Healthy Broccoli Cheddar Soup
This healthy broccoli cheddar soup is so good you’ll never miss the flour and heavy cream. Made from a few simple ingredients, this soup is the perfect way to warm up on a chilly night. Creamy, light and flavorful, this will be your favorite way to enjoy broccoli cheddar soup from now on. This soup is the perfect meal prep item through a busy week, or as a healthy and filling dinner option.
About this Healthy Broccoli Cheddar Soup Recipe
For this soup recipe, I boiled fresh cauliflower and pureed it in the food processor. This creamy cauliflower acts as the flour and heavy cream in this recipe. It binds the soup together, while making it creamy and delicious. Plus, you do not even taste the cauliflower. It’s the perfect way to thicken this soup, add nutrients, and keep it on the lighter side.
Serve this soup with a side of crusty bread, cornbread or crackers. This recipe makes 6 servings. Please see below for the nutritional information.
Healthy Broccoli Cheddar Soup Ingredients
Butter – For this recipe, I used salted butter. You could substitute olive oil if you’re dairy free. However, the butter adds a lot of flavor.
Onion – Use yellow or white onion for this recipe. Dice it into small even sized pieces.
Broccoli – Wash and dry the broccoli, then cut it into small pieces. You can use the stem if you want or remove it. Either way is fine. Be sure that you have 3 cups of chopped broccoli when you’re done. You’ll also want the broccoli to be the same size. This way it will cook evenly in the pan.
Shredded Carrots – Use shredded carrots for this recipe. Roughly chop the carrots before adding them to the pan. This way you’ll have small, easy to eat pieces versus long matchsticks.
Bone Broth – Use chicken flavored bone broth for this recipe. You can also use chicken or veggie broth too.
2% Milk – For this recipe, I used 2% milk. You could use whole milk but the 2% milk works perfectly. If you’re dairy free you can try a dairy free alternative.
Cauliflower – boil a pot of water and cook the cauliflower until it is fork tender. Drain off the water and add the softened cauliflower to the food processor. Buzz the cauliflower until it is smooth and creamy. Lump free.
Shredded Mild Cheddar Cheese – I like using mild shredded cheddar cheese for this recipe. It melts quickly and adds the perfect amount of cheese flavor.
Seasonings – Simple salt and black pepper are perfect for this soup. It enhances the flavor without taking away from the broccoli and cheddar.
Storage
Store any leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for three to four days. Reheat soup in the microwave until heated through. Option to reheat this soup in a soup pot on the stovetop as well. If it is too thick, simply add a small amount of chicken broth or water to help loosen it.
Looking for more soup recipes?
- Creamy Onion Soup – dairy free
- Creamy Vegetable Soup – vegan
- Creamy White Chicken Chili
Healthyish Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 1.5 cups yellow onion, diced
- 1.5 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 3 cups broccoli florets , diced small
- 1 cup shredded carrots, roughly chopped
- 2.5 cup chicken bone broth
- 1 cup 2% milk
- 24 ounces cauliflower florets, boiled, drained and pureed
- 2.5 cups mild shredded cheddar cheese
Equipment
- pot to boil cauliflower
- colander
- 3.5 quart soup pot
Instructions
- Boil a pot or water and cook the cauliflower florets until fork tender.
- Drain off the water and add the fork tender cauliflower to a food processor. Buzz until smooth and creamy, no lumps. Set aside.
- In a 3.5-quart soup pot over medium heat, add the butter, onions, salt and pepper.
- Once the onions are translucent, add the chopped broccoli and carrots. Simmer for a few minutes.
- Once the broccoli and carrots are soft but not browned, add the bone broth and milk. Stir well.
- Next add the cauliflower puree and simmer.
- Finally, you’ll add the cheese. Stir until the cheese is fully melted and the soup reaches your preferred thickness. If it gets too tight, add some broth to loosen it.
- Serve hot with bread or crackers.
7 Comments on “Healthy Broccoli Cheddar Soup”
Can you freeze this soup?
My only concern is that since this recipe does not have cream, it might make the soup more watery when it thaws out. However, yes, technically you can.
Made this for dinner tonight and it was soo good! You would never know it was cauliflower making the soup that creamy. Exactly what we needed on this cold fall night. I did add 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder and 1/2 teaspoon paprika for a little spice but besides that I followed the recipe as is and it was a hit! Can’t wait to make again.
Can I purée broccoli instead of cauliflower?
I would use the cauliflower. It acts as a binder for the soup. Not confident that you’d get the same result with broccoli.
We made this tonight! Was quite delicious! I did have to make some minor changes. We have not been drinking milk. I used almond milk and half a cup of heavy cream. Because I didn’t have carrots, I used celery. Also, because it was already made, I threw in a couple pieces of bacon! It was a great way to use up last nights mashed cauliflower! My husband said this is FOR SURE a make again!!
This soup is the BOMB! I can’t get over how thick and rich it is without the aid of flour or heavy cream. A definite keeper. Thank u for Sharing