It's no secret I love soup. Doesn't matter what time of year it is, I will eat it! When Christine and I were planning a way to surprise Katie (she's having her first baby next month!), all I could think of was broccoli. I know Katie loves broccoli…I was thinking about doing a quiche but when I thought of combining broccoli and cheese…I thought of Panera. I love Panera Bread's broccoli cheddar soup and thought maybe, maybe just maybe I can make a quick version of their soup.
Chop the broccoli into florets. I like big pieces of broccoli in my soup but if you like them smaller, feel free to chop them even smaller.
Prep the onions and the carrots.
I cook the onions and carrots in the melted butter.
After bringing the cream and broth to a boil…add potato flakes. This is my secret ingredients for soups lately. Love love this trick. It thickens it just a little bit and gives it a nice full flavor. Then, add the broccoli and the cheese.
And it's pretty darn close and so good! Serve with some bread or a salad and it's the perfect, quick and easy soup for busy families!
Recipe
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Easy Broccoli Cheddar Cheese Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup 1/2 stick unsalted butter
- 1/2 small onion, diced small (about 1/2 cup)
- 2 carrots, peeled and diced small (about 1/2 cup)
- salt & pepper
- 1 quart plus 1 can, 14.5 ounce chicken or vegetable broth
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1/4 cup instant potato flakes
- 3 to 4 heads of broccoli, cut into florets
- 3 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese, plus more for topping
Instructions
- Melt butter in a large French oven over medium heat. Add carrots and onion and cook for 4 minutes. Add salt and pepper.
- Add chicken broth and heavy cream. Bring to a boil and allow to boil for 5 minutes.
- Add potato flakes and stir. Simmer for about 3 minutes.
- Add broccoli and cheese and return heat to medium and cook for another 10 minutes minutes. Season salt and pepper to taste. Serve topped with cheese.
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And look at all of these wonderful recipes from a bunch of Katie's friends! Please stop by these wonderful blogs, Katie's other friends who are celebrating the impending arrival of Katie's first child! Love, love that everyone came together to make this a special day for Katie.
To Katie: I hope this was a surprise! Congrats to you! 🙂
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Jennifer says
Making this now!
Nellie says
This soup looks delicious. I have just one question. Do you know if this soup freezes well, after it has been cooked?
Julie Deily says
Hi Nellie!
I actually freeze this soup and reheat it and eat it! It tastes just fine after freezing and reheating but the consistency is definitely not the same as it was when it was fresh. If you’re okay with it, I would try it!
Nellie says
Thank you 🙂
Christine from Cook the Story says
broccoli cheddar is an all-time favorite! Pinned and shared, Julie!
Meghan says
Julie, this looks incredible! I’m just looking through all your recent posts & I always love your photos, but they’re looking beyond!! This soup is the perfect recipe to get through the last of the cold weather! Can’t wait to try it!
Brenda @ a farmgirl's dabbles says
Thank you so much for all you did to organize this virtual baby shower for Katie!! And this soup…I must try it. I’ve never cooked with potato flakes before, you have me curious!
Dianna says
This looks great! I love a rich, cheesy soup… and one as easy as this? Even better!
Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love. says
Broccoli Cheddar soup is one of my favorites!
Christina @ Sweet Pea's Kitchen says
I love, love, love Broccoli Cheese Soup! This recipe looks so super easy! Pinned! 🙂
Jocelyn @BruCrew Life says
I love Panera’s broccoli cheese soup. What an awesome and easy version! Thank you so much for coordinating this fun baby shower for Katie and for asking me to be a part!!!
Melissa says
My Grandma’s favorite soup was broccoli-cheddar but I’ve never learned to make it. I always thought the recipe would be much harder. Thank you Julie- this looks delicious 🙂
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
I love soup too, this looks so good!
Madeleine Dewan says
Chili, cheddar cheese soup, and white clam chowder are my favorite soups. This recipe is stellar.
Julie says
Can you replace the broccoli with cauliflower?? Both would be so good!!
Julie Deily says
Hi Julie,
I bet you could and it would be awesome! I think I might try it with both broccoli and cauliflower next time! 🙂
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction says
Love broccoli and cheese soup and this super easy variation sounds amazing!
Caroline @ chocolate & carrots says
So cheesy, I love it! Thank you for organizing this baby shower for Katie! 🙂
Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking says
Julie, this soup looks SO scrumptious right now! I love how creamy and cheesy it is, but still so smooth. A must try in my kitchen!
Joanne says
What I wouldn’t give for a big bowl of this cheesy deliciousness!
Medeja says
This soup look so creamy..so warming 🙂
Sharon ~ Life After Empty Nest says
This looks amazing! I love soup! “Pinning” to make next week.
Thanks for organizing this virtual baby shower!
So much fun!!
xoxo
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says
I love broccoli cheddar soup! And how easy this looks. Yum!
Sarah @ Sarah Cooks the Books says
Love, love, love broccoli cheese soup. This looks great!
Kelly of Simply Kelly Designs says
This looks delicious! Thanks for organizing the virtual baby shower!
Aggie says
Soup is a new moms best friend!!! This looks wonderful, I wish I had some right now. Thank you for hosting!
Amanda says
This looks so yummy. Potato flakes is such a genius idea!
Katie says
Oh Julie–I love this recipe. I can eat soup year round too! How did you know I’ve been eating Panera’s broccoli and cheese soup up like a mad lady for the past 9 months! Happy coincidence! 🙂 Thank you for helping organize the surprise shower. What a lovely surprise to wake up to this morning! 🙂
Robin @ Simply Southern Baking says
What a great recipe Julie. I love making easy soups. I enjoyed taking part in this surprise for Katie. 🙂
Christine (Cook the Story) says
This soup looks and sounds FANTASTIC. Love how easy it is. And the potato flakes? Brilliant! Thanks so much for organizing Katie’s shower with me. I learned lots from you (as always!) and had such fun.
Tieghan says
Broccoli cheese soup is on of my favorites! This looks so good!
Congrats to Katie! What a fun shower!
Marjory @ Dinner-Mom says
I always order this when it’s on the menu…looking forward to making this delish version at home! Thanks so much for coordinating the shower!
Samantha says
I love this soup. It is a must when eating at Panera! I make a pretty good homemade version as well! Thanks to you and Christine for hosting and organizing this awesome surprise for Katie and Jon!
Liz @ The Lemon Bowl says
Thank you so much for coordinating this fun shower!!! You are the best!
Jenny @ BAKE says
I love broccoli and cheese soups, I can’t wait to try this recipe!
Wanda @MySweetZepol says
Julie, I love Broccoli Cheddar Cheese Soup and always wanted to try it, but was intimidated. You have shown me how easy it really is to make, Thanks, I will definitely make this for a week night. Like tonight.
Claire @ A Little Claireification says
This looks delicious, Katie! I LOVE the idea of adding a few potato flakes – that is perfect. I had fun being a part of this fun surprise for Katie! Pinning this now! xo
leslie says
Ohhh I love Paneras Broccoli Cheese soup!!! I’m going to have to give this a whirl!