Broccoli Cheddar Soup (Printable Version)

Tender broccoli in rich cheddar cream broth

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 lb broccoli, cut into florets
02 - 1 medium carrot, peeled and grated
03 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Dairy

05 - 4 tbsp unsalted butter
06 - 2 cups whole milk
07 - 2 cups vegetable broth
08 - 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
09 - ½ cup heavy cream

→ Pantry

10 - ¼ cup all-purpose flour
11 - ½ tsp ground black pepper
12 - ½ tsp salt, or to taste
13 - ¼ tsp ground nutmeg (optional)

# How To Make It:

01 - Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, sauté until softened, approximately 3 minutes.
02 - Stir in grated carrot and broccoli florets. Cook for 2–3 minutes to begin softening.
03 - Sprinkle flour over vegetables, stirring to coat evenly. Cook 1–2 minutes to remove raw flour taste.
04 - Gradually whisk in milk and vegetable broth. Bring to gentle boil, reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes until broccoli is tender.
05 - Use immersion blender to partially blend for chunky texture, or fully for smooth consistency as preferred.
06 - Stir in heavy cream and grated cheddar. Mix until cheese melts completely and soup is smooth. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg if desired.
07 - Serve hot, garnished with extra cheese or black pepper if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The secret is patiently melting the cheese into hot cream rather than dumping it all in at once
  • My family fights over the last bowl every single time I make it
02 -
  • Never boil the soup after adding cheese or it will separate into an oily disappointing mess
  • Room temperature cream incorporates more smoothly than cold from the fridge
03 -
  • Temper the cheese by tossing it with a tablespoon of flour before adding to prevent clumping
  • Grating the carrot rather than chopping makes it nearly disappear into the soup
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