This creamy, cheesy, easy broccoli cheddar soup comes together quickly on the stovetop for a crowd-pleasing weeknight meal that everyone will love.
In This Post
Right alongside French Onion Soup and Chicken Noodle, I’ve loved Broccoli Cheddar Soup since I was a kid. Yes, even the broccoli bits because cheese with broccoli is masking magic. As an adult, I sought a version that was a healthy-ish revision of my childhood fave. One that didn’t sacrifice flavor in its ingredient modifications. I’m proud to report this easy broccoli cheddar soup recipe does the job. It’s lightened up with a few simple swapsโwhole milk instead of heavy cream (I swear you’d never know), and like in my simple Potato Soup recipe, I’ve cooked it with potato and then blended part of it for extra creaminess, less butter, and less cheeseโbut no less flavor. Fret not, this broccoli cheddar soup is still supremely creamy and cheesy.
What’s in This Easy Broccoli Cheddar Soup?
Spoiler: there’s no cream in this recipe, just milk and chicken stock. The creamy factor to theย broth is thanks to potatoes cooked in the broth that have then seen the bottom side ofย my immersion blender before the broccoli goes in.ย Don’t worry, this easy potato soup recipe is still full of flavor and is creamy in texture.
Here’s what you’ll need to make this broccoli potato soup:
- Butter
- Yellow onion
- White potatoes
- Chicken broth (use vegetable broth to make it vegetarian)
- Kosher salt and pepper
- Broccoli florets
- Whole milkโthis has a good amount of fat, which will make this soup super creamy and flavorful. In a pinch, you could probably get away with 2% milk, but I don’t recommend using milk with less fat than that.
- Shredded cheddar cheese (I prefer medium cheddar, use sharp cheddar cheese if you prefer a stronger cheese flavor)
- Flour
How to Make Broccoli Cheddar Soup
This broccoli cheese soup recipe comes together in under 30 minutes and takes little effort to make. Here’s how:
- Sautรฉ the onion in a little butter. It’s always a good sign when any recipe starts with butter and onions.
- Sautรฉ the potatoes until fork-tender. Then blend the mixture with an immersion blender to make it smooth.
- Add the broccoli and milk to the soup and cook until the broccoli is al dente.
- Toss the cheese with flour so it doesn’t clump. The light coating keeps the shreds separated to avoid clumping.
- Add the cheese to the soup one cup at a time, stirring until melted between additions.
Tip: This broccoli potato soup is best enjoyed immediately. I like to garnish my bowl with a twist of freshly ground black pepper and an additional sprinkle of cheese.
Should I Use Fresh or Frozen Broccoli?
I use fresh broccoli in my soup cheesy broccoli potato soup, but if you keep a prepared freezer stocked with frozen broccoli and you have potatoes and cheese on hand, this is a great recipe to pull out of your magic hat when you’re not sure what to cook for dinner tonight.
How Do You Keep Cheese From Clumping in Broccoli Cheddar Soup?
There’s a trick to adding the cheese so the soup doesn’t break and turn into a chunky mess.
- First, toss your freshly shredded cheese in a bit of flour
- Add it to the soup in small batches
- Stir each batch until completely melted before adding another.
If you dump all of the cheese in at once, that’s what you’ll have…dumpy soup instead of creamy soup. And what kid of any age is gonna want to eat that?
Can I Freeze Broccoli Potato Cheese Soup?
No, I don’t recommend freezing this soup. In general, soups made with a dairy-rich base don’t freeze very well. The cheese and milk mixture tends to split once frozen, and once reheated the texture isn’t very appetizing.
More Easy Soup Recipes You’ll Love
- Vegetarian Crockpot Lasagna Soup
- Creamy Potato Soup
- Tomato Basil Soup
- The Best Minestrone Soup
- Instant Pot Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
- Slow Cooker Turkey and Sweet Potato Chili
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, take a photo andย tag me on Instagramย with #foodiecrusheats.
Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 medium yellow onion , chopped
- 3 large white potatoes , peeled and cubed
- 4 cups chicken broth
- ยฝ teaspoon kosher salt
- 6 cups broccoli florets*
- 3 cups whole milk
- 3 cups shredded medium cheddar cheese
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 4-5 minutes, until softened, stirring occasionally.
