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Creamy, cheesy and oh so yummy, this Broccoli Cheese Soup will knock your socks off! A quick and comforting weeknight meal that tastes great! Grab some broccoli and cheese and get cooking!
Pretty sure there is nothing better than a big bowl of Broccoli Cheese Soup at the end of a chilly day. This version of mine takes a few shortcuts with frozen broccoli and condensed soup, but no one will know because of the onions, cream and cheddar cheese! All in all, this should take about 20 minutes start to finish. So so good with homemade drop biscuits or soft whole wheat dinner rolls.
Broccoli Cheese Soup
Broccoli Cheese Soup is a classic soup that everyone loves and typically I’m hard pressed to find anyone who doesn’t like it. It’s a real crowd pleaser and is simpler to make than you think! My mom always made this with cream of mushroom soup so that’s how I make it, too! I also use 3 cups of frozen broccoli florets that I microwave briefly before chopping and adding to my soup. I finish the soup with a little heavy cream (orrrr a lot…ha!) and lots of grated sharp cheddar cheese.
Frozen Broccoli vs Fresh Broccoli
Most recipes online call for using fresh broccoli which I’m not against. However, chopping fresh broccoli makes a huge mess, plus it takes longer to cook which is why I LOVE using frozen broccoli.
Using frozen broccoli means less overall active time plus a quicker cook time. On busy weeknights, that is what this mama needs. I like microwaving the frozen broccoli to defrost it slightly and get some extra water out of it. Then I chop it roughly and stir it into the soup. After that, it takes no time at all to get the broccoli nice and tender.
How to make Broccoli Cheese Soup
Start to finish, this recipe takes about 20 minutes! It’s a quick one that ends up tasting creamy and delicious. Be sure to scroll down to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for exact measurements and step-by-step instructional photos.
- Steam frozen broccoli until mostly defrosted. Drain. Roughly chop. Set aside.
- Brown onions in butter and olive oil in a large, heavy bottomed soup pot. This is my favorite pot to use for soups like this.
- Stir in flour to create a crumbly paste. Cook 1 minute.
- Whisk in chicken stock and bring to boil to thicken. Reduce heat to low.
- Add in can of mushroom soup, Worcestershire, broccoli and seasonings. Cook 10 minutes or until broccoli is tender.
- Stir in heavy cream and grated cheese. Taste, adjust seasonings and serve.
Love broccoli? Try these other family favorites: Broccoli, Ham & Cheese Rice Bake, Broccoli Cheddar Brown Rice Skillet, Mom’s Broccoli Salad, Broccoli Pesto Pasta.
To Puree or not to Puree; that is the question
So, I prefer a chunkier broccoli cheese soup and so do my kids. But, if you’d like to puree this completely so its more of a “cream of broccoli soup”, then by all means, throw this into a blender and blitz until its the consistency you want.
Once the broccoli is completely softened, blend until smooth either before or after you add in the cream and cheddar cheese. (It doesn’t really matter if you do it before or after; you’ll still get the same delicious results.)
What to serve with Broccoli Cheese Soup
Here are a few of my favorite things to serve with warm soups in the Fall and Winter:
- Seriously *the best* Cornbread– I don’t give many things that title, but when I do, know that I mean them.
- Hasselback Garlic Cheesy Bread– a glorified garlic bread that is so dang good.
- Homemade Bread Bowls– because broccoli cheese soup would be even more delicious served in a bread bowl!
- Greek Salad– a refreshing and delicious homemade greek salad.
So, there you have it! My very tasty and very cheesy broccoli cheese soup! I hope you enjoy it as much as my family does. And don’t forget to print/save/pin/bookmark/share this recipe because its a real tasty one!
Have a great day, friends!
Broccoli Cheese Soup
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion finely diced
- 6 tablespoons flour
- 5 cups chicken stock or vegetable broth
- 10.75 oz cream of mushroom soup 1 can
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 3 cups frozen broccoli florets chopped
- salt & pepper to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese + extras for toppings if desired
Instructions
- Steam frozen broccoli in microwave to mostly defrost. Drain excess water, chop roughly and set aside. Saute onion in butter and oil until browned and tender.
- Sprinkle in flour and stir together to create a paste. Cook 1 minute.
