Loaded with broccoli and two different cheeses, this creamy and delicious soup is the ultimate comfort food, especially when served in a bread bowl!
We’re big fans of the food at Disneyland, and have made several copycat recipes, including Dole Whips and Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Skewers. This Broccoli Cheddar Soup recipe tastes JUST like the broccoli cheese soup from Pacific Wharf Cafe at California Adventure!
Just like pacific wharf cafe!
If you’ve ever been to the Pacific Wharf Cafe at California Adventure in Anaheim, you may have tried their Broccoli Cheese Soup in a Bread bowl. If not, you must try it – it’s practically HEAVEN!
Well, we recently went to Disneyland and California Adventure, and I have been dying to find a recipe that compares to this little piece of heaven. I’m happy to report that my mom was able to do just that. She made a few changes to an original recipe she had, and I have to admit it was one of the best recipes I’ve ever tried!
It tasted just like Disney’s Broccoli Cheddar Soup – and it’s beyond easy!
how to make Broccoli Cheese Soup
Believe it or not, this recipe is as simple as it is delicious. It only takes about 30 minutes to come together, and the ingredients are super simple. In fact, you probably have most of them on hand already. In no time at all, you can have a little taste from the Happiest Place on Earth right in your own kitchen. 😉
I don’t know what it is about the combination of broccoli and cheddar, but this soup makes for the ultimate comfort food – especially on cold days.
Thickening. Add flour or cornstarch to the soup to thicken it. To do that, just whisk a few tablespoons of cornstarch into a little broth in a separate bowl before whisking it into the main pot. This will help thicken up the entire soup.
Other cheeses to use? Our recipe calls for cheddar cheese and swiss cheese. You could easily swap those out for white cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, jack cheese, or american cheese. All of these options would taste delicious!
Crockpot instructions
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 hour or on low for 4-6 hours, adding cheese 30 minutes before done.
Tips for storing
Regardless of whether you’re putting it in the fridge or freezing, let the soup cool to room temperature before storing.
Fridge. Pour into an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for 3-4 days! Reheat in the microwave or on the stove and serve with some crusty bread. Yum!!
Freezer. Broccoli cheese soup is actually perfect for freezing! Once it has cooled, pour into a freezer safe bag/container. Keep the soup in the freezer for up to 6 months!
You could even make individual servings by pouring into paper/plastic cups, freezing, and removing from the cup after it has frozen. Store the frozen individual servings in a freezer safe bag.
This is definitely the best homemade Broccoli Cheddar Soup I have tried!! Now, I just need to find some super yummy Sourdough Bread bowls and eat this soup with them, and perhaps I’ll feel a little bit like I’m back at California Adventure!
If you love Broccoli & Cheese soup, be sure to check out our Copycat Panera version too!
For more soup recipes, check out:
Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 29 oz chicken broth (2 cans)
- 1 small crown broccoli chopped
- 1/3 cup flour
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 2 cups milk
- 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup grated swiss cheese
Instructions
- Add your chicken broth to a large pot and bring to a simmer. Add chopped broccoli, cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes.
- While chicken broth is cooking, heat milk in microwave for 1-2 minutes. Set aside.
- In a separate pot, melt butter then add flour, salt and pepper. Cook for about 2 minutes on medium heat. Whisk in warmed milk. Cook for another 6-8 minutes until soup starts to thicken.
- Add warmed chicken broth and broccoli to soup mixture and stir until well blended.
- Add cheeses and stir until cheese is completely melted. Serve warm and ENJOY!
Video
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! 😀
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! 😀
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!
The Broccoli Soup sounds delightful. I do have a question: how long do you cook the broccoli?
According to package directions 🙂 Enjoy!
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!
Can this freeze?
I haven’t tried, but I am sure it would be fine 😉
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!
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 one of the best. Its definetly one of the favorites in our family. Its creamy and so yummy!
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!
Love this! So fast and yummy!
I am glad you like it! Thank you for letting me know 🙂
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!!
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.
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!
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.
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!