Broccoli Cheddar Soup

A bowl of broccoli cheddar soup with extra cheddar, bread and croutons on the side.

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5 from 10 votes

A thick, creamy, delicious and flavorful soup packed with carrots, broccoli and sharp cheddar cheese

Prep Time45

Cook Time30

Total Time1 15

Course: Soup

Cuisine: American

Keyword: broccoli, cheese, soup

Servings: servings

Calories: 442kcal

Author: Tricia

Ingredients

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium white onion diced
2 medium carrots peeled and julienned
1 large clove garlic minced
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour (26g)
2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth or stock (plus more for thinning if desired)
4 cups broccoli florets chopped
1 ½ teaspoons dry mustard powder
⅛ 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 shredded plus extra for garnish
4 ounces American cheese (from the deli counter) cubed

Instructions

In a large dutch oven or soup pot add the butter and olive oil. Warm on medium heat until melted. Add the onion and carrots and sauté until tender.
Add the garlic, salt, pepper and flour to the vegetables. Cook and stir for a few minutes until a fond forms on the bottom of the pan and browns slightly. Gradually whisk in the vegetable broth scraping up the bottom to release the flavorful bits. Add the dry mustard, cayenne (if using), bay leaf and broccoli. Bring to a boil then cover and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer for 10 minutes.
Add the half-and-half to the soup and increase the heat to medium. Once simmering gradually 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. Remove the bay leaf and discard.
Ladle the soup into bowls or bread bowls and garnish with additional grated cheddar if desired.

Notes

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. When multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

Nutrition