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    Home » Soups

    Easy Broccoli Cheddar Soup

    Published: Apr 29, 2021 / Updated: Oct 3, 2022 / 55 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my affiliate disclosure for more details.

    Jump to Recipe

    This broccoli cheddar soup is an insanely rich and comforting soup! It's a family favorite that uses everyday ingredients and is so simple to make at home. 

    Love broccoli and cheddar? Try my Cheesy Chicken Divan, One Pot Cheesy Chicken, Broccoli, and Rice, or this Broccoli Casserole recipe.

    close-up of a bowl of homemade broccoli cheddar soup

    Better than Panera broccoli cheddar soup

    You literally will not be able to stop eating this soup. It's everything you want in a soup. Ok, I love Panera as much as the next person when I'm on the go, but my version is actually so much tastier than a straight-up Panera copycat recipe would be. It's thick, silky, and has tons more flavor! There are no fancy ingredients in here, but it's amazing just how good it is.

    Homemade is best, and you'll definitely see why with this easy recipe. This broccoli cheese soup has an incredible creamy, coat-the-back-of-a-spoon body to it. You can feel good knowing exactly what goes into it. Why copy a restaurant when you can do so much better in your own kitchen?

    What goes into it

    • Butter - it starts our soup off right with the buttery base to sauté the aromatics
    • Onion and garlic - they immediately give this soup a savory foundation. I prefer Vidalia (sweet) onion, but you can use a yellow onion.
    • Flour - it thickens the soup. Don't skip it!
    • Dijon mustard - this is my secret ingredient to set this soup apart from the rest. Don't worry, you don't taste it specifically! It just gives a robust savory flavor you didn't even know you needed.
    • Broth - you can use vegetable broth if you need this to be vegetarian, but I do find chicken broth (or stock) has more flavor
    • Cream - we're using heavy cream here for luxuriousness. Sub at your own risk for something with a lower fat content; it will be less rich and/or alter the taste completely.
    • Broccoli - I used fresh broccoli, but you can use frozen broccoli
    • Carrots - pre-cut matchstick carrots are easiest, but you could always thinly slice a small carrot up. Don't add too many carrots or the soup will taste more like carrots than it probably should.
    • Cheddar cheese - the cheese you buy really impacts the flavor of this soup! I can't emphasize this enough. Buy a good quality sharp/old cheddar and grate it yourself.
    • Cayenne - it's optional but highly recommended to give depth of flavor. This amount won't make this soup spicy, and it just gives it more dimension.
    ingredients in small bowls on a marble counter for broccoli cheddar soup

    Pro tips

    • I cut the broccoli into fairly small bite-size florets. They cook faster and are easier to eat this way. I recommend buying about a pound of broccoli, especially if it has a large stem, because by the time you cut it into florets, you'll end up with the 3 cups (about 1/2 pound) of florets. Don't worry about being too exact here.
    • I suggest grating your own cheese vs. buying the bagged pre-grated kind. It can have some issues melting and just isn't as good. I use this cheese grater. It's so much faster than my old box grater!
    a pot of the best broccoli cheddar soup

    How to make broccoli cheddar soup

    This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.

    frying onion and garlic and adding flour to a soup pot for broccoli cheddar soup

    In a soup pot, melt the butter and then sauté the onion. Stir in the garlic, followed by the flour. Make a quick roux and let it cook for a couple of minutes.

    adding broth, carrots, cream, and broccoli to a soup pot

    Slowly whisk in the broth until all the flour clumps have dissolved. Add the Dijon mustard and then the cream, broccoli, and carrots, and bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until the broccoli and carrots are tender and the broth has thickened up (about 15-20 minutes).

    adding cheddar cheese to broccoli cheddar soup and simmering

    Reduce the heat to low, and gradually stir in the cheddar (this prevents it from getting grainy). Let it cook for a few more minutes, then season to taste with the cayenne pepper and salt & pepper. Enjoy!

    Pro tip

    • You can blend a portion of the soup to make the texture smoother. Simply place your immersion blender in the pot and pulse it a few times. This is optional! It's totally fine if you leave it chunky for a more rustic texture.

    Leftovers and storage

    • Leftovers will keep for about 3 days in the fridge.
    • This soup isn't ideal for freezing since it can separate, but if you do try, be sure to re-warm it slowly over a low heat.
    • It also thickens up even more the longer you leave it, so if at any point it becomes too thick for you, simply add a splash more broth or cream to it.

