Broccoli Cheese Soup
This no-velveeta homemade broccoli cheese soup is sure to win you over! The soup is simple and incredible and comes together quickly.
I could sum up this post by the following statement from my husband while devouring this meal: “This is the ultimate perfect dinner.”
Of course it could have been the atmosphere since it had snowed all day and was the perfect night for soup, but still, when we were fighting over the last scoops in the pot, I knew this had to be a winner.
I received this recipe from a commenter, Liz, who has tried several recipes from here. Come to find out, after a few months of back and forth commenting, we figured out we went to high school together and went to the same church growing up.
What a small world – especially now that we both live several states away from where we grew up!
She mentioned the other day in an email that she had used the Italian Bread Bowl recipe for her broccoli cheese soup and her kids ate it up…plus it was a no-velveeta recipe.
Of course, I begged and pleaded for her recipe. While I don’t have anything against velveeta, I wanted a recipe with less processed flavors, and if my kids would eat it…then I knew it would be a keeper.
This soup was incredible, and sure enough, my kids ate it with minimal fuss even with the broccoli. I was quite pleased (shocked, actually, but then quite pleased). It’s since became one of our family’s favorite soups of all time!
FAQs for Broccoli Cheese Soup
It turns a little grainy after being frozen due to the cheese, but it reheats pretty well (texture is slightly less creamy).
Yep!
I’d recommend cooking it on the stovetop and transferring it to a slow cooker to keep it warm (only for an hour or so – it might lose it’s smooth texture if in there too long!)
This soup won’t curdle as long as you moderate the heat well. It’s very smooth and creamy; not as artificially smooth as Velveeta recipes – it has a little texture from the roux.
What To Serve With This:
Artisan or Italian Bread Bowls
Simple green Salad (or for an extra special salad this Spinach Salad with Spicy Nuts)
Fresh, seasonal fruit
Broccoli Cheese Soup
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups chicken broth
- 1 small onion, diced
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup butter
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups milk
- 1 ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese, preferably sharp or extra sharp
- ½ cup shredded swiss cheese
- 2 ½ to 3 cups chopped lightly steamed or blanched broccoli
Instructions
- Simmer chicken broth and chopped onion for 15-20 minutes in a covered small saucepan, until onions are soft.
- Heat milk in microwave for 1-2 minutes.
- In a separate medium-sized stockpot, melt butter then add flour, salt and pepper. Cook together, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes, then whisk in warmed milk. Stir and heat together on medium heat until soup starts to thicken, about 5-8 minutes.
- Add warmed chicken broth and continue to stir until well blended. Add cheeses and stir until completely melted. Stir in steamed broccoli. Add more salt and pepper to taste, if needed. Serve immediately in bowls or bread bowls.
Notes
Recommended Products
Recipe Source: adapted very slightly from my friend, Liz K.
256 Comments on “Broccoli Cheese Soup”
I have been making this for years and got the recipe from Liz!! (She’s my sister ) hands down the best recipe! And “Hi Melanie!! Love your page and love more that I know you!!) ❤️
Oh, hey, Jillian! So fun to see your comment!!
I doubled this recipe because I wanted to bring it over to my neighbor who just had a baby. Holy cow, this makes so much damn soup I cannot even believe it!
I ended up dropping some off at my other neighbor’s house, and my sister-in-law’s house. Needed two big pots to make it.
That being said…. YUMMMMMMMMMM!
I got wonderful compliments for it, everybody loved it. Even my veggie avoiding husband stole my leftovers and took them to work to eat for lunch!
My neighbor said, “I love soup. I eat a lot of soup. And that soup was one of the best I’ve ever had.”
What!!??!?
boom . Winner. 🙂
Oh, and my husband doesn’t do chunks of onion. So I puree my onion to get flavor without chunks… and it’s still super delicious
Oops, actually this comment should have been on your other broccoli cheddar soup
Why hadn’t I tried this yet?? Sooo good! My husband doesn’t do onions, so I shredded a carrot and diced a celery stalk in lieu of the onion, but followed the recipe otherwise. I’m not a huge fan of Swiss cheese, but I feel like it added a good flavor contrast to the cheddar. This was a seriously perfect broccoli cheese soup and I liked that the steamed broccoli was perfectly blanched and green and not overcooked and soggy.
Nailed it, Mel!
This recipe is delicious!! Just a couple of suggestions.
-I rarely have Swiss cheese on hand so I use Monterey jack instead and we love it!!
-An easy time saving hack for the broccoli is to use frozen riced broccoli. Makes this come together so much faster. We also like to add shredded carrots in with the onion and simmer both!
Thanks for another winner, Mel!!
We have a broccoli cheese soup that we have been using for years. I tried this recipe last night and it easily replaces our old favorite.
I tweaked the recipe a little by sautéing the onions in butter first with a little bit of garlic. Super delicious recipe served with sourdough bread on the side!
I have made A LOT of broccoli cheddar soup in my day. I’ve tried A LOT of different recipes. This one is by far the easiest and the tastiest. This is a winner!
Can this soup be frozen?
It turns a little grainy after being frozen due to the cheese, but it reheats pretty well (texture is slightly less creamy).
Excellent! My family of 8 gives it 16 thumbs up- and that’s a lot of thumbs!! Winner winner chicken dinner, every time.
So glad I tried this recipe! The only thing I did different was add chopped baby carrots and do NOT regret doubling the recipe right out of the gate! This is a keeper!
