This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
We had a discussion and it was agreed that this recipe could not be called “plain old Broccoli Cheese Soup.”  It needed a little something extra to describe how truly wonderful it is.  Bodacious, as defined by Dictionary.Com means “remarkable, outstanding, bold, impressive, and excellent.”  We felt it was an appropriate name for such a thick, creamy, delicious, flavorful soup with cheesiness galore.  Thus was born Bodacious Broccoli Cheddar Cheese Soup.
I dug out my very old recipe (hand written on a recipe card) for broccoli cheddar soup and gave it a tune-up, a facelift, and a makeover.  Served in a bread bowl or coffee cup, it’s all good.  The broccoli is front and center with just a little hint of heat from the cayenne.  The cheese is sharp, creamy and rich, the carrots are soft but not mushy, and the broth is exceptional.  Bodacious = seriously delicious.
My husband insisted I give this recipe a proper name because it is well deserved.  We don’t eat a lot of creamy soups but this is worth the splurge.  If you have more than four people enjoying this soup, you may want to double the recipe.  Somebody will want leftovers 🙂

Broccoli Cheddar Cheese Soup
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium white onion diced
- 2 medium carrots peeled and julienned
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth or stock
- 4 cups chopped broccoli florets
- 1 ½ teaspoons dry mustard powder
- â…› teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 cups half & half or use whole milk or a combination of 1 cup milk and 1 cup heavy cream
- 8 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese grated
- 4 ounces American cheese cubed
- 1 green onion sliced thin for garnish
- Bread bowls for serving if desired
Instructions
- In a large dutch-oven or soup pot add the butter and olive oil and heat on medium until melted. Add the diced onion and carrots. Sauté just until just tender.
- Add the salt, pepper and flour to the cooked vegetables. Cook and stir for a few minutes scraping the bottom of the pan until a fond starts to form. Gradually whisk in the vegetable broth scraping up the bottom of the pan. Add the dry mustard, cayenne, (if using) bay leaf and broccoli. Bring to a boil then cover the pot and reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer for 10 minutes.
- Add the half-and-half to the soup and increase the heat to medium. Once simmering add both cheeses, stirring until completely melted. Reduce the heat to low, cover and heat for about 10 minutes or until the carrots and broccoli are very tender.
- Ladle into soup bowls or bread bowls and garnish with additional grated cheddar and sliced green onions if desired.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Pin to your favorite soup board!
We’re luckier than most when the hurricane took a right and headed out to sea.  We’ve had days of rain and wind, but no major problems.  This soup was perfect for a rainy weekend indoors and will be on our rotation again soon.  Hope you’ll give it a try.  Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a wonderful week 🙂
Tricia
Julie G
I made this for dinner tonight after a weekend away for the holiday. Prepped everything this morning and when it came time to begin it was a breeze. This soup is excellent!!
I doubled the recipe so I could freeze some for a later date. The texture was spot on…not too thick and not too thin, just right. I like the addition of carrot for a bit of sweetness. I didn’t have half and half on hand so I used equal parts of whole milk and heavy cream, which worked out fine.
I love these tried and true recipes with basic ingredients I typically have on hand for an easy delicious meal.
Thanks for another keeper, Tricia!
Tricia Buice
Outstanding! Thank you so much Julie. We’re thrilled you enjoyed this soup and appreciate you taking the time to comment. Have a very Happy New Year!
Deborah Coates
The best soup ever! My British friends, African friends and Americans too. For any age group. Thank you!!
Tricia Buice
Thank you so much Deborah! We LOVE this soup and am thrilled soup weather is here again 🙂
Terry Covington
I made this for dinner recently for me and my mom, and wanted to let you know how wonderful it was! I particularly liked it because it doesn’t require a blender or anything fancy in order to turn out great! Thank you!
Tricia Buice
Thank you so much for commenting Terry. We thought it was terrific too 🙂 I loved the texture with little chunks of broccoli. Thanks so much for reading and trying our recipes. Hope you have a wonderful holiday season!
Toni
This sounds so creamy and delicious. I love soup served in bread like this too.
Tricia Buice
My husband loves the bread bowls too – I am a bread dipper myself 🙂
Lawyer Loves Lunch
We had a brief cold spell last week in Northern California (I know, I’m a cold wimp) and this soup would’ve been perfect! I’m looking forward to our next bit of cold so I can make it 🙂
Tricia Buice
It is perfect for that chill in the air – thanks so much for stopping by!
Abbe @ This is How I Cook
Bodacious is one of my favorite words! I think I could even get Manservant to eat his broccoli this way! I know I’m licking my lips!