    What to serve with this soup

    • Try a slice of crusty bread, Garlic Bread, or garlic knots.
    • I'm a big fan of topping it with some Homemade Garlic Croutons.
    • If you love the soup and salad combo, try a side salad with this Easy Caesar Salad Dressing or this quick Ranch Dressing.

    Even more cozy soup recipes

    • Easy Baked Potato Soup
    • Ultimate Beer Cheese Soup
    • Buffalo Chicken Soup
    • Zuppa Toscana (Olive Garden Copycat)
    • Easy Chicken Gnocchi Soup
    two bowls of broccoli cheddar soup

    I hope you'll give this classic broccoli cheddar soup a try! Questions? Ask me in the comments below.

    close-up of a bowl of homemade broccoli cheddar soup

    Easy Broccoli Cheddar Soup Recipe

    This broccoli cheddar soup is an insanely rich and comforting soup! It's a family favorite that uses everyday ingredients and is so simple to make at home.
    4.95 from 18 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Total Time 40 mins
    Course Soup
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 625 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
     

    • 1/4 cup butter (1/2 stick)
    • 1/2 medium onion chopped
    • 1 clove garlic minced
    • 6 tablespoons flour
    • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
    • 4 cups chicken broth or use veg broth
    • 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
    • 3 cups broccoli florets cut small
    • 1/2 cup matchstick-cut carrots
    • 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese + extra for serving
    • Pinch cayenne pepper optional but recommended
    • Salt & pepper to taste

    Instructions
     

    • Melt the butter in a soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and sauté for 4-5 minutes. 
    • Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
    • Add in the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring often (important! This helps get rid of that uncooked flour flavor).
    • Whisk the chicken broth in (pour it in slowly) until the flour has dissolved. 
    • Whisk in the Dijon mustard. 
    • Add in the cream, broccoli, and carrots. Increase the heat to high and bring the soup to a boil. Reduce the heat so it's bubbling but not furiously boiling (medium-low heat is what works with my cast iron pot and gas stove). Cover the pot with the lid slightly ajar.
    • Let the soup simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the broccoli and carrots are tender and the soup has thickened up to your liking. I like to stir it a couple of times to ensure nothing is sticking and that the stove's temperature is still correct.
    • Reduce the heat to low and gradually stir in the cheese and cook for an additional few minutes.
    • Add in the cayenne pepper and season with salt & pepper as needed. Optional: blend some of the soup (I just pulse my immersion blender a few times right in the pot). The soup will thicken up more as it cools. Add more broth if needed to thin it out.
    • Serve immediately with a little extra cheddar on top of each bowl.

    Notes

    • Serves 4-6.
    • I suggest grating your own cheddar cheese (buy a good quality sharp cheddar) vs. using the pre-grated bagged stuff or it won't melt as well or taste as good.
    • If you don't have matchstick carrots, thinly slice one small carrot.
    • If you're looking for the original version of this recipe that was published in 2018, I have a PDF of it here (the old version was very similar in flavor but I tweaked it to make it thicker).
    • Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
       

    Nutrition

    Calories: 625kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 20gFat: 53gSaturated Fat: 33gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 171mgSodium: 1384mgPotassium: 595mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 4899IUVitamin C: 80mgCalcium: 508mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword broccoli cheddar soup recipe, broccoli cheese soup, easy broccoli and cheddar soup, homemade broccoli cheddar soup
    Author Natasha Bull

    This recipe was originally published on December 12, 2018. It's been tweaked to be even easier, tastier, and has new photos!

    « Bacon Ranch Tortellini
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    1. Nancy says

      January 25, 2023 at 6:00 PM

      5 stars
      Just made it tonight-delish!!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 26, 2023 at 10:17 AM

        Wonderful!! 🙂

        Reply
    2. Jan Huber says

      January 23, 2023 at 12:51 PM

      5 stars
      This is better than Panera's soup! I took this soup to a friend's house since her husband was in the ICU. I used vegetable broth (some family members are vegetarian) and they said it was really good. I did sample before taking it and it was delicious. Will definitely make this again.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 23, 2023 at 9:54 PM

        Thank you so much!! 🙂

        Reply
    3. Heather Shute says

      December 4, 2022 at 6:04 PM

      Can you dobthis in a crock pot?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        December 5, 2022 at 11:13 AM

        Hi! A soup like this isn't a simple switch to the crockpot, unfortunately. I would probably google a tried and tested slow cooker version.

        Reply
    4. Kim says

      November 3, 2022 at 12:26 PM

      To make it keto do you have any recommendations for replacing the flour?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        November 3, 2022 at 3:40 PM

        I don't, sorry.