Made this today, again, and it’s perfect! I blended up all the ingredients (after onion cooked in broth, and broccoli before I added but after it steamed). I added a little extra broth, and cheese. Also added a little cream in place of part of the milk. Thanks Mel!
This soup is delicious! Love that is has no velveeta. All 3 of my kids devour it. I double the recipe for our family of 5. Barely any leftovers.
I just wanted you to know that this has been my daughter’s favorite meal since the first time I made it. She was probably, like, 3 when I found it. She’s 8 now. She requests it every year for her birthday (in July) and random times throughout the year. I’ve almost always made it with frozen vegetables (corn, carrots, beans, peas) instead of broccoli and we rarely have Swiss cheese to use but it’s still so good!! I’m going to try to double it tonight for the first time and I’m a little scared but…my brother’s family needs to try this.
Haha Sorry, I didn’t realize I was replying to your comment. Phones…
This recipe looks delicious. I’m planning to make it for dinner tomorrow, but my family will be expecting a “pureed” version with no broccoli pieces showing. Do you think pureeing with a blender or immersion blender will work?
Sure!
O M G. Awesomely delicious. I added a bit more chicken broth, needed to doubled the recipe to feed all 5 of us, but we all loved it!! Yes, teenagers too!!
Thank you for this recipe. I was looking for one that didn’t used processed cheese product. I made a couple of changes and it came out amazing. I diced onion and cut up broccoli pretty small and put a little butter and olive oil in my dutch oven pot to sautee stirring frequently until broccoli was cooked to my desired softness. Took it out of pot and used same pot for flour and milk. There were a lot of good brown bits from onions on bottom of pot.that added flavor to soup. I also added a pinch of ground thyme. Wonderful!!!
Quiet simply, this soup is perfect! Tonight was the second time I made it, and quadrupled the recipe to feed my family and a batch to take to a friend who had a root canal this morning. She said it was the best broccoli cheese soup she’d ever had, and I agree! I added a touch of cayenne & forgot to add the Swiss cheese this time, and it was still amazing! Thanks again Mel!
Great recipe for broccoli cheese soup! This is my go-to, and I always double it to make sure I have leftovers!
Is there a way to make this in a pressure cooker?
I haven’t tried it (yet!).
I just made this soup and It was delicious. You have to double it to give 4 people a good serving., otherwise maybe only getting a cup.
Yummers!! Such a perfect soup, especially on a cold spring day when Mother Nature in Colorado does pay attention the calendar!!!!
Wonderful, so pleased i come accross your site, the only thing i have been having trouble with is your bread recipes, our flour and yeast in australia is quite different.
Cheers
Just made this for probably the fiftieth time (no joke!) and it was amazing once again. Made it vegetarian by using a vegetarian bouillon (not tomato based) and the whole family loved it! With your Italian Bread Bowls it is our family’s favorite meal!
I know the recipe says it serves 4, but about how many cups of soup do you think this makes? Trying to decide whether to double or triple this recipe for a large group.
It probably makes between 5-6 cups of soup.
Can you make this ahead of time and keep it warm in a crockpot?
Hi Hannah – several people have done that (if you scroll through the comments you can gauge their experience). As long as the soup doesn’t overheat, it should work just fine.
Hi. I love your blog and this soup. I really want to make it this Saturday for a luncheon after my daughters baptism, but I am wondering if you’ve ever made it early and kept it warm in a crockpot? Does it stay good?
I don’t have Swiss cheese on hand. Do you think this would be ok if I just added more cheddar?
It might be a little grainy with all cheddar – Monterey Jack or another smooth-melting cheese would be a better option, I think.
I have tried numerous Broccoli Cheese Soup recipes and I have finally found a winner! Thanks for the delicious recipe!
OMG what a great soup cant get any better or easy,will make this many times
Hi Mel,
Do you recommend cooking this in a slow cooker? Good or bad idea?
Thanks!
I think a slow cooker would keep it warm but I’d recommend cooking it on the stovetop and transferring it to a slow cooker (only for an hour or so – it might lose it’s smooth texture if in there too long). I know several people in the comment thread have utilized a slow cooker for this recipe at the end so you might read through and check out their feedback.
Mel,
The biggest problem I have had with recipes that use “real” cheese vs. something processed, like Velveeta, is that it curdles. Does this recipe have that issue at all? The picture looks nice and smooth….fingers crossed!
Hey Vanessa (fun to see your comment come up!) – this soup doesn’t curdle as long as you moderate the heat well. It’s very smooth and creamy. Not as artificially smooth as Velveeta recipes – it has a little texture from the roux – but it’s super delicious. Promise. 🙂
Do you think this would freeze okay? And/or how long would you think it would be okay in the refrigerator? I know the broccoli will be less than stellar, but I was thinking about chopping it super fine. I’m looking for a soup to send with my husband deer hunting and I know that they’d all like this one.
This actually does well in the refrigerator up to a week (assuming the ingredients you use are fresh). I’ve never frozen it but others in the comments have (I believe; you’d have to read through the comment thread). I’m worried it might be grainy after thawing…
This is my #1 go to recipe during the colder months! I absolutely love it! I couldn’t help but share it on my blog today. Hope you have a great weekend!
Thanks, Kristin!
Just finished my second bowl Actually considered adding croutons, might try that tomorrow for lunch. Delish!!
I made another recipe yesterday and threw it out.. I then was on the search for another and came upon your recipe. All I have to say is that it is fantastic! This is absolutely, hands down, the best soup recipe ever! Thank you for the recipe.. I will be making this all of the time now… Yummy…
PS I should add, I usually make “healthier” fare for us at home but the original versions for get togethers, but not only would I make this again it’s one I would make for others or to take somewhere as well–no modifications needed doesn’t taste like a copycat!
