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Thick and creamy broccoli cheddar potato soup is packed with veggies and flavor for a hearty favorite in under an hour!
A Family Favorite Soup
Soups are an obsession in our house! We make them so often you could practically call it a hobby. One we make A LOT is this creamy broccoli cheddar potato soup.
This hearty variation is similar to our classic Broccoli Cheese Soup but with the addition of bacon and potatoes making it even more amazing!
It’s so hearty (packed with veggies) and full of flavor. This soup ends up pretty thick making it almost a chowder. It can be made soupier by adding more broth or milk, which is how we prefer it. Either way, we know you’ll LOVE it!
Rolls or French Bread are perfect for enjoying with your hearty soup.
WHY WE LOVE IT:
- Packed with veggies. This easy soup is not only delicious and filling it is packed full of vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and Iron.
- So creamy. Velvety and delicious, this soup is thick and creamy – a stick-to-your-bones kind of dish.
- Great for weeknights! From start to finish, this is on the table in under an hour, perfect for any night.
Ingredients
PREP TIME: 15 minutes
COOK TIME: 30 minutes
- 2 (14.5-ounce) cans low-sodium chicken broth – or chicken stock or vegetable broth
- 4 medium potatoes peeled and cubed – We used Russet potatoes but Yukon Golds work as well. See Types of Potatoes and When to Use Them for more info.
- 2-3 large carrots diced – Peel and dice into coins.
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 small heads broccoli diced small – or thaw frozen broccoli. Two small heads produce about 4-5 cups of florets.
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter – or use bacon grease
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour – see How to Make a Roux
- 3½ cups milk plus more as needed – We use whole milk or 2% milk. For a creamier soup use heavy cream of half and half. For a thinner soup, lower-fat milk can be used.
- 4 cups shredded cheddar cheese plus more for topping (optional) – use mild or sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic pepper
- 6 slices bacon cooked and chopped – Use turkey bacon or even omit the bacon. See Bacon in the Oven.
How To Make Broccoli Potato Cheddar Soup
- SIMMER. In a large pot, add 2 cans of chicken broth, 4 cubed potatoes, 2-3 diced carrots, and 1 teaspoon of onion powder, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer for about 10 minutes.
- Add 2 small heads of broccoli florets, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes. The vegetables should be fork-tender.
- THICKEN. While that’s simmering, melt 3 tablespoons butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk in ⅓ cup flour and cook for another minute, until golden brown. Whisk in 3 ½ cups milk, turn the heat to medium, and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes, or until the sauce thickens.
- Use a fork or immersion blender to mash up some of the potatoes, making the soup even creamier.
- SEASON. Add 4 cups shredded cheese and stir until it is all melted. Add 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon garlic pepper. Pour cheese sauce into the soup pot and stir until well combined.
- SERVE. Add more milk for a thinner consistency and add any additional salt and pepper needed. Top with 6 sliced cooked crumbed bacon and extra cheese (if desired) and you’ll be in heaven!
Broccoli Cheddar Potato Soup
Ingredients
- 2 (14.5-ounce) cans low-sodium chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
- 4 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 2-3 large carrots, diced
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 small heads 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
Instructions
- In a large pot, add broth, potatoes, carrots, and onion powder and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low.
- Cover and simmer for about 10 minutes.
- 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.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Store leftover potato soup recipe in airtight containers for 3-4 days or heavy-duty freezer bags for up to 1 month. To cook, let the soup thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Reheat the soup carefully over low to medium heat, whisking frequently and stirring well.
Recipe adapted from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe.
Going to make this, it sounds wonderful. Home made soup is so much more tasty.
Absolutely love this recipe. Perfect anytime but fabulous in the cooler months. It has a little of everything! Filling and loaded with flavor.
Great flavor and easy to make!
Can I use heavy cream instead of milk?
I haven’t made too many soups before, well not creamy soups anyway, but this one turned out really good! My kids went back for more! I will definitely be making this again! I did end up adding a bit more cheese.
Very good for cold days ahead.
Absolutely one of our favorite soups. My 80ish mother-in-law who is a great soup maker says this is the best soup she’s ever had. Now she thinks I’m a pretty good cook!
This cooked up wonderfully!! Great for a cold night!!
Definitely will make again !!!
Making it now and it smells delicious! Just wondering what garlic pepper is? I used garlic and pepper but wasn’t sure if there was a different spice I wasn’t aware of! Thx for the recipe
It’s a good soup but the prep time was much longer than 10 minutes which I knew before I made it. Who can peel and cube potatoes & carrots and brown and crumble 6 bacon strips and trim 2 heads of broccoli all in 10 minutes? I’ve been preparing meals for my family for 45 years. To say it’s 10 minute prep time isn’t fair to those Mom’s looking for a quick meal. The soup was delicious but it took an hour to prepare.