- Add the cubed potatoes, chicken broth, and kosher salt and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a rolling simmer and cook the potatoes for about 8 minutes or until soft and easily pierced with a fork. Whiz the potatoes and broth with an immersion blender to the consistency you desire (I like to leave some chunks of potato), or mash with a potato masher.
- Add the broccoli florets and the milk and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer, cooking for 5-7 minutes or until the broccoli is al dentรฉ.
- Toss the cheese with the flour and add to the soup 1 cup at a time, stirring until melted before adding the next batch of cheese. Season with black pepper and more salt to taste.
Notes
Nutrition
More Broccoli Recipes You Need to Try
- Easy Broccoli with Feta Cheese
- Bacon, Broccoli, and Potato Frittata
- Beef with Broccoliย
- Orange Chicken and Broccoli Rice Bowls
- The Best Broccoli Salad
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trudy bognar
Can I cook this in a crockpot?
Heidi
Hi Trudy, I haven’t tried it in the Crock Pot but if you do, I might try it with evaporated milk instead of regular. I use evaporated milk in my Instant Pot Mac and Cheese so it doesn’t curdle and I have a hunch that may be a good idea here.
Judith
Surprisingly easy and quick. Turned out great! Really nice winter dinner when broccoli, potatoes and onions were all on sale.
Hayley
Thanks for sharing, Judith! We’re so happy you enjoyed the recipe.
Jamila
So good!!
Hayley
We’re glad you enjoyed it, Jamila!
MARGI
THIS SOUP IS SPECTACULAR. PERFECT, I HAD FROZEN BOILED POTOTES LEFTR FROM THANKSGIVING, LOVE LOVE LOVE
Heidi
So glad you were able to use those potatoes up Margi. Thanks for the 5 stars!
Christine
Yum! Made this for lunch today, sooooo delicious! I used leftover mashed potatoes to fast track itโฆ..turned out amazing! Thanks for such a cozy lunch on this winter day!
Heidi
Great idea hack and using mashed potatoes.Thanks for the comment and 5 star rating.
Angie
I made this last night and OMG itโs delicious!!! I used half and half instead of whole milk, since thatโs all I had. Will definitely be making this again!! Love your recipe’s!!
Heidi
Thank you Angie! I’m so glad you liked it, and thx for the 5 stars!
Sarah
So yummy! I am wondering what the serving size is that you used to determine the macro nutrients? Thank you in advance!
Arlene
How do you measure the broccoli florets? do you chop the florets first? Can you give an approximate weight for the 6 cups?
Heidi
Ariene, It would be about 36 ounces or 2 1/4 pounds of florets.
Annette S.
This is such a fantastic recipe. It is easy to follow and you can modify it accordingly. The tip with the flour and cheese absolutely brilliant. Love this recipe. Great job
Heidi
Great! Glad you liked it Annette!
Johnson
It looks amazing , I have added some different types of cheese
JT
What magic potatoes or cooking method do you have where potatoes cook in 8 minutes? You didn’t mention pressure cooker, maybe that’s it?
Heidi
No, magic or pressure cooker. The potatoes are diced so they cook faster, plus the cook as the soup cooks.
Eleanor
From my local Mercado, I occasionally buy a ‘Happ Box’ which contains enough fresh produce to fill a Subaru Forester wagon, with the back seats down, front to back, side to side, and top to bottom. This past box had a case of broccoli, so of course I searched for a great soup recipe. I made for batches of this soup in my huge stock pot. All of my friends and neighbors received healthy portions, and I received great reviews, which I now pass along to you!
Matt
I used coconut milk instead to limit the amount of dairy. I also used extra sharp cheddar cheese and used a gluten free flour. I also served this gluten free dinner rolls. I have a family member with a gluten allergy. Overall this was excellent and I will be making this again. Thank you for sharing!
Heidi
Happy you liked it and could make it gluten free!
Fay Brautigan
The soup was wonderful! But in whoโs world does this take only 5 minutes of prep time. This was very misleading as a lot of recipes are. You should adjust it.
Ashley
The only prep is cutting the onion, potatoes and broccoli. In my world that’s only about 5 min worth of prep. But I’m sure it varies person to person. But don’t rush! No one needs missing didgets!!
