Description
A rich, creamy, and comforting broccoli cheddar soup made from scratch in just 30 minutes. This copycat recipe delivers restaurant-quality flavor at home with simple ingredients and customizable options.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 tbsp all-purpose flour (or gluten-free blend)
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
- 1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half)
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, freshly shredded
- 4 cups broccoli florets (fresh or frozen)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Optional: 1/8 tsp nutmeg, 1 cup diced ham, 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Melt butter in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat.
- Add diced onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until translucent. Add minced garlic in the last minute and cook until fragrant.
- Reduce heat to medium-low. Sprinkle flour over the onions and butter, whisking constantly for 2-3 minutes to create a pale golden roux.
- Slowly pour in chicken broth while whisking vigorously to prevent lumps. Bring to a gentle simmer.
- Add broccoli florets and simmer for 8-10 minutes until tender but still bright green.
- Reduce heat to low. Stir in heavy cream and let it warm through for 2 minutes without boiling.
- Season with salt and pepper (go easy on salt as cheese is salty).
- Add shredded cheddar cheese one handful at a time, stirring constantly until fully melted and smooth.
- Turn off heat and serve immediately.
Notes
Shred your own cheese to ensure smooth melting; pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that can cause graininess. Do not boil the soup after adding cheese to prevent separation. If the soup is too thick, add more broth or cream. If too thin, simmer longer or use a cornstarch slurry.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 17
- Carbohydrates: 15
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 18
Keywords: broccoli cheddar soup, panera copycat, comfort food, easy soup, 30 minute meals, creamy soup, winter recipes