Tricia Buice
Thank you Abbe! I bet he would love it. Hope you are enjoying beautiful fall weather 🙂
Nancy/SpicieFoodie
I love the title and the recipe even more. We would devour the whole pot in one meal. 🙂
Tricia Buice
Thanks Nancy – we really enjoyed it and the leftovers!
Liz
Yup, this is definitely bodacious! Especially served in bread bowls!!!
Tricia Buice
Thanks Liz 🙂 Nothing like a hot cheesy bread bowl to warm you up!
Pam
Bodacious is one of my fave words, and your broccoli cheese soup sounds and looks bodacious for sure! This would definitely be a hit here and is perfect for these cooler days. Way to go, Tricia!
Tricia Buice
Thank you Pam – I bet you are having some beautiful fall weather with colors and perfect temperatures. Have a lovely week!
ray
What a simple and beautiful soup. Really gorgeous!
Tricia Buice
Thank you so much Ray!
Susan
Wow, this soup is definitely splurge-worthy! So beautiful in the bread bowl too. A perfect soup for watching our green and gold Packers play football 😉
Tricia Buice
Thanks Susan – go Packers!!!
Mandy
Absolutely sensational soup Tricia. The weather the world over is causing havoc.
Have a beautiful day.
🙂 Mandy xo
Tricia Buice
I hope you are enjoying your spring weather Mandy – Send some our way!
2 Sisters Recipes
This soup is PERFECT! Especially with all this rain from hurricane Joaquin- ugh! So glad you are safe.
And love the name too!
Tricia Buice
Haha – Thanks Anna – the sun came out today – and I hope it did at your house too!
Gerlinde /Sunnycovechef
Rich and creamy, there is no better way to eat broccoli . Your soup is a winner !
Tricia Buice
You are so right Gerlinde – this soup is full of broccoli so it must be good for you! Have a great week and thanks for stopping by!
Monica
Oh my – do I want to dig a big spoon into that! You’ve got me wanting to go out and get some sourdough bread boules right now! : ) I don’t eat enough creamy/cheesy soups but it’s not because I don’t want to, believe me! This looks most definitely worth the splurge. And I can almost feel that good feeling I get when I eat something hearty and totally satisfying like this, with no regrets…
Tricia Buice
We don’t do it often Monica – but I have to say – I have truly missed cheese. This is a tasty soup indeed! Have a great week 🙂
Monique
I wish I had bread bowls:) Maybe I will try and make some..once in a while a creamy splurge is good.I want to make this treat:) Thank you.
Tricia Buice
Thank you Monique. I thought about trying to make the bread myself – but my list was long and there is always so much to do! I adore baking so maybe someday. This was a sour dough bowl – so good!
cheri
Hi Tricia, glad that you didn’t have too much trouble with the hurricane, was thinking about you when we were watching the news. Broccoli soup is my favorite of all soups, love that you cut the veggies in little pieces. Beautiful presentation!!!
Tricia Buice
Thank you Cheri – hope you are getting some fall like weather there in Phoenix. I cut the vegetables into “spoon-size” chunks – they cooked faster and were easy to eat. Yummy stuff!
Dom
oh wow, I have just this moment finished photographing a pumpkin and corn chowder served in a homemade bread bowl!!! I love your cheddar broccoli soup… I think brassicas and cheese go so well together and I love the way you’ve done it here… nice work!
Tricia Buice
Oh Dom I can’t wait to see your bread bowl! You are such a great baker – thank you so much. Have a lovely week!
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
Wow! Now that’s a bowl of soup. Perfect 🙂 Love the name, too.
Tricia Buice
Thanks Jennifer – my husband made me do it!
Larry
Great sounding recipe and it even looks bodacious from way out here.
Tricia Buice
Thanks Larry! Hope you are having a wonderful week 🙂
Angie@Angie's Recipes
My broccoli soup has NEVER turned out looking this BEAUTIFUL!! You are a genius, Tricia.
Tricia Buice
Everything you make is gorgeous Angie! We don’t eat much cheese anymore – or meat for that matter. But every now and then I just need something cheesy! Have a great week!
Betty
That looks so good! I wouldn’t even need a rainy day to try this one. 🙂
Tricia Buice
Thanks Betty. The sun is coming out today! Hope you get the chance to get out and enjoy it.
Chris Scheuer
Only you could make broccoli soup look beautiful Tricia! I love the name and loved learning the meaning of bodacious! I agree, it’s not run your run of the mill boring broccoli soup, for sure!
Tricia Buice
You are so sweet Chris! Hope you have a terrific week 🙂
sue|theviewfromgreatisland
This looks like the perfect waiting out the hurricane type of meal — I’m glad you’re safe, and I really want to try this soup. I’ve never made anything like it!
Tricia Buice
I know you love cheese Sue – so this would be a real treat. Such a rich flavor for a creamy soup 🙂 Hope you have a wonderful week!