This easy broccoli cheese soup is so comforting and ready in 30 minutes with tender broccoli, cheddar cheese and a creamy broth. I love serving it in a homemade bread bowl!
More creamy soup recipes we love include potato and leek soup, butternut squash soup recipe and baked potato soup.
Table of Contents
Easy Broccoli Cheddar Soup
This easy broccoli cheese soup is rich, creamy, and perfect for a cold winter day. We served it in homemade bread bowls and it was just like being at Panera Bread, my family loved it!
This broccoli cheddar soup recipe was inspired by a little bakery that I visited in NYC but also reminds me of copycat Panera broccoli cheddar soup. It took me a few tries to get it right and it’s the perfect balance of cheesy goodness, salty broth and tender broccoli.
Recipe Ingredients
Easy broccoli cheese soup is thick, creamy and cheesy!
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Butter and flour: Used to make the roux, which helps thicken the soup and make it hearty.
- Garlic: Freshly minced garlic will give you the best flavor. Learning how to mince garlic is an easy skill that will come in handy many times in the kitchen!
- Stock: Chicken or vegetable stock both work great. Stock is a bit thicker than broth, which is why I prefer it over chicken broth or vegetable broth.
- Half and half: Adds a creamy richness, as well as helps thicken the soup.
- Seasonings: Kosher salt, white pepper and nutmeg! It may sound strange, but it is the perfect finishing touch on this broccoli cheese soup.
- Broccoli: Wash and cut the broccoli into small florets for the perfect bite-size pieces.
- Carrots: You can grate or shred your own carrots, or buy a bag of shredded carrots from the grocery store.
- Cheese: Freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese gives the soup a bold flavor and the perfect cheesy texture.
How to Make Broccoli Cheese Soup
This broccoli cheddar soup is simple to make and comes together in four easy steps.
- Make roux. Melt butter in a large pot over medium to low heat, then add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Whisk in flour and cook until golden brown.
- Creamy sauce. Add in chicken stock, half and half, salt, pepper and nutmeg and stir. Cook for 5-10 minutes (stirring occasionally).
- Simmer. Then add broccoli and carrots. Simmer for 15-20 minutes.
- Combine. Mix in cheese and stir until just combined. Serve in bread bowls or with rolls.
Recipe Tips
- Cheese. The key to the best broccoli cheese soup is grating your own cheddar cheese! It makes it super melty and delicious. If you buy the pre-shredded bags, the cheese won’t melt as well.
- Onion. For additional flavor, saute chopped onion with the garlic.
- Veggies. To make this recipe even quicker, make steamed vegetables separately. Then just mix in the cooked veggies and cheese and it’ll be ready to go. Add in extra broccoli and carrots if you want your soup to be more veggie forward.
- Thickening the soup. The soup is already super thick and creamy, but you can make it even thicker by adding in an extra tablespoon or so of flour or cornstarch.
Recipe FAQs
Frozen broccoli tends to get a bit mushy, so I recommend using fresh broccoli florets for the best texture and flavor. Save your frozen broccoli for this broccoli and cheese casserole!
This cheesy broccoli soup will keep in the refrigerator in an airtight container for about 3-4 days. The leftovers make the perfect comforting lunch or dinner and are even better the next day!
You can reheat the soup in the microwave or on the stove top until it’s warmed throughout. Add a splash of broth or cream to bring back to desired consistency.
Because of the creamy base, it doesn’t hold up that well in the freezer. The dairy included in the soup can cause separation, which will affect the consistency.
I’d recommend making this recipe on a week where you know you’ll be able to get through the leftovers in 3 to 4 days.
Serve with soft potato rolls and a spinach berry salad. Finish with a slice of dutch apple pie or caramel butter bars to share with family and friends.
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Easy Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Video
Ingredients
- ¼ cup butter , melted
- 1-2 cloves garlic , minced
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups chicken stock , or vegetable stock
- 2 cups half and half
- ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon white pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1-2 cups steamed broccoli , cut into small pieces
- ¾ cup shredded carrots , steamed
- 2-2 ½ cups sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Make roux. In a large pan, melt 1/4 cup butter over medium-low heat. Add 1-2 minced garlic cloves and let cook for about a minute. Whisk in 1/4 cup flour and cook for a few minutes, just until golden brown.
- Cream sauce. Slowly add 2 cups chicken stock, 2 cups half-and-half, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/4 teaspoon white pepper and 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg. Stir together and let cook for about 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Simmer. Add in 1-2 cups broccoli and 3/4 cup shredded carrots and let simmer for another 15-20 minutes.
- Add cheese. Mix in 2 – 2 1/2 cups cheese and stir until just combined. Serve in bread bowls or with rolls.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: 30 Minute Meals, 30 Minute Meals, American, Dinner, Nut-Free, One Pot, One Pot, Soups, Stovetop, Stovetop, Vegetarian, Vegetarian, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
I made this for a family party and everyone agreed it was the best broccoli cheese soup ever! My mom even took some to her elderly neighbor who agreed it was the best she ever had and she’s in her 90’s! I can always count on this blog to for the best recipes! 💕
I love to hear this, thank you so much for sharing Melissa! :)
Delicious, I used skim milk instead of half and half. Just because I didn’t want it so rich. I added a dash of onion powder and used an extra clove of garlic. I love garlic. I used the Tuscan seasoned broccoli from green giant. I also made some instant rice to go along with the soup.
Your additions sound delicious, Melissa! Glad you were able to make the recipe your own :)
Made this soup last night for dinner, it was so good on a cold night. I Will be making it again for sure, maybe even double the portion 😊 Thanks for sharing!
Yummy! This is soon to be our family favorite! So excited to give this a try! Looks so delicious and full of flavor!
I’ve had a lot of broccoli cheese soups from lots of different places and lots of different recipes. this one is fantastic! Love it!
Super delicious! I did add a little more steamed broccoli at the request of my husband and we both loved it! Steaming the broccoli and carrots really cuts the time too. Thanks for sharing this Jamielyn, I can’t wait to try more of your recipes 😁
I’m so glad you and your husband enjoyed it! Thank you for your comment Joanne.
Love it ,so easy and delicious
Thanks a lot
This soup is amazing.
Absolutely delicious. I did add about a tablespoon of onion.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! :)
Oh it is Sooo Delicious…I Shared With My Family and Friends
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
I made this last night and it was amazing!
Thank you for the recipe, it was so easy to follow.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! :)
Is broccoli and carrots precooked
They aren’t, but you can precook them if you would like it to cook faster!
My family loved it!
Omg, so easy & delish! I was at costco & saw the broccoli cheddar soup, but passed on buying it. So glad I didn’t buy it because it reminded me of this post that I had saved, & I finally made it for dinner. The whole family devoured it & I couldn’t be happier since it was ingredients I already had on hand!
I’m so glad your family enjoyed it! Thanks for leaving a comment and review! :)
Loved that it was healthier than so many versions but was SO good! We all gobbled it up and will make it again for sure!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Jamie! :)
Very creamy and perfect for a cold winter day.
So good, I am going to make this again soon!
OMG! I love Panera Broccoli & Cheese Soup. Loved making this at home.
So good! Hope you enjoy! :)