Frozen Vs Fresh Broccoli Cheese Soup
How to make broccoli soup with fresh broccoli? What about frozen broccoli? The answer is you can use either one! The instructions are exactly the same .
TIP: The simmer time for the broccoli soup may vary depending on the size of your florets and whether they were fresh or frozen. Frozen broccoli is usually pre-blanched, so it might cook a little quicker once it thaws in the soup , but on the other hand, fresh broccoli doesnt need to thaw first .
No matter what kind you use, youll know its done simmering when the broccoli is soft and tender.
Vegetarian Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Paneras broccoli cheddar soup used to be one of my favorite indulgences when eating out. When I was vegetarian, I was surprised to learn that it contained chicken broth! Later on, I also learned that it contained gluten. What a bummer!
Well luckily, I also learned that I could make it myself. This version is both vegetarian and gluten free, and as an added bonus, much lighter on your wallet. Come along as I make this vegetarian broccoli cheddar soup!
Its super easy to make this vegetarian broccoli cheddar soup. All you have to do is chop up some broccoli, carrots and onions. A finer chop will yield a soup that is more like the Panera version. If you prefer a chunkier soup, you can do more of a rough chop.
This recipe will yield a large pot of soup, so be sure to use a fairly sizable pot or dutch oven. Start by melting some butter in your pot and adding in your onions. Allow them to soften for a few minutes, then add in your other veggies and cook for a few minutes more.
Next youll want to add in your vegetable broth and half and half. Simmer for 15-20 minutes, or longer if you have the time. The longer you let it simmer, the better it will taste. Be sure not to let it boil or the half and half will begin to curdle.
Towards the end, you will want to taste test the broccoli to ensure it is cooked to your liking. Then add in your sharp cheddar cheese and coconut flour.
Pro Tips And Recipe Notes
- I recommend aged cheddar cheese that you grate yourself. Just give it a quick spin in the food processor. Zip, zip and its done. The pre-grated type that comes in a zip lock bag contains preservatives meant to keep the shreds from clumping together in the bag. It doesnt melt quite as well.
- I love the delicate flavor of this soup. There are a few add-ins you could go with. Cinnamon would be very nice with this soup. If you like some spiciness, a pinch of cayenne pepper will do the trick. Or you could add chopped bacon, bite-size cooked chicken or turkey, or cooked, diced potatoes . Its up to you.
- Have a cup on its own or pair it with this these amazing slow cooker pork chops, mouthwatering chicken and peppers, crispy salmon cakes, or perfect pan-seared steaks.
- To save leftover soup, let it cool and store it in an airtight jar. It will keep for three days in the fridge.
This cozy soup is like a warm hug. Make it today and relax. Everything is going to be all right.
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Ingredients In This Broccoli Cheddar Soup Recipe
Broccoli cheddar soup is infamous for being a deliciously thick soup. And with these ingredients, you get just that! Heres everything youll need to bring it to life.
- Avocado Oil: First up, 2 tbsp of avocado oil will be used to sauté the onion.
- Onion: Use 1 whole yellow onion diced into small pieces.
- Garlic: 2 cloves of minced garlic will be used to add the flavor that we all love! Yes, it totally makes this soup that much better.
- Flour: 1/4 cup of gluten free flour is used for texture and consistency.
- Stock: 4 cups of chicken stock serves as the liquid component of broccoli soup.
- Carrots: Shred 2 large carrots to add extra flavor and texture!
- Broccoli: Now for the star of the show! Use 5 heaping cups of broccoli chopped into small pieces. It should use about 2 small heads of broccoli.
- Salt & Pepper: Use 1 tsp of salt and pepper, each.
- Nutmeg: Include 1/2 tsp of nutmeg for extra flavor.
- Milk: 1 cup of milk works to thicken the soup.
- Cheese: Dont forget the cheese! Add 2 cups of shredded cheddar. I like to grab the blocks and shred them myself, but pre-shredded works just as well!
- Arrowroot Powder: 2 tbsp of arrowroot powder will be used to thicken the recipe. You can substitute with cornstarch if needed!
- Milk: Finally, well be mixing the powder with an additional 1 tbsp of milk to create the right texture.
