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Home » Recipe Index » Quick and Easy

Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Published: May 27, 2014 · Modified: Nov 15, 2024 by Olga · This post may contain affiliate links

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This homemade Broccoli Cheddar Soup is creamy, rich, and bursting with flavor. Perfect for a cozy meal, it's made with fresh ingredients and can be customized to your taste for a comforting, delicious dish.

Broccoli Cheddar Soup-1-18Broccoli Cheddar Soup is one of those classic comfort foods that’s loved by just about everyone. It’s been a favorite in our family for decades, and I can’t think of a better way to enjoy broccoli than in this rich, creamy, cheesy soup. Making it from scratch means you get to use the freshest ingredients and customize the soup exactly the way you like it—whether that’s a little extra cheese or more broccoli. 

This homemade version is so satisfying. It’s velvety smooth, with a perfect balance of broccoli and sharp cheddar, and every bite is packed with flavor. The homemade broth also really elevates the flavor. And while it's wonderful served simply in a bowl, why not take it up a notch and serve it in a bread bowl? It’s fun, it’s unique, and you get to enjoy the bread too—no dishwashing required.

This Broccoli Cheddar Soup is the perfect meal for any chilly day or when you want something hearty and comforting. Plus, making it at home means you can enjoy it any time the craving hits.

 

Ingredients

6 Tablespoons butter

1 onion, chopped

1 celery stalk, minced

2 carrots, peeled and grated

2 garlic cloves, minced

¼ cup flour

4 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth)

2 cups half and half

1 dry bay leaf

¼ teaspoon nutmeg

salt, pepper, to taste

6 cups broccoli (cut into florets and 1 ½ inch pieces) (3 broccoli crowns with the stems)

2 cups Cheddar cheese, grated

¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated

Broccoli Cheddar Soup-1

How To Make Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Melt the butter in a medium or large cooking pot. Add the onions, celery, carrots and garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Broccoli Cheddar Soup-1-2Cook on medium heat for 5-7 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.

Add the flour and mix it until it's completely incorporated.

Broccoli Cheddar Soup-1-3Cook it for about a minute to get the raw flour taste cooked out. Add the chicken broth and the half n half, mixing until it's smooth. Add the bay leaf and the nutmeg. Season with salt and pepper. Broccoli Cheddar Soup-1-4

Broccoli Cheddar Soup-1-5

Broccoli Cheddar Soup-1-6Bring the soup to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook for about 15 minutes, until the soup has thickened. Discard the bay leaf. Add the broccoli and cook for another 15 minutes or so, until the broccoli is tender too. Broccoli Cheddar Soup-1-8

 

Broccoli Cheddar Soup-1-9Add the cheese to the soup and mix it until it melts. Broccoli Cheddar Soup-1-10

Broccoli Cheddar Soup-1-11Pulse the soup in a blender in batches until it is the consistency that you like; you can make it completely smooth or chunky. Broccoli Cheddar Soup-1-12

Broccoli Cheddar Soup-1-13

Broccoli Cheddar Soup-1-19I like to set aside some of the cooked broccoli florets to add to the soup. Cut a circle off the top of some small sourdough or country boules. Take out the inside of the bread with your fingers or using a fork to make a cavity. Broccoli Cheddar Soup-1-7Pour the soup inside the bread.

Broccoli Cheddar Soup-1-18

Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Olga Klyuchits
This homemade Broccoli Cheddar Soup is creamy, rich, and bursting with flavor. Perfect for a cozy meal, it's made with fresh ingredients and can be customized to your taste for a comforting, delicious dish.
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 35 minutes mins
Total Time 45 minutes mins
Course Soups
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

  • 6 Tablespoons butter
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 1 celery stalk minced
  • 2 carrots peeled and grated
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • ¼ cup flour
  • 4 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth
  • 2 cups half and half
  • 1 dry bay leaf
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  • salt pepper, to taste
  • 6 cups broccoli cut into florets and 1 ½ inch pieces(3 broccoli crowns with the stems)
  • 2 cups Cheddar cheese grated
  • ¼ cup Parmesan cheese grated

Instructions
 

  • Melt the butter in a medium or large cooking pot. Add the onions, celery, carrots and garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Cook on medium heat for 5-7 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.
  • Add the flour and mix it until it's completely incorporated. Cook it for about a minute to get the raw flour taste cooked out.
  • Add the chicken broth and the half n half, mixing until it's smooth. Add the bay leaf and the nutmeg. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Bring the soup to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook for about 15 minutes, until the soup has thickened. Discard the bay leaf.
  • Add the broccoli and cook for another 15 minutes or so, until the broccoli is tender too.
  • Add the cheese to the soup and mix it until it melts.
  • Pulse the soup in a blender in batches until it is the consistency that you like; you can make it completely smooth or chunky. I like to set aside some of the cooked broccoli florets to add to the soup.
  • Cut a circle off the top of some small boules. Take out the inside of the bread with your fingers or using a fork to make a cavity. Pour the soup inside the bread.