        Reply
    5. Toni says

      October 18, 2022 at 4:00 PM

      I have tried several recipes from this site and I have to say they are fabulous. This cheddar Broccoli soup was delicious and so easy to make.
      Trying another dish tonight. I work a heavy schedule and it is so nice to be able to find recipes that taste so great and are easy to make.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 18, 2022 at 5:02 PM

        That's awesome!! I'm so happy you're liking the recipes, Toni!

        Reply
    6. Monica says

      October 12, 2022 at 5:16 PM

      5 stars
      Made this tonight, followed recipe, it was delish !! 😊

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 12, 2022 at 6:04 PM

        That's great to hear!! 😀

        Reply
    7. Katie says

      May 3, 2022 at 3:27 PM

      I'm looking forward to making this soup!
      Is there a brand of quality cheddar cheese you recommend?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 3, 2022 at 4:58 PM

        Try Tillamook 🙂 Hope you enjoy the soup!

        Reply
    8. Heather says

      November 7, 2021 at 2:47 PM

      5 stars
      Love it!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        November 7, 2021 at 3:02 PM

        Thanks, Heather!! 😀

        Reply
    9. Jeanine says

      October 27, 2021 at 6:22 PM

      5 stars
      This soup is absolutely the best! I will be making this many times. Thank you’

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 27, 2021 at 6:55 PM

        Yay!! I'm thrilled you enjoyed it. Thanks for your review!!

        Reply
    10. Steph says

      October 16, 2021 at 7:28 PM

      5 stars
      My favorite soup - eat it throughout the year (P....a). Love this recipe!! Thank you!!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 17, 2021 at 10:32 AM

        You're very welcome!! I'm the same way with soups haha.

        Reply
    11. Brenda says

      August 30, 2021 at 5:04 PM

      5 stars
      This is the first time I have ever made this. I didn’t have any broth so I just used water and I didn’t have cream or milk again I used a little box of milk that I received from the soup kitchen! I have to say that this was amazing! I can’t wait to make it again for my love when he gets home!!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        August 30, 2021 at 7:44 PM

        I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Brenda!! That's fantastic. 🙂

        Reply
    12. Cindy says

      May 8, 2021 at 7:57 AM

      5 stars
      I followed the recipe; no changes. It is an easy recipe to make. Most important is the satisfying taste! This is a soup I will be making over and over!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 8, 2021 at 9:54 AM

        That makes me so happy, Cindy! Thanks for taking the time to write me a review.

        Reply
    13. Theresa Godwin says

      May 8, 2021 at 6:57 AM

      Sounds so yummy , plz can I ask if the nutrition values are based on the whole 6 portions or is it for one serving !

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 8, 2021 at 9:52 AM

        Hi! It's for one serving. 1/4 of the soup (the recipe card shows 4 servings).

        Reply
    14. Marcia Behm says

      May 7, 2021 at 4:57 PM

      Soooo delicious and easy!! I did add some chopped Canadian bacon but it is good without meat too. Will make it again.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 7, 2021 at 5:59 PM

        Ooh I like that idea!! So happy you enjoyed it, Marcia!

        Reply
    15. Bernadette says

      May 2, 2021 at 9:20 AM

      Sounds delicious. To expand on the recommendation to grate your own cheese: Packaged pre-grated cheese is coated with cornstarch or something similar to keep it from clumping. I used some in a pinch once for homemade pizza. It gave the pizza an off taste and didn’t melt as well. I ended up having to use it again during the peak of the pandemic when the grocery store was out of block mozzarella. This time, I rinsed it off and blotted it dry with paper towels. It wasn’t the perfect solution but it helped.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 2, 2021 at 10:35 AM

        Thanks for the tip! Yeah, it's definitely a shame that it doesn't melt as well.

        Reply
    16. Claire says

      February 11, 2021 at 3:39 PM

      5 stars
      Amazing! I used the emulsion blender to make it smooth. Make sure to use a sharp cheddar!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 11, 2021 at 4:00 PM

        So glad you enjoyed it, Claire!! 😀

        Reply
    17. Kate says

      January 5, 2021 at 2:37 PM

      5 stars
      The soup was great. I added more broccoli than was called for bc I just happened to have it on hand and then I puréed it.