Beth
Do you peel the potatoes?
Heidi
Yes Beth, peel the potatoes either before boiling.
Chong
I tried this recipe after I read few comments from other recipe similar to this recipe . I am glad I did not follow the other recipe because this soup is so delicious and simple but good enough to serve my family and friends. I am sticking to this recipe from now on.
Deb
I changed the recipe size to 4 and printed. Not knowing what you considered a large potato, I went by the measurement of 4 cups. WRONG, changing the size of the recipe did not change that measurement. It was so thick….just wanted to let you know!!
Kirsten J Salvador
Super delicioius! Made the recipe for my family last night, and my son said, “WAY better than any restaurant or canned variety!” He also liked, and so did it, that it had potato and wasn’t overly cheesy – just right!
Heidi
I’m glad you and your family enjoyed!
Sandy Kelley-Jones
OMG this is as good as it looks! So itโs Sunday night, after 7 and I need to make a little something to eat and make it quickly. I wanted broccoli and thought cheese with it would be good then thought of broccoli and cheese soup. I turned to Pinterest and did a search for quick broccoli and cheese soup and lo and behold found one with the added benefit of potatoes. My husband adores potato soup so I figured he would love this. He actually said he was in heaven eating it. As always I had to modify the recipe, just a little this time. I used the packages of frozen chopped broccoli and Tuscan style broccoli I had on hand, a box of chicken broth, almost a pint of half and half, a chunk of butter and 5 or 6 small to medium potatoesโbut Iโm sure it would be great following the recipe precisely. I actually did toss the cheese with flour and it blended in beautifully. Thereโs just enough left for a cup for each of us for lunch tomorrow. Thanks for sharing. I will definitely make this again!
Heidi
So glad you liked it!
Vicab
OMG the best soup ever! BUT I personally think the prep time is off – it took me quite a bit to prepare and cook. I will definitely cook again. Now that I know I how long it takes to make.
Saundra
I just made it came out okay
Alexander Graham
Just made this soup. It is delicious
Sebastian
Just made this soup. It is delicious. Followed every step and didnt have to add to much extra seasoning, a little salt and pepper with a sprinkle of cheddar cheese . Scrapping the side of the bowl delicious.
Ashley @ Foodie Crush
Thanks so much Sebastian!
Liza
Just made this soup and it was great! Added carrots and celery seeds to the onions. Used broccoli and the stems and reduced the milk by 1/2 cup. I also used Cabot sharp white cheddar and left out the flour. To top it all off I cut brunoise potatoes and crisped them in the oven to get a nice and crunchy topping.
Ashley @ Foodie Crush
Those sound like great modifications. Thanks for sharing, Liza.
Stacy
This soup is delicious!! I had a small stalk of fresh broccoli that I wanted to use and 3 large russet potatoes so I searched for a soup recipe with broccoli and potatoes- so glad I found yours! Also, since there are just two of us, we finished the soup for lunch today, 4 days after I made it – and it held up perfectly. We love soup- thank you for a great recipe!
Heidi
That’s awesome Stacy! So glad you liked it!!! And yes, leftovers are always good at our house too.
Kristel
This recipe was fantastic! My husband really enjoyed there flocked and the thickness of this soup! I added corn to this recipe to give an additional veggie. Thanks for sharing!
Ashley @ Foodie Crush
Yum! Thanks for sharing the corn tip
Sheree
We love broccoli, we love cheese. This recipe was so easy to make and tasted delicious. I used Fontina and Asiago cheeses. Smooth and silky. Da Bomb
Tim Carroll
My wife is a vegetarian so I am wondering if using vegetable broth was seriously (and negatively) impact the taste
Ashley @ Foodie Crush
It definitely would be a good sub to make this vegetarian!
John
Made this and got big smiles! Served with toasted sandwiches. Great easy supper.
Kayel
I added a tad bit of bacon grease and some bacon to this recipe and it was hands down the best soup Iโve ever had. Super excited fall is coming and I can make this soup again. Great recipe with baguettes.
