Easy Homemade Broccoli Cheese Soup

The BEST recipe for homemade broccoli cheese soup, this version is easy and creamy, with tons of cheddar cheese flavor (no processed cheese in sight!).

There is nothing in the world like sitting down to a warm bowl of broccoli cheese soup for dinner. 

This easy homemade broccoli cheese soup is super cheesy and creamy without any processed cheese.

But even more astounding than that, it is one of a handful of meals that my entire family eats without complaining. 

It’s a highly requested recipe around here, and for good reason. This version is easily the best broccoli cheese soup recipe out there. 

Remember that because pre-shredded cheese is coated with a powdery substance to keep it from clumping, it won’t melt as well as freshly grated cheese. It’s worth the extra effort to grate your own for this recipe!

This broccoli cheese soup can be made ahead of time and kept warm in a slow cooker. And refrigerated leftovers reheat really well!

We’ve been making this soup for almost ten years now, and the few times I’ve dared to stray and try another recipe, I always come back to this one. Always.

It really is the best homemade broccoli cheese soup out there.

Soup in Bread Bowls

It can be hard to find the perfect soup for bread bowls (too thin and you have a soggy bread disaster on your hands!).

This soup is thick, creamy, and perfect to serve in bread bowls.

My favorite homemade recipe for bread bowls is this one.

A Tried-and-True Favorite

So many of you have fallen in love with this broccoli cheese soup! Here are just a few of the hundreds of rave reviews.

Tammy: So, so so Gooooooood!!!!!  I made a little tweak of cooking the broccoli longer because kids like it really soft.  But, amazing flavor!  Served with your french bread rolls and an easy fruit salad.  It made a ton, which I’m thrilled so I can have leftovers for lunch,  Thanks for another winner!

Kristin: So delicious! One of the best soups I’ve ever eaten!

Shannon: Rivals Panera for sure! I made some bread bowls to serve this in, and my family gobbled it up!

Easy Broccoli Cheese Soup

Yield: 6 servings

Prep Time: 30 minutes mins

Cook Time: 15 minutes mins

Total Time: 45 minutes mins

4.86 stars (127 ratings)

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Ingredients

• 3 ½ cups chicken broth, I use low-sodium
• ½ cup finely diced onion, white or yellow
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• 5-6 cups about 30-36 ounces chopped fresh broccoli (see note)
• 4 cups milk, I use 2%
• ½ cup all-purpose flour, use 2/3 cup if you want it extra thick
• 3 cups (342 g) freshly grated cheddar cheese (see note)
• 1 cup (114 g) freshly grated Swiss cheese (see note)

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Instructions 

• In a large saucepan (6-quarts or so), add the chicken broth, onion, salt and pepper. Bring the mixture to a simmer and add the broccoli (it may not be completely covered with liquid). Cover the pot and cook for 8-9 minutes until the broccoli and onions are tender.
• In a blender, combine the milk and flour and process until smooth. Slowly add the milk mixture to the soup, stirring constantly. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring, and cook until thickened, 3-4 minutes.
• Turn the heat off or to low and stir in the cheese, one handful at a time, letting each addition melt before adding more. Season to taste with additional salt and pepper, if needed.
• Serve immediately (the soup will thicken as it cools).

Notes

Broccoli: I like the broccoli chopped pretty small for this soup – but you can chop it as small or as large as you prefer.

Cheese: I highly recommend using freshly grated cheese for this recipe; pre-shredded cheese doesn’t melt as well (it’s coated with powder to keep it from sticking, but that prevents it from melting smoothly). I prefer sharp cheddar cheese (extra sharp makes the soup a little gritty and mild cheddar cheese doesn’t have as much flavor). You can substitute Monterey Jack for the Swiss.

Instant Pot: I think this stands a good chance of working in the IP (taking notes from this IP creamy potato soup recipe). Maybe combining the broth, salt, pepper, onions, and broccoli and cooking at HP for 1-2 minutes. Quick release the pressure and then use the saute function when adding the milk and cheese?

Author: Mel

Course: Soup

Cuisine: American

Method: Stovetop

Serving: 1 Serving, Calories: 472kcal, Carbohydrates: 24g, Protein: 28g, Fat: 30g, Saturated Fat: 18g, Cholesterol: 92mg, Sodium: 1370mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 11g

Recommended Products

Vitamix Blender

Cookware

Box Grater

Recipe Source: based off this old favorite – just streamlined the cooking method to eliminate the butter and use less pots and pans
Recipe originally published in Dec 2017; updated with new photos, recipe notes, etc (and other photos March 2023)

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