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BROCCOLI CHEESE SOUP RECIPE: CROCK POT VERSION
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There are about a million and a half broccoli and cheese soup recipes out there. You may be wondering why you need me to tell you how to make broccoli cheese soup. Well, the recipes I’ve seen tend to use flour as a thickener, have a long list of ingredients, or just take a while to prepare. Today I’m sharing my quick and simple version of easy broccoli cheese soup, that you can make in only 20 minutes. And, it happens to be a keto low carb broccoli cheese soup, too!
This easy broccoli cheese soup recipe was originally published back in 2016. But, I have since changed the post so much. I’ve added plenty of tips to help you make the best broccoli cheese soup ever, plus I’ve taken new pictures. Since it has also been possibly the most popular recipe I’ve ever made, I’m sharing it again today.
The beauty of this gluten-free broccoli cheddar soup is that everyone seems to love it, whether they are eating low carb or not. And if you’re just beginning your journey on how to start a low carb diet plan, all the better to try a keto soup that the rest of your family will gladly eat, too.
It also happens to be healthy and perfect for clean eating, but that’s just a bonus.
Simple Broccoli and Cheese Soup
This easy, creamy low carb broccoli cheese soup is probably the easiest recipe you’ll find. It’s also gluten-free, healthy, and can be vegetarian by substituting vegetable broth for the chicken broth. I’ve even made it with bone broth before to incorporate the benefits of that.
You’ll love that it takes just twenty minutes to prepare, so you can totally throw it together at the last minute on a busy weeknight. It’s also an excellent choice as a starter for guests coming over without spending a lot of extra time.
It requires just a few (five!) simple ingredients. Best of all, they are so common that, chances are, you have most of them on hand.
Yep, broccoli and cheese soup with only five ingredients. Are you intrigued? All you need is:
To be fair, this makes a very basic broccoli soup recipe. The ingredients and flavors are not complex.
This is intentional! I wanted to keep it simple so that it’s very accessible to just about anyone.
If you want to change it up, see my tips below on what to add to broccoli cheddar soup.
How To Make Broccoli Cheese Soup
Ready to see how to make broccoli cheese soup without added carbs or weird ingredients? It’s super simple, just a few easy steps:
TIP: The simmer time will vary depending on the size of your florets. Smaller florets = faster simmer time.
TIP: Avoid having the heat too high when adding the cheese or after, to avoid seizing. See more tips about how to make broccoli cheese soup perfectly, without carbs and without clumping, below.
OR, go with my preferred method to avoid clumping altogether…
TIP: The more broccoli you leave in before pureeing, the thicker your broccoli soup will be. The cheese helps thicken your broccoli cheddar soup, but the pureed broccoli florets will, too!
If you’re curious about what my older pictures of homemade broccoli cheese soup looked like, here is one:
This rich broccoli cheese soup is quick and easy with just 5 ingredients!
Customizing Healthy Broccoli Cheese Soup
Once you’ve mastered the basic process, it’s so easy to customize it. Try adding:
The possibilities are endless!
TIP: Go easy on anything that has added salt, like bacon. The broccoli soup is already salty to begin with, due to the cheese and broth.
You’ll also have an easier time with the cheese if you add any other ingredients after the cheese melts first. Otherwise, the cheese might stick to the add-ins and have issues melting.
Alternatively, if your other add-ins need to cook, temporarily remove them with a slotted spoon at the end, melt in the cheese, and then return them to the pot.
How To Thicken Broccoli Cheddar Soup Naturally
Believe it or not, the thickener in this gluten-free broccoli cheese soup is simply cheese. No flour, starches, or artificial thickeners are necessary for this one.
The heavy cream also reduces as it cooks, which helps very slightly with thickening. For this reason, I wouldn’t recommend swapping out the cream with any kind of milk. It will work okay, but the result will be a lot less creamy.
Of course, the cheese does the majority of the work in thickening this broccoli cheddar soup recipe…
When I discovered that shredded cheddar works so well, I honestly wondered why I’ve never seen this before. Yes, it’s a teeny tiny bit thinner than a flour-thickened version, but it’s so much easier. And, it’s better for you, too.
No carbs, no fuss, and still creamy and delicious. That’s a win-win, and makes this top my list when it comes to broccoli and cheese soup recipes.
How To Make Broccoli Cheddar Soup Thicker
The cheese does thicken this broccoli soup well enough for me. And the flavor is just perfect. That being said, I know that some people like a really, really thick broccoli cheddar soup.
If you want to know how to make broccoli cheese soup thicker, what are your options? There are a few ways that you can make this low carb soup thicker, if you want to:
How To Make Broccoli And Cheese Soup 3 Ways
Do you like your broccoli soup super smooth or with chunks of broccoli? You actually have 3 options there:
My 10 month old daughter loved the completely pureed version – quite an impressive feat, considering she’s the pickiest eater you’ve ever seen. That right, there, seals the deal on this broccoli soup. And, it’s why I make it practically every week, all winter long.
So, are you convinced yet? Why not give it a try and make some easy broccoli cheese soup tonight?