Was skeptical about this soup but really wanted to try a broccoli cheese soup without any processed cheese. This turned out really good I will def. make it again, has that “real” comfort food taste, my husband liked it too, with turkey bacon in his 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
If I made this a day before and warmed it in the crockpot the next day would it be okay? Or would it get all weird in texture? I’ve made it before and loved it but will need to make a soup a day in advance because of some scheduling conflicts!
Cheree – I’ve kept it warm in the crockpot for an hour or so but never reheated completely. Worth a try, though – it should be ok as long as the crockpot doesn’t cook at too high a temperature. A low heat is best. Good luck!
So I must share a version of this I just made for my “no-veggies ” 1-yr old. She loved it and wanted more!! Instead if just onions I added a carrot and a potato and blended them with my immersion blender. To make it a 1pot soup I shook milk and flour in my salad dressing shaker and added that to the broth and veggie puree. Added sharp white cheddar and sharp regular cheddar and some mashed broccoli for the win! Thanks for the inspiration!!
I have made this several times and it is excellent every time. I use monterey jack instead of swiss, since I think I sort of dislike swiss. My meat-enthusiast husband always says how yummy it is (like it’s a surprise, hehe). This last time I made it with just skim milk and it was still fantastic.
I just made and am eating this soup. It’s absolutely awesome and delicious….I will be making this again and again
Another keeper! I multiplied this by 7 today for the freezer! It will become my new standby for broccoli cheese soup. I made it exactly as written and wouldn’t change a thing. I will note that for ease, I used my immersion blender when adding milk and broth and even the cheese, but not for the broccoli. It really sped up the process by several minutes. I also have learned the last couple of years that pre-shredded cheese makes your soups grainy, so while I love the ease of pre-shredded for alot of things, I shred my own for soups. I use my salad shooter for this and it is worth it! I highly recommend this soup. Great for the freezer too.
Beth – Yes, I agree whole heartedly on the cheese thing. In fact, it’s very rare I buy pre-shredded cheese for anything anymore (shredded cheese is coated with an anti-caking agent that makes it less likely to melt as well and as creamy as cheese you shred yourself).
This soup is amazing! Thank you for the recipe. Sometimes I’ll add carrots, potatoes, or chicken (or all three), depending on what I have on hand, and it always turns out great. 🙂 Love it in the Italian bread bowl, too!
Could you use corn starch in place of the flour?
Latisha – I don’t know since I haven’t tried it. You’ll have to experiment (usually cornstarch needs to be dissolved in cold water/liquid before adding so keep that in mind).
Just wanted to thank you for this recipe. I have made it several times now! I always thought I hated broccoli cheese soup because I only ate it once when a roommate of mine made it from a package. It was not very tasty and I felt ill afterwards. So, let’s see, it only took 11 years for me to try again… I was so relieved it was delicious. haha
Made this tonight and it was delicious! However, I must make a note to double the recipe next time. It was only enough for my me, my husband, and six yr old son. It probably would have easily served four if I’d made the breadbowls, but without, should definitely be doubled and then I’d say it serves 6. This will be my go to recipe for broccoli cheese from here on out.
this looks so rich and heavenly!
This turned out wonderful! I’ve been on the hunt for a good broccoli soup recipe. I’ve never tried one with swiss cheese, but it was the secret ingredient for this one. Thank you!!
I made this, following the recipe exactly, and it turned out beautifully. Thank you again Mel for a trustworthy recipe!
My cheese curdled 🙁
Not sure why?
Hi Mel, Love, love, love your site. I want to try the broccoli cheese soup. Can I use non fat milk? Thanks in advance.
Hi Judy – I’ve used 1% with great results. I’m sure nonfat would work, too – might be a bit thinner in consistency so just make sure it cooks long enough to thicken properly.
Made this for myself tonight and It was delicious. I will definitely be making it again thanks
Just made this as we wait for Hurricane Sandy to hit here in New Jersey. This is amazing!! I doubled the recipe so we have enough if we lose electricity!! Can’t wait to make this when the kids home for Thanksgiving!!
Found your recipe through Pinterest and made it tonight for dinner. It was delicious! Just wanted to let you know…thanks for the recipe! 🙂
Made the soup with sandwiches today for a lunch with friends. No one ate it 🙁 I tried it, it was alright. Maybe to much onion for me.
I made this tonight and my whole family actually ate it!
Delicious, as usual! Thanks Mel 🙂
Oh my goodness! This was absolutely delicious and such a big hit!! It’s my husbands favorite soup. Had to make it twice in a row because I only got one bowl of it. I added in cubes red potatoes raw and let them cook in the soup with the broccoli. So yummy!!!!
This recipe is delicious and fun to make! Please keep sharing your amazing recipes! =)
WOW! That was such a HIT! (previous comment about the Italian bread bowl and this marvelous soup!) I don’t think I quite had the right consistency of flour for the bread bowl, but I was short on time, so I threw it all in my breadmaker, hit dough, and did the other stuff I had to do (make pumpkin bread and the soup!) And yes, I made your (Liz’s). The bread bowls rose, but they were a little flatter, but still PERFECT! Thanks SO much for your site…I will be a frequent visitor!!! I pray you have a very blessed day!
Hey! I am making your (Liz’s) Broccoli soup in your Italian Bread Bowl tonight for our prayer meeting (very small group of us!)
