This broccoli cheese soup recipe is comfort food in a bowl and tastes just like Panera!
One of my favorite soups to order at Panera is the Broccoli Cheese Soup.
There’s just nothing like a big steamy thick and creamy bowl of soup especially in a bread bowl!
Today I’m sharing my recipe for homemade broccoli and cheese soup made in the dutch oven.
Serve with baguettes for a hearty and delicious dinner that feels like a hug in a bowl!
It’s one of my favorite vegetarian soups, along with my homemade creamy vegetable soup.
What is broccoli cheese soup made of?
- butter
- flour
- fresh garlic and onion
- milk
- heavy cream
- vegetable broth
- finely chopped broccoli florets
- sharp cheddar cheese
- salt
How to make broccoli cheddar soup
Step 1: Melt the butter over medium heat in a dutch oven or large sauce pan. Add the onions and cook until softened.
Add the garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes, until fragrant. You want those onions to be nice and caramelized.
Step 2: Add the flour and stir constantly until it starts to brown, around 3-5 minutes.
Step 3: Pour in the milk, vegetable broth, and heavy cream, stirring constantly, until smooth, around 15 minutes or so.
Step 4: Add the finely diced broccoli florets and simmer for 15 minutes, until tender.
Step 5: Turn the heat down and stir in the fresh grated cheddar cheese.
Stir the broccoli cheese soup until the cheese is completely melted and creamy, around 5 minutes or so.
Do not skip the step of grating the cheese yourself!
This is so much more flavorful and rich than adding store bought grated cheddar cheese.
Once your soup is done, add salt to taste and serve immediately.
This soup is so thick, ultra creamy, and so flavorful.
I crave nourishing warm soups on cold days or whenever I’m not feeling well.
This better than panera broccoli cheese soup is a favorite in our house!
We love serving it with rolls or baguettes for dipping.
This would also be delicious in a homemade bread bowl!
For best success, I recommend chopping up and preparing the ingredients before you get started making the soup.
This will make the process easier and faster when it’s time to add the ingredients.
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Can I use frozen broccoli?
I would not recommend frozen broccoli in this recipe as it would end up mushy and watery.
Fresh broccoli is key to making delicious broccoli and cheddar soup.
Can you freeze broccoli cheese soup?
While you may be able to, I can’t recommend it and I have not tried it.
Most soups containing cream can separate or become grainy if frozen then reheated.
This soup is best fresh or refrigerated for up to 3 days.
You have to try this copycat better than panera broccoli cheese soup!
It’s sure to be a family dinner favorite.
Broccoli Cheese Soup
Ingredients
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ yellow onion finely diced
- 8 cloves garlic minced
- 1 ¼ cups whole milk
- 32 oz vegetable broth
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- 2 ½ cups finely chopped broccoli florets around 1 ½ heads
- 8 oz sharp cheddar cheese freshly grated
- ¾ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Melt the butter over medium heat in a dutch oven
- Add the onions and cook until softened
- Add the garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes, until fragrant
- Add the flour and stir constantly until it starts to brown (3-5 minutes)
- Pour in the milk, vegetable broth, and heavy cream, stirring constantly, until smooth (13-15 minutes)
- Add the broccoli and simmer for 15 minutes, until tender
- Turn the heat down and stir in the fresh grated cheddar cheese into the broccoli cheese soup
- Stir until the cheese is completely melted (around 5 minutes)
- Salt to taste before serving
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Debbie
Monday 9th of October 2023
This recipe was excellent! We have a new grandbaby at our house, so lots and lots of guests for dinner we made the soup sat around the fire pit with garlic bread, and it was the absolute best dinner! Warm, comfort, food! Thank you so much, Joy
Joy Shull
Friday 13th of October 2023
So glad your sweet family enjoyed the recipe!
Trish
Sunday 19th of February 2023
Absolutely delicious!!! Served in homemade sourdough bread bowls and I felt I was sitting right there at Panera - except at home by a fire. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. It is going into my special recipes book. :0-)
Joy Shull
Tuesday 21st of February 2023
So glad you enjoyed the recipe Trish!