Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Velvety broccoli soup loaded with sharp cheddar — the bread-bowl favorite, homemade.
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Join HomecookedIngredients
- 1 head Broccoli
- 150 g Cheddar cheese
- 1 Onion
- 30 g Butter
- 2 tbsp Flour
- 300 ml Milk
- 600 ml Stock
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 Carrot (optional)
- ½ tsp Black pepper (optional)
Method
- Dice the onion and grate the carrot.
- Cut the broccoli into small florets, chopping the stalk too.
- Soften the diced onion and grated carrot in the butter in a large pot over medium heat, about 5 minutes.
- Stir the flour into the softened vegetables and cook for one minute to a paste.
- Whisk in the stock and milk until smooth, then add the broccoli and salt.
- Simmer over medium-low until the broccoli is tender, about 12 minutes.
- Mash or partially blend the soup for a chunky-velvet texture.
- Pull the pot off the boil and melt in the grated cheddar — high heat makes it grainy — then season with the pepper.
- Serve the soup with more cheese on top and bread on the side.
Nutrition per serving
Estimated from ingredients; varies with exact portions and brands.
About Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Broccoli cheddar soup is a thick, comforting American classic, best known as the soup served ladled into a hollowed bread bowl at chain cafes and delis. Made at home, it becomes something more honest: broccoli simmered with onion and carrot in a milk-and-stock base, thickened with a butter-and-flour roux, then finished with a heavy hand of sharp cheddar. The result is velvety and rich, with the cheese carrying most of the flavor and the broccoli lending body and a gentle vegetal sweetness.
The two moves that make this version reliable are texture and temperature. Mashing or partially blending the soup gives it a chunky-velvet body rather than a smooth purée, so you still get bites of broccoli. More importantly, the cheddar is melted in only after the pot is pulled off the boil — high heat would break the cheese into a grainy mess, so gentle warmth keeps it smooth and glossy. Ready in about thirty-five minutes, it's a satisfying lunch or a cozy starter, and it genuinely rewards being eaten with crusty bread.
Broccoli Cheddar Soup: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Broccoli Cheddar Soup?
One serving of Broccoli Cheddar Soup has about 368 calories, with 18g of protein, 24g of carbs, 23g of fat and 5g of fiber. These are estimates based on the ingredient amounts in this recipe and will vary with your exact portions and brands.
Is Broccoli Cheddar Soup gluten-free?
As written, no — it contains Flour. You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for that ingredient to make it gluten-free.
Is Broccoli Cheddar Soup dairy-free?
Not as written — it uses Cheddar cheese, Butter, Milk. Swapping those for a plant-based alternative makes it dairy-free.
Do I need every ingredient to make Broccoli Cheddar Soup?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out carrot, black pepper — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Broccoli Cheddar Soup make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.