Thank you so much for this website – great for those like me!!
Just wanted to let you know a very minor detail…your printable versions are mixed up. The one labeled with picture has no picture and the one not indicating a picture has one. Just wanted to tell you! Bless you!
I tryed this soup,it was good,but alittle to much cheese for me.So i took the recipe and added 3 Medium potatos,and cut into small cubes. And only a half cup each of both cheeses. Everything else is the same,it was yummy. Give it a try,it’s my go to recipe from here on out. Thanks for shareing this wonderful recipe. I’m looking for navy bean soup ,any sugestions. 🙂
Hi Tracy – I’ve kept it warm in a crockpot before after making it from start to finish but I’ve never actually cooked it in a slow cooker. I kept it warm on low for 1-2 hours and it worked fine but if your crockpot cooks overly warm, it may curdle, so I’d definitely suggest low heat.
This is one of my favorite recipes from your site. I’m looking forward to fall for sure. I know this soup comes together fast, but do you have any idea how I could convert this to crockpot, even for an hour or so on low, so that I could make it in advance? Thanks!
I’ve only recently found your website, but you have some amazing recipes! I haven’t tried this soup yet, and it looks delicious, but I wanted to share our current favorite broccoli cheese soup recipe: http://www.americastestkitchen.com/recipes/detail.php?docid=27401
We love it because of the pretty green colour, but there is still a nice cheese favour! My fifteen month old devoured it, too.
Kim – I’ve never frozen it so I can’t really weigh in. You might look through the comments and see if anyone else has had good luck.
How would this freeze? I am pregnant and due thanksgiving and want to make foods/soups before hand to freeze and this looks so yummy!!
This was so good, and very easy and quick to make! It’s a great way to get kids to eat their veggies.
I have been searching for a recipe to make for my Mom. She loves cheddar broccoli soup and just had knee replacement surgery. I used your recipe, tripled it, and added a few extra’s. It was a definite hit!! All the knee replacement women were convinced that I was a classically trained chef!! No one missed the velveeta they all loved the addition of scallions and proscuitto!!
I can’t wait to try this it looks fabulous! It’s one of my hubby’s favorite things I will have to make an attempt!
Ok, I never leave comments, but I found you via another of your recipes on Pinterest and couldn’t get off your blog!! I tried this soup tonight and it was absolutely fantastic. I really have never had better even at a restaurant. Thank you so much for the recipe. I even got my hubby (who claims is allergic to anything green) to eat it and love it.
This looks so yummy! I can’t wait to try and make this! Thanks for sharing.
Love, love, love this soup. Perfect consistency–not too thick, not too thin. Love the pieces of broccoli in, too. This is my new favorite.
I make a very similar recipe except I make it low carb by switching out the milk & flour for half and half or cream (light or heavy or whipping, it doesnt’ matter) and it’s SO GOOD! I never buy it in the can anymore!
This is one of the BEST Broccoli & Cheese Soups I ever ate! I just came along your site yesterday and I absolutely love it! I made the soup today and it is fantastic, easy and I know everyone will like it, I feel it will even be great reheated! Thank you for a great recipe.
Hi Mel! I’m new to your blog and a newlywed and wanted to thank you for adding such clear and easy steps! Your pictures are amazing too…. I’m excited to try your recipes…
I’m making this for the Superbowl tomorrow. My friend is a vegetarian so I’m subbing veg broth. More excited about the soup than the game!
Yumm! Great soup. I doubled the recipe and added a potatoe. Really nice flavour and texture.
Thanks!
This was so tasty! My husband really enjoyed it and had never had broccoli cheese soup before. I’m so happy that I made it for his lunch today, and thanks for the delicious and easy recipe!
Made this last night when my slow cooker meal burned and was ruined…it was super easy, fairly quick and very delicious! I enjoy Panera’s broccoli cheddar soup, but I thought this was even better. Eating the leftovers today!
Delicious soup! Made it for dinner tonight. My husband, who dislikes broccoli, really enjoyed it too:) Thanks for a wonderful recipe that we will enjoy time after time!
Just made this for the second time this week! YUM! The first time I doubled it and used a whole cauliflower as well as the broccoli and it was so yummy!!! Thanks Mel! You are my favorite go-to-gal for recipes! 🙂
Can’t wait to try this, Mel! 🙂
Absolutely love this soup. Even my picky eater goes back for seconds and she loves chopping the broccoli for me to help (bonus)!! Thank you so much
Linda – I haven’t tried it but I don’t think this soup would fare very well being made start to finish in the crockpot (although it is fine after it is made to stay warm in a crockpot for a few hours).
Could all the ingredients be placed in a crockpot and slow-cooked?
I love this recipe! Easy and delicious. I used to eat out when I craved broccoli cheese soup, but no longer. I love that it barely takes any time to whip up and that reheats fine for lunch throughout the week. Thanks!
I found this recipe from Pinterest and picked it because it looked so easy. Just finished making it and it’s awesome! 2 out of 3 of my kids would eat it, but my mil picked them up for the weekend, so more for the hubby and me! I should even have leftovers for lunch tomorrow! Thanks!
This is my favorite soup so I will be trying it.
Tried this today to celebrate our first real snow of the winter. It was delicious! Now if I could just get then hang of bread making and attempt your bread bowls.
Me again…..scrolled through comments and see that someone already asked about freezing it. I will just double the batch and use it for meals twice that week. 🙂 I just found your blog, and am excited to try your recipes. Everything looks and sounds so good!
