Homemade Cream of Broccoli Soup

Cream of Broccoli soup with cheddar! Ultimate creaminess with butter, milk and condensed mushroom soup in the base. Loaded with broccoli and seasoned with onions for a one-pot hearty and healthy meal.
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Homemade Cream of Broccoli Soup is loaded with broccoli, and made simple, using mushroom soup, milk, and chicken broth as a creamy base. Flavored with onions which have been sautéed in butter and then topped with cheddar cheese to serve. Broccoli soup is a quick and healthy flavor favorite any time of year for lunch, or as a first course or side dish!

Homemade Cream of broccoli soup with cheddar cheese on a wood cutting board.

Homemade Cream of Broccoli Soup, my OG😉

If you read the little write up About Me you will have read what I could cook when I got married. Yes, I could pretty much cook broccoli soup and not much else! When my husband was dating me, he would often come over to visit at my parents place. Since my family would have already eaten supper, I would make broccoli soup for him…You may wonder why only broccoli soup? Well, at this time my parents were big into healthy eating and vegetarianism. So, there weren’t any steak and potato options around. 🤔

History of Broccoli Soup

Broccoli is native to the Mediterranean. It has existed since the Roman Empire. Broccoli was actually engineered from a cabbage relative by an ancient Italian civilization. This vegetable flower has been a very important food to Italians since the Roman Empire. When it was first introduced in England, Broccoli was called “Italian Asparagus”. Italian immigrants brought this delicious vegetable over to America in the early 1920s. This is when it began to be popular in the U.S. Broccoli soup began to be mass produced by the Campbell Soup Company in 1990. Broccoli Cheese soup has been traced back to French Cuisine. It was not until the 19th Century era that cream soup became a part of classic French Cuisine. This was the era of “rich” eating when cream soups were concocted.

broccoli in a white bowl

The worst experience we ever had with broccoli soup was when we first bought our Vitamix. In the cookbook that came with it, there was a recipe for Broccoli Soup. I thought “Great, we love Broccoli Soup!” Plus, the recipe looked so easy. Well, I quickly blended up the soup. I did put a bit more onion than it had called for. (It used to call for 1/4 cup onion…) Thinking, “I usually put way more onion in than this…” Well, I blended and blended and blended some more! This Vitamix was supposed to cook the soup, getting hotter the longer it ran! Well, let me tell you, it did NOT cook! My family reminds me of this “worst soup ever” “raw broccoli and onion soup” almost every time we eat broccoli soup.

😂

One Pot Recipe!

I make cream of broccoli soup recipe in only one pan. Sauté the onions in the butter, then add the flour, milk, water and condensed soup. Once that has thickened, add the broccoli, pop a lid on the pot and simmer for a bit until the broccoli is cooked. Remove the lid and blend your cream of broccoli soup with an immersion blender, or you can blend it in a blender if you don’t have an immersion blender. Sprinkle generously with cheddar cheese to serve, using as much or as little as you prefer!

For Broccoli cheddar soup, there are only 8 ingredients and it takes just 30 minutes from start to finish! Using the condensed creamy soup and milk with the chicken broth, ensures a creamy, flavorful base for the broccoli! Homemade soup is so much tastier, plus cheaper and healthier than any of the store bought versions, there is just no comparison!

Why You Will Love This Broccoli Soup Recipe!

  • Super quick meal!
  • Healthy and hearty lunch or dinner!
  • Has easy to find ingredients.
  • Tastes amazing!
  • Comfort food at its best!

Is Broccoli Soup a Side Dish Only?

You can serve cream of broccoli soup as only a side dish if you wish. Whenever I make this Cheddar covered Broccoli Soup, it is the star of the show. It can be accompanied by many different recipes! This homemade cream of broccoli soup is hearty enough as a stand alone lunch and this is how I most often serve it. With accompaniments of course.

What to Serve With Broccoli Soup Recipe?

Ingredients

  • Butter: To start cooking the onions. I use salted, but either will do, as you add salt and pepper according to your taste before serving cream of broccoli soup.
  • Onions: Add extra flavor, you could also add a couple of garlic cloves if you like.
  • Flour, to thicken the milk soup base.
  • Milk: For the creamy base.
  • Water
  • Chicken bouillon Powder: Tasty addition. Or you can use premade chicken broth, either homemade or store bought and leave the water out.
  • Broccoli: I use an entire 2 lb. bag. You can also use broccoli heads and use the stems as well. Just peel the stems and cut into bite sized pieces. This totally works since you will blend the broccoli soup anyways!
  • Salt: Just to taste.
  • Pepper: Just to taste
  • Campbells Mushroom Soup: Or any type of creamy condensed soup you like. This thickens the soup and adds even more creaminess.
  • Cheddar Cheese: Sprinkle on top when serving. I prefer old or sharp cheddar for the best flavor, but any type of melting cheese will be fine.