Heidi
Kayel, so glad you liked it. Bacon is a great idea to add, perfect pairing with broccoli and potatoes. :)
Elizabeth
I noticed you had the servings up there, but not calories…do you know the calories per serving? I’d like to know just for reference…even though I ALWAYS end up eating more than one bowl of this! It is SUPER yummy and always turns out great for us. My husband literally eats 3 bowls every time.
Charles D
is it ok to eat progresso cheesy broccoli potato soup soup cold/straight out of the can
Bee
Wowwwww! I adore broccoli soup AND potato soupโฆ but it never occurred to me to combine them! I bet the potato gives a lovely creamy texture. I want to try this soup recipe next week, thanks so much!
Ashley @ Foodie Crush
You’ll love it! More filling too!
Trissy Castagna
Made this soup last night, and everyone loved it. I used my immersion blender at the end, after I mashed the potatoes earlier with the masher. I used half broccoli, since that was what I had on hand, and subbed half chicken broth/half beef broth. My family loved it!! Will make again.
Ashley @ Foodie Crush
I am so happy to hear that!! Thanks Trissy.
Eve
Does anyone have any thoughts for me on how to adapt this recipe to make it in the Instant Pot? I just got one and this will be the first recipe I attempt that hasn’t specifically been written for it. Thank you in advance!
Kim
This was SO good!! The only thing I did different was use 6 large potatoes because I already them peeled and then added sour cream to my bowl. The tast was exactly what I was looking for when I went searching for a potato and broccoli soup recipe! Thank you!
Ashley @ Foodie Crush
Thank you so much Kim! I am glad that this was just what you were looking for
Angela
Can this soup be made without cheese Iโm lactose intolerance
Matt
I used coconut milk. There are cheeses without lactose you could put in there but not sure which ones.
Jen
What adjustments would you make, if any, for crock pot cooking?
Michelle Gauthier
Thank you! So simple to make even on a week day! Hubby loved it & only change I made was to add some bacon per his request. So filling & great for a rainy fall dinner
C.L.
Has anybody tried using a nut milk for this? I don’t have an aversion to dairy, but I do have some almond milk that needs to be used soon!
M.
This soup was absolutely delicious! The only tweaks I made were using veggie broth + 1/4 of a veggie bouillon cube, and added 1 large garlic clove. This is going to be a staple in my home. Thx!
Ashley Sorenson
Those adjustments sound delicious! Thanks M!
Teresa Harshaw
Awesome recipe and so easy make! Loved it and so did my husband.
Ciana
Hey!
I love your blog! Pics look so tasty mmmm. I would like to cook all these lovely recipes.
Camille barry
I made this tonight. I had leftover mashed potatoes so it was super fast to make! I added ham that I still had from Easter brunch. I used fresh broccoli and a mixture of half and half and 1% milk as I wanted to use up (I didnโt use quite 3 cups because I didnโt want it too thin). Cheese melted perfectly-used an old cheddar. No dumpy soup!
Suzie
Very good recipe, thank you for posting. It works for my meat eaters and the single non-meat eater in my household – I cooked up some bacon to add to the top for those who wanted it.
Cristina
Have made this soup today. Absolutely delicious! Followed the recipe but, being a thrifty person, I also added some of the broccoli stem to the potatoes. Will definitely make this again. Thank you very much!
heidi
Hi Christine, and so smart to use ALL of the broccoli. They add more body, have all the nutrients, and so no need to waste, right??! Thanks for the comment!
anagonzalez
I made this soup today, and I don’t regret it, the soup was so delicious! I really recommended it, very easy to do too.
Mama Sue
I made this and it was great! I used miso broth, brown rice flour, and soy milk. I also mixed medium and sharp cheddar because thatโs what I had. I may try this with asparagus instead of the broccoli. Can it be frozen? Thanks!
lacey
I was wondering If I could skip the flour. If it would change the texture of the soup, Brown rice flour worked well? I have almond flour, arrowroot flour, coconut flour, and rice flour in my kitchen.
Becky
Just made this soup…. Yum Yum!!!!