I just saw this recipe and as luck would have it, my hubby was at the grocery store…just phoned him to ask him to add the shredded cheese to our list! I am going to make this very soon! I like the fact that it uses real cheese, as we are trying to stay away from preservatives. I would like to know if you have ever frozen this? There are so many things I think this would taste great on!
This is the BEST broccoli cheese soup! We just had this last night for dinner. I’ve been looking for a good recipe for a long time and this one is the winner. I love cooking the broccoli in the microwave, so easy and it turns out perfect. Thanks so much!
I made this exactly by your recipe and I can see why this is such a hit. It was fantastic, and had such an amazing taste created by the mixture of cheeses. I will be making this again. Thanks.
OMG! I made this today for my friend that came over for lunch and we both really loved it! Thanks so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi!!
LOVE this recipe, but wanted to make a larger batch for a family party… Would this work to prepare it as directed and keep it warm in a crock-pot? Thanks for any info!!
Crystal
Crystal – yes, as long as your crockpot doesn’t cook too hot. The soup has a tendency to curdle a bit if left on too high of heat so as long as your low setting on your crockpot is on the low side, it should be ok, but I wouldn’t keep it in the crockpot longer than a few hours.
tried this tonight and LOVED it. the hubby loved it too! and while it would be great if the kiddos loved it, my kids only really love bean burritos and mac and cheese! thanks for the great recipe.
Thanks for your delicious recipe. Easy to make, fast, and turned out great.
I made this recipe exactly as written~ hands down, the best broccoli cheese soup I’ve had~thanks for sharing the recipe!
I made this for my husband and his brother. They both loved it!!! My husband said, “We need to make this at least once a week!” He’s not a huge soup fan..but this was delicious!! Your food blog is my favorite!! thanks for everything!!
Absolutely amazing soup and soooo easy! My super picky eaters actually had seconds
Hi! I hope someone can answer my question. This recipe looks great and I would love to make it to take to a family function, but I’m wondering how well it would travel or reheat or if possibly I could transfer it to a crockpot when it’s finished to keep it hot? Would that work or does it gets filmy or separated in any way? thanks!
KathyB – I’ve never made this or transferred it to a slow cooker. My guess is if your slow cooker has a warm function or doesn’t cook too hot, it shouldn’t have problems separating.
Oh my goodness… This sounds SO GOOOOOOOD!!!.. I can’t wait to try it! Thank you for your recipe! I’m now your newest subscriber!
The last broccoli cheese soup I made included a lot of velveeta, half & half and butter. It was really yummy but I don’t always have those ingredients on hand, and it is a heart attack waiting to happen! I’m going to try this tonight. I might even try the bread bowls! I have a question…I don’t have swiss cheese, do you think I could use Monterey Jack?
Kendra – although it will give a slightly different flavor, monterey jack is an excellent melting cheese so I think it should sub just fine. Hope you like it!
Made this tonight and served it over baked potatoes. It was SO yummy!!! I love how all of your recipes taste so fresh!! Keep ’em coming!
It was a hit in our home! Thanks for another yummy recipe! 🙂
This is my favorite recipe for broccoli cheese soup. I was wondering if it could this be frozen and rethawed?
Dani – the texture might get a little strange from the milk and cheese being frozen, not to mention the broccoli getting a tad soggy…so I would probably recommend not freezing it. Having said that, if anyone else has tried it and had good success, chime in and let me know!
i love the photo of the creamy soup inside the bread. looks very delicious.
I’ve made this soup once and the first time I did it I only used half of an onion because I’m not a big fan of them, but that was a mistake. Soup tasted bland and was missing something. Second time I made it I used the whole onion and I decided to add 3/4th teaspoon of cayenne pepper with the black pepper into the flour mixture. I thought it gave the soup an extra kick and one I will definitely do again in the future. Thanks for the recipe.
I have made this several times now and both me and my husband LOVE it. It might be one of my favorite soups! Thanks for the recipe.
I am in LOVE with this soup. I love that it doesn’t use Velveeta (why is that stuff so expensive when it isn’t even “real?”). I use about 1/4 to 1/3 cup pepperjack instead of the Swiss since I’m not a huge fan on Swiss and had the pepperjack on hand. It added just a slight bit of kick in the background. I made this last night for dinner and even with the husband out of town managed to finish the whole pot off at dinner tonight.
This soup was a little too rich for our family, but the flavor was good and with some tweaks to thin and lighten it up a bit, I think it will be well received!
I made this soup last night and we loved it! 🙂 I’m so glad it doesn’t start with a can of soup and velveeta! lol
I love it!
Well it seems that you do not exactly make this soup. You just take a can of soup, and add stuff to it. This is my first visit and I can see you have many positive comments. But do you sometimes make food from scratch?.
This is an awesome soup! My toddler approves and I see this as an excellent base recipe to use other veggies lingering in the fridge.
We love this soup. When given choices my 4 year old daughter picked to have this for dinner tonight. We’re expecting snow and it just sounds like a great snowy night dinner.
I found this recipe last night and just knew I had to try making it for my parents. I’m just learning to expand my cooking repertoire but I adore making soups and bread so this sounded perfect. I think mum and dad thought I was insane when I left them a note asking them to pick up broccoli today, but they say this (with the Italian bread bowls) is the best meal I’ve ever made, and have asked me to cook more often XD I’d say it’s a definite success!
Loved This! Just made it for supper and it went great with toasted western sandwiches! Keep the great recipes coming!
Thanks, Dede!
