a little broth if the soup is too thick.

5. What to serve with Broccoli Cheddar Soup?

Although the soup is hearty enough to be a stand alone meal, there may be times that you want to serve it as a first course. If so, here are some great main dish recipes that pair well with the soup:

• Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops
• Honey Mustard Chicken Thighs
• Baked Chicken Leg Quarters
• Smothered Chicken and Rice Casserole
• Barbecue Beef Ribs
• New York Strip Steak

Enjoy! Mary

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