Michelle Gauthier
OMG soooo yummy. I did change a bit but only because I had to use some ham up and only had 3 cups broccoli so I halved the recipe. I had a ham bone so put that in the 4 cups water. I strained ham out and used the water to boil 1.5 c of potatoes, fried and added onions & when done used an immersion blender til semi smooth. Added 2 c milk. Added the broccoli cooked and blended, a bit more than I wanted, but worked, added one packet leek soup mix…added 1.5c cheese tossed in flour and then put 1.5 c ham cooked but cold ( cool down the soup somewhat so we could eat earlier ;)
rosemarie johnson
making this tomorrow i was looking for a yummy potatoe and brocolli cheese soup cause with all of this cold weather we need soup.
Jill
Nom ,Nom ,Nom! This Broccoli Soup was amazing! Ican’t wait to try the Beet Buckwheat pancakes.
linda
I just made this exactly as directed. It is delicious. Thank you
Michelle Gauthier
Made this tonight and very good. Mashed the potatoes and mashed again when broccoli cooked leaving some chunks. Added crumbled bacon when I added the broccoli. Very hearty on a cold night and husband loved it too!
Liz
Do you have to mash the potatoes or could you leave then diced up in the soup?
Laura Dennison
I made this soup tonight and it was wonderful. I usually doctor up recipes but I didn’t do a thing to this one and it was delicious.
Phylicia
Just made it for the first time, and I must say it is AWESOME!! thanks for sharing!!
Chelsea
I made this soup. It had great flavor and it was really easy! The only problem was that it separated in an unappealing way after I added the cheese. Maybe it was the flour? Any idea? Thanks!
Lacy
Mine also!! Wonder what I did wrong?
Samantha Hamblin
I found if i just buy the already shredded cheddar cheese it does not clump whatsoever, pkus u dont need the added flour :)
DIYMike
My family LOVED this! I made it pretty much as the recipe says and it was delicious.
It was one of those moments… tired, not sure of what to make, not a lot of items on hand, hungry kids, and it was almost dinner time….
Thanks, it was exactly what I needed.
EmilyGC
I made this tonight and it turned out really delicious. I added garlic and diced carrots (that I blended w/the potatoes) and it was nice and creamy. My broccoli took a lot longer to cook, I think because I bought some sort of fancy kind rather than normal broccoli, but once they finally softened, it was perfect. :)
Freya Osborne
Great recipe for potato soup I have found ever. Now, my husband won’t quarrelling with me. I must try these at home.
Thanks for sharing an awesome recipe
Gilliane
This was delicious! I used my potato masher instead of the blender and I loved the consistency. Hot tip on the cheese and flour–worked like a charm. Thanks for the wonderful recipe!
2pots2cook
It is still so cold out here; this soup will definitely make my day ! Thank you so much !
Izzy @ She Likes Food
I was raised by a very healthy mom and ended up eating a ton of “weird” vegetables that other kids didn’t love. I feel like it’s one reason why I love so many vegetables today though! This soup looks so creamy ad I’m loving all that melty cheese on top :)
marcie
I LOVE plain broccoli, but blanketed in cheddar cheese is a super close second. :) This soup looks so silky and delicious!
Joan K
Yummy, just yummy, simple to make but tastes indulgent
Savita @ Chef De Home
Love broccoli cheese soups! This looks so delicious and comforting!
Letty / Letty's Kitchen
How to sell broccoli to a broccoli hater, by Heidi Larsen aka Foodie Crush. What an enticing soup to surprise those broccoli-averse folks!
heidi
Ha! I’m so glad it might inspire you to cross the green line Letty :)
Nicholas Butcher
I added a little beer before adding potatoes and broth. Also added bacon with broccoli
Lydia
Ohhhhh… I suddenly have a soup craving. This looks just lovely and comforting and indulgent. So clever using the potatoes to thicken it up…
Liz @ Floating Kitchen
Mmm…I can taste the coziness from here! I love using potatoes are a thickener. Great way to lighten up soups, and still keep them super creamy and delicious! Can’t wait to try this one!
Silvia @ Local Gardeners
This soup looks so delicious! I can eat broccoli and cheese every day of my life! I’ll try it as soon as possible.
becky
Oh my gosh, I love hearing about you as a kid! That is so funny!! I’m a big broccoli cheese soup fan too so I’ll be giving this a try soon.
Sara @ Last Night's Feast
Yummy! This looks indulgent