      To the person who said this soup lacks flavor, get your tastebuds checked. Your soup proabably lacked flavor bc you used a cheap cheddar cheese that lacked flavor. Even if it says sharp, it doesn’t mean that it’s actually sharp. Try the extra sharp Cabot from costco (black shinny wrapper), you get a huge block for ten bucks, which is much cheaper than the specialty cheeses you can get from the Regular grocery store. This cheese is different and much more sharp than the Cabot at the regular grocery store. It packs a punch so you don’t have to add to much to your dishes. One taste of this stuff and you’ll never look back. And no, I don’t work for cabot!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 5, 2021 at 2:43 PM

        Thanks so much for your sweet comment, Kate! I'm really glad you enjoyed it. 🙂

        Reply
    18. Eric Bischoff says

      December 30, 2020 at 4:59 PM

      5 stars
      My toddler loved it, super easy to make, and tasted great! I definitely will be making this again! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        December 31, 2020 at 10:30 AM

        Fantastic! Thanks, Eric.

        Reply
    19. Lauren says

      November 27, 2020 at 8:23 PM

      5 stars
      This recipe was super fast and easy and the dijon + cayenne definitely added more flavor than other broccoli cheese soups. I added in some leftover thanksgiving turkey and it turned out great!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        November 28, 2020 at 1:10 PM

        Wonderful!! Thanks for taking the time to comment, Lauren.

        Reply
    20. Nicole says

      April 26, 2020 at 11:22 AM

      5 stars
      This soup is absolutely delicious! It is so nourishing, filled with vegetables and easy to make. I actually left it in the crockpot on low for a few hours to further soften the vegetables and the flavor profile was phenomenal. I will definitely be making this soup again along with more of Natasha’s recipes. Never considered myself a soup person until making this, highly recommend.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 26, 2020 at 12:03 PM

        I am so happy you enjoyed it, Nicole!! Thanks for leaving me a comment! 🙂

        Reply
    21. Cindy says

      February 15, 2019 at 9:33 PM

      5 stars
      I thought it turned out great! I used turkey broth because that's what I had, and also I used half and half. Next time I'm adding ham! Thank you for the great recipe!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 15, 2019 at 9:35 PM

        I’m so happy you liked it!!

        Reply
    22. Sara says

      January 2, 2019 at 12:37 PM

      4 stars
      Just made this and it came out delicious. I added ham that I had leftover, and it tasted great!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 2, 2019 at 12:47 PM

        Wonderful! So glad you liked it, Sara.

        Reply
    23. Sabrina says

      December 22, 2018 at 5:28 PM

      5 stars
      I found this recipe through a link on Instagram and whipped up a quick pot for dinner tonight....so good! Thanks for working to perfect a delicious and yet simple recipe and sharing it!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        December 23, 2018 at 12:00 PM

        I am so happy you enjoyed it, Sabrina!! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. 🙂

        Reply
    24. Sewtakeahike says

      December 16, 2018 at 3:05 PM

      5 stars
      This is my new favorite soup recipe. I stuck with the recommended 4 C of broth and used chicken Better than Boullion. I used 2% milk instead of cream and added a medium sized russet diced to 1/2” (after adding broth and before adding milk) and boiled for 10 minutes, then added the milk. So tasty!!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        December 16, 2018 at 3:11 PM

        I am soo happy you liked it!! I love the idea of adding a potato. 🙂 Happy holidays!

        Reply
    25. Emily says

      December 13, 2018 at 6:08 PM

      5 stars
      So perfect and yummy! I like a broccoli cheddar that’s not too thick, so the consistency was on point for me. I added my salt/pepper and cayenne for taste as I went because there wasn’t a recommended measurement for it. It came out amazing!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        December 13, 2018 at 6:16 PM

        I’m so happy you liked it!! ❤️

        Reply
    26. Natasha says

      December 13, 2018 at 5:51 PM

      Hmm I’m sorry to hear that, Renee! Did you add salt? Just curious.

      Reply
      • Renee says

        December 13, 2018 at 6:16 PM

        Of course

        Reply
        • Natasha says

          December 13, 2018 at 10:16 PM

          Thank you!

          Reply
        • Kate says

          January 5, 2021 at 2:40 PM

          Try a better cheese. If your soup lacked flavor it’s bc your cheese lacked flavor. Get a bold extra sharp cheddar that makes your mouth itch! See my comment up top.

          Reply
    27. Natasha says

      December 13, 2018 at 5:50 PM

      No.

      Reply

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    Natasha Bull, founder and author of Salt & Lavender, in the kitchen

    Hi! I'm Natasha. Salt & Lavender is a recipe blog with a focus on delicious comfort food using everyday ingredients. Beat the weekday grind with hundreds of easy-to-follow and hassle-free recipes!  Read more...

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