Three words: healthy, hearty, and fun! This version of broccoli cheddar soup is sure to be your next go-to meal on a rainy day, or a staple at the dinner table.
It seems like the whole world has a love-hate relationship with broccoli. Not me! I love it, and I have the broccoli recipes to prove it.
My favorite all-time broccoli recipe is probably this healthy beef and broccoli, but this soup is up there, too.
Whichever side of the discussion you’re on, I have good news for you: there is a common ground, and it’s this healthy broccoli cheddar soup!
Its star ingredient is broccoli, which now comes with a well-loved ingredient… sharp cheddar cheese. Because everything's better with cheese, and this soup is no exception!
In This Post You'll Find:
Reasons You'll Love It
- Tons of fiber
- Creamy and delicious
- Fun way to eat your veggies
- Converts broccoli haters
From adding a zing to Keto Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers to balancing out Pesto and Goat Cheese Pizza, cheese can bring any plate to life. This recipe for healthy broccoli cheddar soup joins in on the fun and may even be the key to your stance on broccoli.
Recipe Notes
Other than healthy substitutes, like virgin olive oil and chickpea flour, the other nutritious ingredients that make up this delicious healthy broccoli cheddar soup include:
Broccoli: Like in all cooking, the fresher, the better! But when you don’t have the time to make that grocery run, don’t fret: frozen broccoli is okay. Broccoli has a lot of amazing health benefits, even potentially reducing diabetes and cancer risks. Talk about a superfood!
Cheddar: Grated cheese makes it easier for your soup to come together. And that cheesy flavor is what really brings this healthy soup to life!
Carrots: You will need 2 medium carrots for this recipe, peeled and chopped however you want them (julienned, cubed, minced– your choice!)
Chicken stock: Healthy broccoli soup needs 2-3 cups of chicken stock for a richer flavor.
Potato: One potato will be added to this healthy broccoli soup, to round out the nutritional value of the meal (plus, carbohydrates just make for a heartier meal)
Almond milk or milk of choice: I’m a big fan of unsweetened almond milk because of its lower sugar levels and how it works well with cheese, but you could opt for whatever milk you prefer.
Onion: For the flavors of this healthy broccoli cheddar soup to blossom, you will need 1 medium onion, chopped, as well as salt and pepper.
How To Make Broccoli And Cheddar Soup
Step 1: Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and season with salt and pepper. Saute 5 minutes or until softened.
Step 2: Add carrots and potatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Sauté 2-3 minutes or until slightly softened.
Step 3: Bring soup to a simmer. Cook until potatoes are tender, about 10-15 minutes.
Step 4: Stir in broccoli. Add additional stock to cover, if needed. Simmer 5-8 minutes, or until tender.
Step 5: Using a slotted spoon, scoop out about 2-3 cups of broccoli florets and transfer to a bowl.
Step 6: Puree the remaining soup in a blender or with an immersion blender until smooth. Return to pot.
Step 7: Stir in broccoli florets. Stir in cheese until melted.
Broccoli Cheddar Soup Goes Well With:
- Bread: Great soup can be eaten on its own, but I love pairing it with other food, most especially with homemade croutons or whole-grain bread.
- Chicken: Try pairing your broccoli soup with chicken. There are many healthy chicken to pair, namely healthy oven roasted chicken, slow cooker shredded chicken and healthy chicken nuggets (a big help to the picky eaters!).
How To Store Healthy Broccoli Cheddar Soup?
Healthy broccoli cheddar soup can be stored in the refrigerator or the freezer. For storage, make sure you pour your soup in an airtight container. It can stay in your fridge for 3-4 days.
If you want your soup to last longer (because sometimes we save our heartiest soups for rainy days), then opt to store it in your freezer. You can place them in zip bags or containers that can withstand the temperatures of a freezer. To reheat, make sure you thaw the block of soup first.
By doing these, you’re making your healthy broccoli cheddar soup meal-prep friendly. Yay!
More Tasty Soups And Stews
- Sweet Potato Soup
- Kale Soup | With Potato And Cannellini Beans
- Low Carb Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup
- Easy Cream Of Broccoli Soup
Healthy Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Equipment
- Stock Pot or Large Deep Skillet
- Food Processor (Or blender)
*This post may contain affiliate links for products I use often and highly recommend.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
- 1 medium potato, chopped
- ¼ cup chickpea flour
- 2 cups almond milk or milk of choice
- 2-3 cups low sodium chicken broth, as needed
- 1 lb broccoli (1-2 heads), crown cut into small florets, stem peeld, chopped into ½ inch pieces
- ¾ cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat.
- Add onion and season with salt and pepper. Saute 5 minutes or until softened.
- Add carrots and potatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Sauté 2-3 minutes or until slightly softened.
- Bring soup to a simmer. Cook until potatoes are tender, about 10-15 minutes.
- Stir in broccoli. Add additional stock to cover, if needed. Simmer 5-8 minutes, or until tender.
- Using a slotted spoon, scoop out about 2-3 cups of broccoli florets and transfer to a bowl.
- Puree remaining soup in a blender or with an immersion blender until smooth.
- Return to pot. Stir in broccoli florets, salt, and pepper.
- Stir in cheese until melted.
- Add additional stock to thin soup, if desired.
Nutrition
How Is This Broccoli Cheddar Soup Healthy?
Broccoli Cheddar Soup is often extra high in fat and processed carbs, using butter and all-purpose flour to thicken the mixture.
In this recipe, we are skipping those ingredients and replacing them with cleaner alternatives, such as using the carrot and potato to thicken the soup, rather than flour.
Aside from that, I've also replaced any all-purpose flour with chickpea flour, which is low in carbs and high in antioxidants and fiber. Plus, it also has more protein and can keep you full for much, much longer.
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