- Whisk in chicken stock into onions and bring to boil to thicken.
- Reduce heat to low and whisk in cream of mushroom soup and add in frozen broccoli, worchestershire, onion powder and salt and pepper. Cook 10 minutes or until broccoli is tender.
- Stir in heavy cream. (Optional: Using an immersion blender, blitz soup to puree to a desired consistency.)
- Melt in grated cheese. Taste, adjust seasonings, and serve.
WHY would you ruin a perfectly good soup with a canned anything (especially a condensed soup)? You already have your ‘thickening ingredients’ (flour, cream, butter, & cheese), why ruin it with something that ISN’T NEEDED?
good stuff
We loved this broccoli cheese soup! The only addition was some garlic 😋
It calls for 3 cups of frozen broccoli florets. How many packages is that & how many ounce packages
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This was WONDERFUL and thankfully easy as promised! Lauren, you saved my evening…and the sanity of two working parents (of a sleepless, teething toddler!) who needed a delicious, comforting recipe just like this one. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I’m feeling a bit under the weather and this is the perfect soup! It’s quick, easy, and delicious!
I added a bit of carrot and a clove of garlic in with the broccoli and used Vermont extra sharp cheddar. So good!!! Thanks for sharing. I don’t think I could stand to make anything more labor-intensive, but this really hits the spot!
This winter, I seem to be hooked on soups, and broccoli is the leader.
I saw this on the chew. From Oz’s daughter. For teething pain, give your child a frozen waffle to chew on. She claims that it was a life saver. I hope it works for you.
Hopefully everything will calm soon — this soup is definitely comforting!
UGH!!!! Remember those days! Hang in there…feel your pain. Not getting enough sleep was the worst. Thank you for the recipe though…yum!
Sorry about the teething…all three of my kids (along with me) suffered with every tooth. I used to say when they were finished that I would cheer endlessly. It will pass, but it’s certainly not easy. Take care.
What is half & half pls? I am in Australia and haven’t heard of it. Recipe sounds yummy. Good luck with the teething = I rubbed lemon juice on my babies gums and it helped
Half & Half is half cream half milk.
I hope you are able to squeeze in some rest soon! Love how easy this soup is! Perfect weeknight comfort food!
Hey, you do what you have to do in times like this. Does he like scrambled eggs? Breakfast is always easy. Maybe a protein fruit smoothie, nice and cold on those gums.
As a mom of two boys ages 11 and 12 and a husband with a job that requires travel I know how you feel. We didn’t let our boys watch TV and I fed them healthy food BUT when they (or I) were sick……TV and whatever I could get them to eat.
You’re a good mom. Don’t worry about it.
Ooooh, I hope you both can get some sleep — at least you have this wonderful soup! I think cream of broccoli with cheese is the ultimate comfort food <3
If people get mad at you for using processed soup when you’re taking care of two kiddos by yourself (one who I’m sure is a cranky, crabby mess) then THEY are the dirt bags! This looks delicious, and we ALL need something fast sometimes!
This looks delicious! I’m hoping it will be a yummy food for a toddler who’s getting his 2-year molars and doesn’t want to eat ANYTHING.
Is it freezable? Always handy to have small meals in the fridge for those days when you just can’t open your eyes enough to cook.
I hope Blake feels better soon and that you somehow manage to squeeze in an epic powernap ASAP!
Sweet girl, I love reading your blog and I love your recipes, but please consider editing the line where you teasingly say you kind of want to kill yourself. I have a precious friend at church…..her son committed suicide not long ago. I know you don’t mean anything by what you are saying but it could be very hurtful to a lot of people. I truly say this kindly and with love. Blessings to you! And yes, teething is tough!
just a f.y.i. I found a easy and flavorful way to top off this soup. I use cheddar cheese sauce by Prego . I never use processed foods but there are times when it pays. My family appreciates it more than when I shredded and say it has a wonderful and unique flavor.
Sorry, Mommy, about the teething. It’s awful, isn’t it? I remember it well, even though my babies are 28 and 30 years old now. Bless your heart — this too shall pass. Hang in there!
I’m sorry about your little one, but I had to laugh at “those dirt bags”
This is definitely want I want to eat on a day like that. we are BIG Broccoli and Cheese soup people, so this is incr-EDIBLE. Pinned!