This would look better if there wasn’t a hair in the soup…
Kate – hmmm…since I’m the one that ate that bowl of soup, I’m pretty sure it isn’t a hair…but in any event, I guess my response would be to make sure you leave the hair out of yours if you make it!
pardon spelling error. has anyone tried it with homemade stock? is it still “outstanding”?
continuted: unless you use homemade stock!!
chicken broth from the store all has msg or some re-named msg, yes even swanson. so, they do in fact have processed flavors.
me – I buy an organic broth that doesn’t have MSG and tastes delicious. Using homemade stock is also an excellent idea to avoid processed flavors.
add some ground beef/real bacon bits/chopped clam/shrimp and it’d be perfect. Thanks for the idea, I’ll be saving this recipe.
Getting ready to make this in a few mins..Plan to add in Carrots and peas as well, just sounds heavenly to me :o)
I just made this soup for dinner tonight, it was to die for and my step daughter ate it up!
Thanks, Mia!
Your recipes are so good! I am very thankful to have found your website through a search engine. This soup was sooo good. I am so happy to have found a recipe without the use of processed cheese. 🙂 Great job!
Thanks, Justine! I’m glad you found your way here, too…thanks for checking in on this recipe!
I’ve been looking for a broccoli cheese soup recipe for a while, this one looks delicious. One question: what kind of milk do you use? I drink skim milk so that is what I have around the house but I’m not sure that would work well with this recipe.
Kerry – I usually use 1% but have also splurged with whole milk when I have it in the house and definitely adds to the creamy richness – but most often I stick with 1%. I’m guessing skim milk will work but your soup will probably lack a bit of richness. Let me know if you try it!
made this for dinner the other night. added a little more chicken broth and also added a package of moose sausage that I browned up separately. It was so good! nice and thick-pleased the entire household. will def. make it again!
Callie – well, I have to say I’ve never had moose sausage but it actually sounds delicious in this soup. Thanks for letting me know!
Are you going to add a printable copy soon?
Auntie Patch – just added a printable link!
I made this yesterday and it was so good and easy! Thank you so much for all of these great recipes! I also made the Italian Bread Bowls to go with it. Yumm!
Thanks, Lisa!
Once again, your recipes NEVER fail! The fall weather is just barely starting to set in and my husband called to tell me he forgot his jacket for classes tonight and he was freezing. I went straight to your soups for dinner. I added a little bit of Real Bacon Bits to it too because that sounded good too. SO delightful… i’ll be making this again soon I know it! Thanks for all your WONDERFUL recipes!
Mickie – your comment made me realize I’m excited soup season is here so I can make this one again. This is one of my favorite soups ever. Glad you loved it too!
I absolutely adore your recipes that you post on here! I’ve already tried out several of your cookie recipes and am going to do the broccoli cheese soup for dinner tonight! 🙂 I had to add your button to my blog cuz everytime I wanted to find your blog I had to sort through a friend of mines facebook page to find the link to here that she posted!
Thanks, Randie! I’m glad you’ve liked the recipes you’ve tried and I hope this broccoli cheese soup worked out well for you.
I made this tonight with the Italian Bread bowls. It was so yummy! Even my 5 year old who hates corn ate the broccoli!! I was also excited to see a recipe without the velveeta! Thank you so much for the awesome recipes! I am trying your Pineapple Meatballs tomorrow night, can’t wait to see how it goes!!
Do you care if I post the recipe on another blog with links back to your website? If not, I can just post the link. My friends and I have a blog that we all put our favorite recipes on to share with one another.
Hi Kensi – I’m glad you liked this soup (especially glad your five year old ate it up!) and I hope you like the pineapple meatballs. I don’t mind at all if you post the recipes and really appreciate you posting a link back to my site. Thank you!
Made this tonight with the bread bowls to go along with it…it was oh my goodness, so yummy! Thank you for posting all these recipes for me to try! This weekend my husband and I are having a date night in and I'm making your shrimp enchilada recipe. So excited!
Anonymous – I'm sorry for the long delay in responding – I'm not sure how I missed your comment but I apologize. I'm so glad that your husband liked this soup and that he was praising you for it. You deserve it!
Anonymous – because this soup recipe doesn't have processed cheese in it, it has a different texture than a broccoli cheese soup made with, say, Velveeta cheese. It should still be thick and creamy and smooth, but you may get a little texture difference because of the flour. Although, it shouldn't be super gritty. Sometimes if the flour and butter isn't cooked for a few minutes before adding the milk, you can get a strong flour taste. Hope that helps!
Please tell me what I did wrong… the soup turned out really gritty-like, not smooth at all like it should be. Did I do something wrong or is this just how it's supposed to be? It tasted great, just not the texture that I was going for.
Hi – so this was the first recipe I've tried off of your site. I've been married for 13 years and have never been the recipient of such glowing praise for a meal! My husband loved, loved this – and he is a fussy, heartburn-y, no spicy kind of guy. THANKS for allowing my husband to compliment my cooking! That simply doesn't happen at this house!
Brittany – how nice are you? Thank you for the sweet comment…
You are a Genious! with all your recipe’s. That’s all I have to say. Thanks for sharing.
MelanieL – I agree, more soup for the one who made it if the kids don’t like it! So glad it was a hit with you and your husband.
I made this yummy soup last night, the husband loved it like I figured he would and so did I. The kids wouldn’t try it though because of the broccoli…I saymore for us!
Allison – thanks for your comment! I’m so glad you liked this soup and that your husband liked it, despite his aversion to creamy soups. That’s a success!