How to Make Homemade Cream of Broccoli Soup

1. In a large saucepan, sauté onions in the butter until tender.

Melted butter, onions and garlic being sauteed in a large saucepan.

2. Add the flour and stir, then add the milk and water. Cook until thickened, stirring often.

Cream of mushroom soup in a large saucepan.

3. Add the chicken bouillon, cream of mushroom soup, salt, pepper and broccoli.

Blending up the broccoli cheddar soup with a hand blender.

4. Cover and cook for about 15-20 minutes with the lid on. Then blend with an immersion blender as smooth or chunky as you like.

homemade cream of broccoli soup simmering in pan.

5. To serve, garnish with cheddar cheese.

Homemade cream of broccoli soup

    This simple Homemade Broccoli Soup uses very simple and easy to find ingredients. The rich creaminess of this soup makes it a true comfort food. This broccoli soup is loaded with vitamins and minerals! It’s also low in calories, fat and carbs. After doing the nutritional analysis of this recipe, I realize that we all should be eating this delicious, nutritious soup recipe much more often!!

    Variations for Homemade Cream of Broccoli Soup Recipe

    • Can add garlic and sauté with the onions.
    • Cauliflower makes a milder soup and delicious version.
    • You can add carrots or other vegetables, but then you have a Cream of Veggie soup instead of Cream of Broccoli.
    • One stalk of chopped celery added and sautéed with the onions is a tasty option.
    • Chives, chopped small, can be added as a garnish.
    • For a richer version, use heavy cream instead of the milk.

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    Homemade Cream of Broccoli Soup

    Cream of Broccoli Soup is loaded with broccoli, and made simple, using mushroom soup, milk, and chicken broth as a creamy base. Flavored with onions which have been sautéed in butter and then topped with cheddar cheese to serve. Broccoli soup is a quick and healthy flavor favorite any time of year for lunch, or as a side dish!

    Prep Time9 minsCook Time20 minsTotal Time29 minsDifficulty:BeginnerServings:5Calories:180Best Season:Suitable throughout the year

    Ingredients

    Instructions

    How to Make Homemade Cream of Broccoli Soup

    1. In a large saucepan, sauté onions in the butter until tender.

      20221001 102915 Scaled
    2. Add the flour and stir, then add the milk and water. Cook until thickened, stirring often.

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    3. Add the chicken bouillon, cream of mushroom soup, salt, pepper and broccoli.

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    4. Cover and cook for about 15-20 minutes with the lid on. Then blend with an immersion blender as smooth or chunky as you like.

      20220517 114818 2 Scaled
    5. To serve, garnish with cheddar cheese.

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    Nutrition Facts

    Servings 5


    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 180kcal
    Calories from Fat 79kcal
    % Daily Value *
    Total Fat 8.8g14%
    Saturated Fat 4.8g24%
    Cholesterol 21mg8%
    Sodium 150mg7%
    Potassium 599mg18%
    Total Carbohydrate 17g6%
    Dietary Fiber 5.39g22%
    Sugars 9g
    Protein 11.18g23%

    Vitamin A 218 IU
    Vitamin C 51 mg
    Calcium 37 mg
    Iron 23 mg
    Vitamin E 21 IU
    Vitamin K 452 mcg
    Thiamin 36 mg
    Riboflavin 47 mg
    Niacin 18.98 mg
    Vitamin B6 31 mg
    Folate 43 mcg
    Vitamin B12 28 mcg
    Pantothenic Acid 27 mg
    Phosphorus 38 mg
    Magnesium 19 mmol
    Zinc 26 mcg
    Selenium 16 mg
    Copper 18 mg
    Manganese 43 mg

    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

    Note

    • Use sharp cheddar for the strongest cheese flavor.
    • If you prefer a different type of cheese to garnish your broccoli soup, that's totally fine, as long as it's a melt able cheese.
    • Can use fresh or frozen broccoli for this cream of broccoli soup recipe. Frozen may take a little longer to cook,
    • For a creamier texture in your soup, use a blender.
    • Can be frozen!

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Expand All:
    How long is Homemade Cream of Broccoli Soup good for?

    Homemade Cream of Broccoli Soup will last in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Or, you can freeze it in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

    How do you reheat leftover Cream of Broccoli Soup?

    You can reheat the soup in a pot on the stove. Use low heat and stir often.

    Or you can microwave the leftover Cream of Broccoli Soup in short increments of time, stirring often.

    Do you have to cook the broccoli before making Homemade Cream of Broccoli Soup?

    No, the broccoli will cook after you add it to the liquid ingredients. It actually only takes about 20 minutes of simmering until fully cooked.

    Why is Homemade Cream of Broccoli Soup good for you?

    This soup has very few calories and a huge amount of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Using milk and water instead of cream cuts the fat and calories down to a very healthy amount.

    What is the best type of cheese to garnish Homemade Cream of Broccoli Soup with?

    I prefer sharp cheddar because of its mighty flavor punch with less calories. Plus it melts into the soup very nicely:-)

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    Rebekah Callahan

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