Broccoli Cheese Soup is a creamy, cheesy soup made with tender broccoli, chicken broth, a simple butter and flour sauce, milk, and plenty of cheddar cheese. It’s warm, comforting, and perfect for chilly nights, quick lunches, or an easy family dinner.
We love this recipe because it comes together with simple ingredients and has that rich, cheesy flavor everyone asks for. Add bacon pieces and extra cheese on top for a little something special, or keep it simple and serve with Homemade Breadsticks, French Bread, Dinner Rolls, or a Caesar Salad for a meal everyone will love.
Why you’ll love it + Why it works:
- Creamy and Cheesy: Every spoonful is loaded with rich cheddar cheese and tender broccoli.
- Easy One Pot Dinner: Simple ingredients come together for a satisfying meal with minimal cleanup.
- Ready for Busy Nights: It comes together quickly, making it perfect for weeknight dinners.
- Homemade Cheese Sauce: A simple butter and flour roux creates a smooth, creamy base that melts the cheese beautifully.
Broccoli Cheese Soup Ingredients
- Low-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth (2 (14.5-ounce) cans): Creates a flavorful soup base while allowing you to control the salt level. Vegetable broth is a great vegetarian option.
- Broccoli (2 small heads, diced small): Adds hearty texture, fresh flavor, and plenty of color. Cutting the florets into small pieces helps them cook quickly and evenly.
- Unsalted butter (3 tablespoons): Forms the base of the cheese sauce and adds rich flavor.
- All-purpose flour (⅓ cup): Thickens the soup into a smooth, creamy consistency.
- Milk (3½ cups, plus more as needed): Creates a rich, creamy soup. Whole milk gives the creamiest texture, but 2% milk also works well.
- Shredded cheddar cheese (4 cups, plus more for topping): Melts into the soup for rich, cheesy flavor. Freshly shredded cheddar melts more smoothly than pre-shredded cheese.
- Salt (1 teaspoon): Enhances all of the flavors in the soup.
- Garlic pepper (½ teaspoon): Adds savory garlic flavor with a touch of black pepper for extra depth.
- Cooked bacon (6 slices, chopped, optional): Adds smoky flavor and a crunchy topping that pairs perfectly with the creamy soup.
How to Make Broccoli Cheese Soup
BROCCOLI. In a large pot, add chicken broth and broccoli. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
ROUX. While simmering, melt butter in a large saucepan. Whisk in the flour and cook for another minute (or until golden brown). Whisk in milk and cook for an additional 5 minutes until the sauce thickens.
CHEESE. Add cheese and stir until it is all melted. Add salt and garlic pepper.
COMBINE. Pour cheese sauce into the large pot and stir until well combined.
Add more milk for a thinner consistency and add any additional salt and pepper needed. Top with bacon pieces. Serve warm.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- Shred your own cheddar cheese for the smoothest, creamiest soup.
- Cut the broccoli into small, even pieces so it cooks quickly and fits easily on a spoon.
- Stir the cheese in over low heat to keep it smooth and prevent it from becoming grainy.
- Blend a portion of the soup if you prefer a smoother texture while still leaving some broccoli pieces for texture.
- Crockpot directions. Place butter and flour in your crock pot and let melt. Add milk and let set for 30 minutes. Add remaining ingredients but cheese. Cover and cook on high for 2 hours or on low for 4-6 hours, adding cheese 30 minutes before done.
Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 2 (14.5-ounce) cans low-sodium chicken broth, or vegetable broth
- 2 small heads of broccoli, diced small
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- 3½ cups milk, plus more as needed
- 4 cups shredded cheddar cheese, plus more for topping (optional)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic pepper
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and chopped (optional)
Instructions
- In a large pot, add broth and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium low.
- Add broccoli, cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, melt butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk in flour and cook for another minute, until golden brown. Whisk in milk, turn the heat to medium and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes, or until the sauce thickens.
- Add cheese and stir until it is all melted. Add salt and garlic pepper. Pour cheese sauce into the soup pot and stir until well combined.
- Add more milk if you like a thinner consistency, and season with additional salt and garlic pepper to taste.
- Top with bacon pieces and extra cheese, if desired, and serve warm.
Notes
- Shred your own cheddar cheese for the smoothest, creamiest soup.
- Cut the broccoli into small, even pieces so it cooks quickly and fits easily on a spoon.
- Stir the cheese in over low heat to keep it smooth and prevent it from becoming grainy.
- Blend a portion of the soup if you prefer a smoother texture while still leaving some broccoli pieces for texture.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Pour into an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator for 3-4 days! Reheat in the microwave or on the stove and serve with some crusty bread.
Once it has cooled, pour it into a freezer-safe bag/container. Keep the soup in the freezer for up to 6 months! For a warm creamy texture, reheat on the stove top over low-medium heat.
Make individual servings by pouring them into paper/plastic cups, freezing them, and removing them from the cup after it has frozen. Store the frozen individual servings in a freezer-safe bag.
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This recipe was first shared December, 2012.
This was the Best broccoli and cheese that I have made. From now on it will be my go to soup.
I’ve made a lot of your recipes and they Never disappoint.
Awe, I love that! Thanks so much for sharing that!
You dont list bacon in this recipe although it’s pretty common knowledge, unless you dont like bacon. Love your recipes. My go too if im looking for change 👍
This specific recipe doesn’t call for bacon, but bacon makes everything better right? You could definitely add some in! So glad to hear you enjoy the recipes!