 

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Comments

  1. Viktoriya says

    May 07, 2025 at 10:43 pm

    5 stars
    Very tasty. First time making broccoli cheddar soup and this was definitely a good one to try! Thank you!

    Reply
  2. Inna says

    December 29, 2024 at 12:43 pm

    5 stars
    I finally found an amazing broccoli cheddar recipe! Thank you so much!! Blessings to you and your family!!

    Reply
    • olgak7 says

      December 30, 2024 at 4:33 pm

      I'm so happy to hear that, Inna! Thank you for taking the time to write.

      Reply
  3. Tanya says

    August 16, 2022 at 5:58 am

    Love your soup!!! Just have a question... can this soup be stored. Is there a better way to do it so that it doesn't separate?

    Reply
    • olgak7 says

      August 19, 2022 at 3:50 pm

      Store leftovers in the refrigerator. It shouldn't separate. Just reheat it on low heat.

      Reply
  4. Sarah says

    March 29, 2020 at 8:15 pm

    Olga,
    Thank you for this recipe! This soup was not only delicious but it was simple and quick to make! We loved it!

    Reply
    • olgak7 says

      March 31, 2020 at 1:09 pm

      I'm so happy you enjoyed it, Sarah.

      Reply
  5. Sarah says

    December 16, 2019 at 11:56 am

    Olga,
    This is an amazing soup. I tried your recipe and changed it up a bit and I was shocked by the results! Thank you so much! I just started my own blog and this recipe was my first recipe on my blog. I am hoping my blog will grow throughout time.
    Again, thank you for such a great blog!

    Reply
    • olgak7 says

      December 18, 2019 at 1:31 am

      I'm so glad you enjoyed the Broccoli Cheddar Soup, Sarah.

      Reply
  6. Alina says

    December 10, 2018 at 8:53 pm

    Oh my! This soup is just so delicious!
    Totally recommending it to friends and family!
    Thank you for the great recipe ❤

    Reply
  7. Allie says

    March 02, 2018 at 3:41 pm

    Phenomenal!!!! The flavors are amazing! Better then Panera. The only changes I made were: half the butter and nutmeg and more broccoli. Instructionsry are very easy to follow. Thank you Olga.

    Reply
  8. Dina says

    October 12, 2017 at 6:13 pm

    Eating this soup right now! So delicious!!
    Definitely will be making it again!
    Thank you Olga

    Reply
    • olgak7 says

      October 12, 2017 at 11:34 pm

      So glad to hear that you liked it, Dina!

      Reply
  9. yulia says

    March 27, 2017 at 1:50 pm

    better than Panera Bread!!!! love it !

    Reply
  10. Nicki says

    February 26, 2017 at 5:02 pm

    We like a chunkier soup so I only puréed about 1/3 of it. I'm pretty sure it's the best broccoli soup I've ever eaten. Thank you so much for the recipe!

    Reply
  11. Lily says

    February 01, 2017 at 10:28 pm

    I just made this today and it was a big hit!
    Since I have a Russian mom who loves to say "на глаз", the main way I have been able to learn how to cook is through your recipes and a couple other Russian ladies. Thank you 🙂

    Reply
  12. yulia says

    November 14, 2016 at 2:10 pm

    my favorite soup! i love it so so much , thank you Olga!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  13. marina says

    March 02, 2016 at 2:21 pm

    I made this soup before and it was so so good. I'm seven months pregnant now and craving panera bread every day. Going to make this again, save me some money! and it's so much better! Also, I use organic white cheddar cheese. Healthier and richer taste. Thanks for the recipe, Olga.

    Reply
    • olgak7 says

      March 02, 2016 at 10:28 pm

      Congratulations on your precious baby, Marina.
      When I was pregnant and on the days that I had an appetite, I would often crave this soup too:). I love using the white cheddar cheese too.

      Reply
  14. Maria says

    December 15, 2015 at 10:32 am

    Hi, what is half n half? Thanks.

    Reply
    • olgak7 says

      December 16, 2015 at 11:53 pm

      Half n half is sold in the dairy section of the store. It is half milk and half heavy cream.

      Reply
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