A rich, thick, creamy, and cheesy Broccoli Cheese Soup. So filling it works as a stand alone meal. What could be more satisfying on a cold evening?
When I go to Panera Bread I love to do the You Pick Two with soup and salad. My favorite soup is the Cheddar Broccoli Soup. Judging by the number of copycat recipes of it on Pinterest, it’s most people’s favorite. And what’s not to love about broccoli and cheese?
As good as Panera’s soup is, homemade Broccoli Cheddar soup is so much better. It has a much fresher taste and I find that a broccoli and cheese soup is the one soup that tastes best served just after it is made.
Three Types Of Cheese
Three kinds of cheese (and lots of them!) make this soup fantastically cheesy. There’s fontina, white cheddar (you could use yellow), and cream cheese which really adds a wonderful creaminess.
There’s no need to cook the broccoli ahead of time, that just adds an extra step. Cut it into small pieces and let it cook in the soup instead. Once it’s cooked I like to take a potato masher and break the broccoli up some. It helps thicken the soup and it’s easier to eat when you only have small pieces of broccoli in the soup.
Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe Tips
You can make this soup vegetarian by using vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
Be sure to turn the heat to LOW before adding the cheese or it may separate and give the soup a grainy texture.
Make It Spicy
If you want to make this soup spicy, add half a teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes instead of a quarter teaspoon.
Can Broccoli Cheese Soup Be Frozen?
Yes! This soup freezes well. Be sure to cool it completely before transfering it to an airtight container. When you are ready to eat it, simply thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and reheat on the stove.
How To Serve
This soup goes great with some crusty bread and a garden salad with Creamy Italian Dressing. For dessert, try some Samoa Bundt Cake!
More Delicious Soup Recipes
- Country Cabbage Soup
- Chicken Pot Pie Soup
- Easy Tortellini Soup
- Vegetable Beef Soup
- Jalapeno Bacon Cheeseburger Soup
- Tex-Mex Cabbage Soup
- Mac and Cheese Soup
Broccoli Cheese Soup
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 medium onion,, diced
- 2 carrots,, peeled and thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 cups chicken broth, or vegetable broth
- 2 cups half-and-half
- 8 cups chopped broccoli,, small bite-sized pieces
- 1 (8-ounce) block Fontina cheese,, shredded
- 1 (8-ounce) block white Cheddar cheese,, shredded
- 4 ounces cream cheese,, room temperature
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- In a Dutch oven, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion and carrots and cook until soft, about 5 minutes.
- Sprinkle flour over onion/carrot mixture. Cook and stir for 2 minutes.
- Gradually add chicken broth, whisking constantly. Add half-and-half. Bring to a simmer.
- Add broccoli and stir into mixture. Simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. If desired, use a potato masher to break broccoli up some.
- Turn heat to low. Add shredded cheeses. Stir until melted. Add cream cheese in small chunks and whisk well to combine.
- Stir in salt, peppers, and garlic powder.
- Let simmer for a few minutes and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Originally published November 7, 2014.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.
An old family friend of the restaurant my mother worked at as a child used to make this amazing white broccoli and cheese soup. He would bring me a bowl every Friday, when I would help my mom at the restaurant after school. He passed away when I was 8 years old from a heart attack. I’ve been trying to recreate this soup ever since and this is the closest recipe I have yet to find. I thank you, its nostalgia in every bite! Every time I make it I think of him. ❤
Mmmmmm I love broccoli cheese soup!! I love that you added fontina to this… sounds like an awesome flavor combo with the cheddar!! Yum yum!
I just love homemade Panera-style broccoli cheese soup! This looks so creamy and cheesy! Perfect for a Monday lunch. 😀
Warming and delicious! Broccoli and cheese sounds really good!
Broccoli and cheese soup is so good, especially as it starts to get cold out. Yours looks so delicious, I’m totally craving it now!
Broccoli cheese soup is one of my favorite ways to keep warm in the winter. 😀 This looks super creamy and cheesy and I can’t wait to try it!
I’ve been on a soup kick lately, but haven’t made broccoli and cheese soup yet this fall. I definitely need to try this one soon. So warm and comforting!