So easy to make and so comforting! It’s become a new favorite with my family!! Thank you for sharing.
This is creamy, rich, cheesy and super delicious! I can’t get enough of this broccoli cheese soup, it’s addicting!
im not a soup person, but broccoli cheddar soup is my go to when I make it! thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe!
You’re welcome!!
Very good & easy. I caramalized some onion & jalapeno before melting butter & threw in some minced garlic as I made the roux. 😋
How much of the Swiss Cheese does the recipe need? I couldn’t find it where the ingredients were listed.
Also, where can I find garlic pepper?
Thank you!!
The recipe doesn’t call for any swiss cheese, just cheddar. And you can find garlic pepper in most spice sections of a grocery store.
This is always my go-to soup! Everyone enjoys it and its such a comfort food on a cold day.
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe! Will surely have this again! It’s really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!
Just made this for dinner and it was fab! It was so easy and fast and I had all the ingredients on hand. I will absolutely be making this again!!
Yay!! So glad you loved the soup! Thanks for sharing.
This was so easy to make and tastes perfect. Bring on soup season! I’m ready to try this in a bread bowl next time. But truly it’s still perfect without.
Super loved this amazing broccoli cheese soup recipe! Will surely have this again, super easy to make and tasted really delicious! Well done!
It has been soup weather over here & we can’t get enough of this broccoli cheese soup!! My kids even love it! It’s so cheesy & smooth!
This is really tasty and easy to make! Will surely have this again, thanks a bunch for sharing this broccoli cheese soup recipe! Highly recommended!
This soup is so cheesy and creamy. This is one soup that the entire family will eat.
We tried the recipe. Did the butter flour and milk first then added in the simmered broth and broccoli. Let that sit for 1.5hr in thr crockpot on high and added in the cheese and let it sit and it looks like it separated and is kinda gritty. Now sure where I messed up? Has the general flavor but texture isnt good. Any ideas or thoughts?
I’m sorry the soup didn’t turn out the way that you had hoped. It could be that your crockpot’s high setting runs hotter than others. I’ve had different crockpots that cook food faster and slower on the same heat setting. I’m not exactly sure why that is but they must be calibrated differently. When cheese is melted at high heat it tends to separate and curdle. This may have been what was happening. Maybe try the low setting on your crockpot instead? Thanks so much for trying it!
I love this quick recipe so much. It’s the perfect recipe for whipping up a fast dinner. Also, my go-to if I feel like taking over a dinner to a friend on a whim. I trust they’ll love it too.
This wAs the best broccoli cheese soup i’ve eVer had!! There was no left overs! Sooo good!!
That makes me so happy! Thank you for sharing that!
Will it still be just as gOod if i made with vegetable broth to maje it vegetarian?
I am sure it would be, though I have not tried.
I’m anxious to try the Broccoli Cheese. Soup. I’m wondering if you cook the broccoli by steaming it first for example? I hope I hear from you soon if you can as I love this recipe. Sounds so yummy and easy to make. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Nope, you don’t need to steam it first. It gets nice & cooked 🙂 Enjoy!! It’s one of my favs!!
Love this! So fast and yummy!
I am glad you like it! Thank you for letting me know 🙂
I really cant say just how much we love soups. We like such a variety that its hard to say whats our favorite. This has always been one that we make alot because of its creaminess and how hearty it is. Sure to satisty everyone!
This soup is one of the best. Its definetly one of the favorites in our family. Its creamy and so yummy!
Thanks for the Crock Pot tip. The soup turned out so yummy. It was a perfect warm meal on a rainy day.
This soup is so creamy & cheesy!! My kids, who are picky eaters even liked it! I am so excited to have soups all the time!
Can this freeze?
I haven’t tried, but I am sure it would be fine 😉
Hi,
Looks yummy and something I would like to try.
My only question is the quantity of chicken stock as it states 2 cans, but what sized cans. Sorry, it’s a bloke kind of question. 🙂
You would use the 14.5 ounce cans 🙂 Hope that helps..sorry, it isn’t clear. I will need to change that. Thanks for stopping by!
The Broccoli Soup sounds delightful. I do have a question: how long do you cook the broccoli?
According to package directions 🙂 Enjoy!
Just made this for my family. Everyone loved it!! Very simple to make, and super tasty. I altered the instructions a bit…put the chicken broth in a bigger pot, and then cooked the broccoli in the broth while I made the roux, and then added the roux and cheese to the broth/broccoli pot. Thanks for the yummy recipe, I will definitely be making it again!
We had this for dinner. It is soooo good and soooo simple. A new family favorite for sure. Thanks.
So glad you liked it! It’s definitely my new fav broccoli cheese soup. Thanks for stopping by! 😀
Yum! Can’t wait to try this. The only other Broccoli Cheese Soups I’ve made call for the fake cheese stuff – Cheese Whiz or Velveeta. Bleh. Thanks!
LOL!! Don’t use the fake stuff anymore!! This recipe was seriously the best Broccoli Cheese recipe I’ve tasted. Let me know if you make it and what you think. Have a Merry Christmas, Dezi!!
do you make your own bread bowls?
I wish!! I have never tried to before but if you have a good sourdough recipe I’d love to try it! Then it would really be just like the Pacific Wharf’s Broccoli Cheese soup! 😀
There is no Swiss cheese in this soup.