I stumbled onto your blog a few month ago and have tried several recipes (al of which I have really liked). This soup was SO good though that I just had to comment. I LOVE creamy cheesy soups, but my husband usually doesn’t. I have now made this twice in the last month and both times he went back for seconds and commented on how good it was. YUM! Thanks for the recipe.
Made this tonight for my son’s 3rd birthday party. It was a hit! I 6 timed the recipe with no problems. I added a little season salt and garlic powder at the end. I ordered bread bowls from a nearby bakery (I wasn’t going to attempt making them for my first time for 20 people).
Thanks for the awesome recipe!
Stacie – I wasn’t sure if I read that right at first – SIX times the recipe? Wow. That is a lot of work. I’m glad it turned out well! Thanks for letting me know.
Thanks for another great recipe–we’re enjoying it right now! You are definitely my go-to gal for yummy stuff and your presentation is always beautiful too–your blog is very visually pleasing!
Allison – so glad you liked this! And thanks for the great compliment…I really appreciate it.
Hi! Just made this x 10 for a freezer meal group that I’m in. It only took me about 4 hours! 😉 But it was so yummy that it was worth the time for sure. I’m glad to have you as a go to girl when I’m out of ideas for dinner. Thanks!
J Fo – WHAT? Times ten? I cannot believe that. Talk about a ton of work…but I am SO glad it was worth it and you liked the end result!
Aaron and Grace – yay! So glad this was a hit. Thanks for letting me know.
Made this last night…. OMG!! It was delicious! The hubby loved it! Thanks!
Mom in MA – I actually buy the broth in boxes too, and for the equivalent of one can of chicken broth, I measure out 1 3/4 cups of broth. Hope that helps!
I don’t buy broth in cans, only the carboard packages. How much broth in ounces is in a can? I am estimating using 1/2 box of broth…hopefully that’s not way too much. We’ll see. Looks yummy!
Kristi – very funny!! Glad it was a hit!
My husband just called over “oh man, this is so good, I am licking the bowl like it is cake batter!”
Thank you!
Kalena – thanks for letting me know you liked this and for the tip for extra richness!
Just made this for lunch and it was delicious! Try adding the steamer water from steaming the broccoli for extra richness. Thanks so much for sharing, Kalena
Katy – I’m making this soup for dinner this week, so we must be on the same wavelength. I’m glad you liked it – thanks for letting me know!
We had this for dinner tonight and it was fantastic. I am very excited because Broccoli Cheese soup is one of my favorites, but I’ve never successfully made it a home.
Thank you for sharing!
Hey Emily – I saw your comment on the bread bowl recipe and it’s fun to see one pop up over here, too. I’m glad this soup turned out for you despite the hiccups early on. Thanks for letting me know!
I just commented on your Italian Bread Bowl recipe, but I thought I’d come over here and let you know that my family loved this recipe, only we had to change it just a little. I think I added too much chicken broth, as it was on the runny side, and I didn’t have any swiss cheese, so I ended up adding closer to four cups of sharp cheddar cheese to get it to the consistency we wanted. I also added some garlic salt since we’re huge fans of garlic. The end result was perfect – exactly what I was hoping it would be! Thank you so much, I’m having so much fun going through your blog and finding great recipes I can’t wait to try!
Hey Megan – I saw the post on your blog and I’m so glad you liked this. Thanks for letting me know!
Thanks so much for another great recipe! My husband and I both loved this. I finally got the update up on my blog. I will definitely be making this again – so simple and so good!
Anonymous – I’m pretty sure you can find bread bowls in most supermarket bakeries. I don’t think this soup would freeze very well, but it does reheat well the next day!
Hi Melanie! I haven’t tried making bread yet, but where can I find these bread bowls, supermarket, bakery? I’d love to buy some.
Also, would this soup freeze well or at the very least, be ok to reheat the next day?
Thanks!
Becky – you are hilarious! I’m going to try your “baby dinosaur” explanation and see what my kids think.
Mel, soo soo good!! Loved it! Except at my house, I had to make it on a night that Mark wasn’t home, and we called it “Baby dinosaur trees in hot magma”. Success! Thank you! You are my hero.
Hi! Do you think it would be good to add some shredded chicken to the soup?
Thank you and I absolutely adore your blog!
Melanie,
This looks so good. I told my husband tonight that your blog is my favorite food blog. Thanks for all the wonderful recipes. I need to print some of these off and make them soon! My husband saw this picture and agreed that I should do this one soon!
Laura – how nice are you? Thanks for such a sweet compliment. It really made my day!
Anonymous – yes, I think shredded chicken would make a great addition to the soup. I would add the precooked chicken at the end and heat through. Good luck!
I can’t wait to try this!!!! At my high school we had some sort of broccoli cheese soup poured over a baked potato. I ate that at least once a week! I used to always use a roll to get the rest of the soup that spilled over the potato. Yum! I can hardly wait!
Loved the recipe. So simple and easy. Thanks for sharing.
Umm… totally delish! I am still totally drooling and thinking about the desert for Christmas Eve. I can’t wait!!!!
Anonymous – what a great idea to use smoked swiss. I bet it adds a fabulous flavor!
Susan – what a great idea to use fresh lemon juice to brighten up the flavor. I’m definitely adding that to the recipe for me to try next time. Thanks!
Heather – yay! So glad you loved this. No leftovers is a good thing in my book.