Frozen Vs. Fresh Broccoli Cheese Soup
How to make broccoli soup with fresh broccoli? What about frozen broccoli? The answer is you can use either one! The instructions are exactly the same (below).
TIP: The simmer time for the broccoli soup may vary depending on the size of your florets and whether they were fresh or frozen. Frozen broccoli is usually pre-blanched, so it might cook a little quicker once it thaws in the soup (toss it in frozen!), but on the other hand, fresh broccoli doesn’t need to thaw first (obviously).
No matter what kind you use, you’ll know it’s done simmering when the broccoli is soft and tender.
How To Store Broccoli Soup
Low carb broccoli cheese soup stores well in the fridge for about 5 days. You can reheat it on the stove top over low heat.
Sometimes it separates a bit after a while, but usually comes back together after you reheat while stirring frequently. If that doesn’t help, you can also puree it in a blender – this will bring it back together.
Can You Freeze Broccoli Cheese Soup?
Yes, you can freeze this healthy broccoli cheese soup! Simply let it cool to room temperature, then freeze flat in freezer bags or in a freezer safe container.
Thaw it in the fridge completely the night before using. Then, you can cook it over low heat, stirring frequently to prevent curdling.
Is Broccoli Cheese Soup Keto?
Typical broccoli cheese soup is not keto, because it’s often thickened with flour or some kind of starch.
Fortunately, this easy broccoli cheese soup is perfectly keto friendly! But you don’t have to be keto to enjoy it.
How Many Carbs In Broccoli Cheese Soup?
Since most broccoli cheese soup recipes, whether they are homemade or at restaurants, contain starch as a thickener, they are not low carb. For example, Panera broccoli cheese soup has 19g total carbs and 15g net carbs in 1 cup.
In comparison, this low carb broccoli cheese soup recipe has just 4g net carbs and 5g total carbs!
What Goes With Broccoli Cheese Soup?
Need ideas for what to serve with broccoli cheese soup? There are many options, but I find that Italian flavors work very well in particular.
Here are some recipes to add to your meal with broccoli and cheese soup:
Tips For The Best Broccoli Cheese Soup
I’m thrilled that so many of you are making this easy broccoli cheese soup recipe! Along with my bacon wrapped asparagus, low carb cheesecake, and fathead pizza crust, it’s one of the most popular ones on the blog.
That being said, I also want to address any issues some people may be having. I truly want this to be your ultimate go-to broccoli soup recipe. So if you’re having trouble (or even before you start!), read these tips for best results.
For anyone that has problems with clumping during the cheese melting process in their broccoli cheddar soup, I have a few tips!
And if you want a super thick broccoli soup, see the section above on ways to achieve that.
There you have it! As long as you do these things to ensure the cheese melts well, you’ll get the simplest, best broccoli cheese soup ever. 😉
5-Ingredient Low Carb Broccoli Cheese Soup:
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RECIPE CARD
Easy Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe – 5 Ingredients
How to make the best broccoli cheddar soup in 20 minutes! This easy, low carb broccoli cheese soup recipe is healthy, CHEESY, 5 ingredients, & gluten-free.
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- 4 cups Broccoli (cut into florets)
- 4 cloves Garlic (minced)
- 3 1/2 cups Chicken broth (or vegetable broth, or bone broth)
- 1 cup Heavy cream
- 3 cups Cheddar cheese (pre-shredded – see notes)
RECIPE TIPS in the post above! VIDEO + nutrition info + recipe notes below!
Option 1 (original recipe):
Add the shredded cheddar cheese gradually, stirring constantly, and continue to stir until melted. (Add 1/2 cup (64 g), simmer and stir until it melts fully, then repeat 1/2 cup (64 g) at a time until all the cheese is used up.) Make sure to keep it at a very low simmer and avoid high heat, to prevent seizing. Remove from heat immediately once all the cheese melts.
Option 2 (recommended):
Use a slotted spoon to remove about 1/3 of the broccoli pieces and set aside. (This step is optional, if you want some pieces in your soup at the end. If you want all of the soup pureed, you can leave them in.)
Use an immersion blender to puree the remaining broccoli.
Reduce heat to low. Add the shredded cheddar cheese 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly, and continue to stir until melted. Puree again to make it smooth.
Remove from heat. Add the reserved broccoli florets back to the soup.
You’ll Also Like These Keto Low Carb Recipes
Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 cup
Video Showing How To Make Broccoli Cheese Soup:
Click or tap on the image below to play the video. It’s the easiest way to learn how to make Broccoli Cheese Soup!
NUTRITION INFORMATION PER SERVING
Where does nutrition info come from? Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy, sourced from the USDA Food Database. You can find individual ingredient carb counts we use in the Low Carb & Keto Food List. Carb count excludes sugar alcohols. Net carb count excludes both fiber and sugar alcohols, because these do not affect blood sugar in most people. We try to be accurate, but feel free to make your own calculations.
More Low Carb & Keto Support!
If you want to know more about how to start a low carb diet, want to substitute sweeteners, need a food list, or need support, check these guides:
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