I made this tonight and I doubled the recipe since we were feeding several people over the age of 16 and it tasted good but it was a little runny. I usually like my broccoli cheese soup to be nice and thick but for some reason my just wasn’t so thick. Is the recipe supposed to make a thinner soup or did I just do something wrong.
thanks
thanks for this! you inspired me with the bread bowls and soup 🙂 my kids and i made them today, and despite my lack of bread making skills, between the soup and the bowl it was awesome!here’s links 🙂http://adoramama.blogspot.com/2009/01/making-bread-bowls.htmlhttp://adoramama.blogspot.com/2009/01/bread-bowl-and-soup.htmli can’t wait to try more of your delicious looking recipes!
Ahem — this was SO good. So good. So very easy and no Velveeta anywhere! Loved it.
WOW! This looks great! I was surprised to read it had swiss. I bet that gives it such a unique taste. I’m wondering if you can cook the broccoli in the soup instead of steaming it first. I don’t have a steamer and I’m a terrible broccoli-cooker. I love that it was paired with the bread bowls.
I made this soup tonight, and it turned out fabulous. Thanks
Carrie – of course I don’t mind!! Steal any recipe you want…
Hi Amanda – thanks for your comment. This is not a runny soup so I don’t know what went wrong, unless your roux (the combination of butter and flour) broke and didn’t thicken with the milk. Sometimes that can happen if it gets to hot or doesn’t have time to slowly thicken. When I’ve made it, the soup is thick enough to serve in bread bowls without the bread getting soggy.
I hope if you attempt it again it works out better!
Becky – so glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for letting me know!
Mel – I stole this recipe for a RS newlsetter…I hope that’s OK! It looked so yummy, and fairly easy. Thanks!!
mmmm.this soup looks perfect!!! I love the bread bowl!
This looks great, the bread bowl makes it even better!
We made this for dinner tonight. It was flavorful and creamy. I added a small squeeze of lemon juice to brighten the flavor a bit. Yum!
Norah – I saw your post on your blog about this recipe. I loved how big the chunks of broccoli were – I think I’ll cut mine bigger next time! Thanks for letting me know you liked it.
Loralee – thanks for checking back in (especially with the holidays!) to let me know you liked this.
With the cold snowy weather we are having, that sounds absolutely PERFECT!
I tried this recipe the other night and everyone loved it! No bread bowls for us, but we still licked up every drop. The kids even ate the broccoli! I made it again and added potatoes and some leftover ham. Delicious!!Love your blog and can’t wait to try more recipes!!
We just had this recipe tonight, and it was delicious! Thank you.😀
http://my3652009.blogspot.com/2009/08/august-10th.html
i made it! everyone loved it! thanks so much!
Melanie, I am so excited to see my recipe on here! I hope everyone enjoyes this soup as much as my family does!
Katie – your comment was so sweet – thank you! I absolutely love new recipes, too, so I’m glad it is fun for you to peruse through this site. Thanks, again!
This looks DELICIOUS! Growing up, my favorite soup was always broccoli cheddar and your bread bowl looks out of this world.
I made this tonight and it was amazing! We had no leftovers!
With the cold snowy weather we are having, that sounds absolutely PERFECT!
mrsjackblack – I loved your blog posts on these recipes – especially your kids digging in and helping with the bread bowls. Thanks for the suggestions on the adaptations to the recipe – sounds delicious!
my friend amy recommended your blog…and basically i’m addicted!! i L-O-V-E new recipes so your blog is the perfect early Christmas present!!
Lisa – so, so glad you liked this. Thanks for letting me know!
scrappysue – glad you liked this and that it was a hit with everyone. Thanks!
That sounds amazing! Isn’t is funny how small the world can be…especially in the church. I also love that this recipe has no velveeta. i can’t wait to try it!
This looks yummy – especially in the bread bowl. I think I would eat chopped liver if it was served in a bread bowl!
Julianne – love your comments. You always make me smile. I’m glad you liked this!
I found your blog through my sisters, & had a ladies luncheon with some friends today & tried out this recipe. Loved it!!! Easy to make & tasted fabulous! Thanx 🙂
I have tried many of your recipes and have loved them all! This soup turned out great and next time I am definitely attempting the bread bowls!! My husband and I are huge fans of bread bowls and soup, having grown up near San Francisco, nothing beats clam chowder in a bread bowl!!
Emily S. – I totally agree with you on the clam chowder in bread bowls! I’m glad you liked the broccoli cheese soup – you’ll have to let me know when you try the bread bowls. Thanks for commenting!
I’ve made this soup a few times now–and it always turns out wonderfully! Heating up the milk before using it (when making the white sauce part of the recipe) is a great tip. I have also turned this into a mac-and-cheese soup by adding some cooked macaroni. That was good, too.
wow–quite a compliment from the hubby! it certainly looks delicious, and i’m always enticed by anything in a bread bowl… 🙂
Made this tonight! It was so good! Thanks so much!!
This looks SOOO good…unfortunately I’m the only soup lover in the house. I would be frowned upon if I served this as dinner. But, I’m ok with that 😛
Wow this looks fantastic! I will have to try it out!
Anne – so glad you liked this and I’m grateful you commented to let me know. Your additions of potatoes and ham sound delicious!
This looks fantastic , I’m bookmarking this, I think the kids would really like this, thanks!
Valerie – I’m so glad you like this. Great idea to add macaroni – my kids would love that!
Liz K is my sister-in-law. She recently told me about your blog and specifically about your buttermilk banana bread recipe(which I am going to try soon). Since then, I have been hooked on your blog! Thanks for all the wonderful recipes and inspiration!
Hey! I know who gave you this recipe! I have tried it and it is very good.
I have made this with smoked swiss and it is outstanding