Gluten Free Broccoli Cheddar Soup Panera Bread Copycat
by Jamie
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I think Gluten Free Broccoli Cheddar Soup is something people cant get enough of. The one from Panera Bread is probably the one people probably think of most. Paneras is not gluten free but making a copycat version at home is easy and affordable. This recipe makes a full pot of creamy soup for a fraction of the cost that Panera charges.
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More Gluten Free Soups
Gluten Free Polish Dill Pickle Soup This soup might odd, but its really tasty. Its a creamy & flavorful recipe with potatoes, carrots, and tangy pickles.
Gluten Free Cream of Celery Soup This recipe isnt for the condensed canned stuff. This is made from scratch and meant to be eaten instead of used in casseroles. Its warming, healthy and comes together in about 30 minutes.
Japanese Onion Soup A Hibachi favorite is easy in the Instant Pot. Its inexpensive and takes minutes to make.
Lentil Kale Soup-a hearty gluten free soup to warm you up and keep you full. This soup is full of vegetables and flavor.
Weight Watchers Cabbage Soup A hearty soup full of vegetables thats low in calories but full of flavor. Make it on the Stove, Instant pot, or slow cooker.
Find more gluten free recipes on and .
Make Ahead Broccoli Cheddar Soup Freezer Meal
Assemble Freezer Bags
You will need 2 gallon sized freezer bags and 1 quart sized freezer bag. In one of the gallon sized bags, add the chopped carrots and celery, the frozen broccoli, the rubs, and the oil. Press out air and seal.
Add the shredded cheddar to the quart sized bag, press out air, and seal. Place both bags inside the second gallon sized bag to protect the ingredients from freezer burn. Label the bag with the contents and date and freeze until the day before or the morning of when you will make the soup.
Make the Freezer Meal Soup
The day before or the morning of when you will make the soup, move the freezer bag from the freezer to the refrigerator to thaw. After the contents have thawed completely or partially, youre ready to make the soup.
Add the contents of the vegetable bag to a Dutch oven or heavy bottom soup pot. Cook over medium-high heat for 5 to 6 minutes until the vegetables are crisp-tender.
Add the milk and creamed corn and continue to cook for another 8 to 10 minutes. Meanwhile, in a bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the broth and gluten free or all purpose flour.
Add this mixture to the soup and bring to a boil. Boil uncovered for a couple minutes until the soup thickens. Reduce heat and add the thawed cheese from the quart sized freezer bag. Stir until the cheese is completely melted. Serve the soup!
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How Many Carbs In Broccoli Cheese Soup
Since most broccoli cheese soup recipes, whether they are homemade or at restaurants, contain starch as a thickener, they are not low carb. For example, Panera broccoli cheese soup has 19g total carbs and 15g net carbs in 1 cup.
In comparison, this low carb broccoli cheese soup recipe has just 4g net carbs and 5g total carbs!
Whats The Best Broccoli For This Soup
Fresh ingredients are always my favorite. So, of course, Im going to tell you that fresh broccoli is the best option for this soup.
If organic is the same price as regular broccoli heads, then go for the organic option. But if its not on sale then I just buy regular heads of broccoli.
I buy the whole head and chop it up myself. It takes a couple of extra minutes, but its not hard at all.
Another option is to buy a bag of chopped broccoli florets. But its not usually the most cost-effective option.
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Honestly Feeding An Extremely Active Family That Is Always On The Run Can Be Hard At Times It Has Been A Real Juggling Act This Year To Get A Warm Dinner Like This Broccoli Cheddar Soup On The Table For Everyone
That’s where my Durotherm comes in! Lately, on the evenings that Kash has baseball games, I’ve been breaking out my Durotherm Hold and Serve. I don’t normally endorse lots of extra kitchen gear. However, I have to say that this Durotherm ACTUALLY makes my life easier. A piping hot meal awaiting my daughter when she gets home, even though I’m not actually there, makes my mom guilt a little easier to tolerate. I don’t have to do anything special or learn any new tricks to work my Durotherm either. I simply cook in the pot, and then place the hold and serve on its hot plate. It keeps our meal piping hot for up 2 hours! That’s my kind of magic!
Another thing I really LOVE about the Durotherm Hold and Serve is that its handles stay nice and cool while our soup is bubbling hot inside. I don’t have to worry about Eliza’s hands getting burned if she grabs the lid or handles of the pot when she’s serving herself a bowl. I definitely can’t say that for any other soup pots I own.
How To Prepare This Healthy Broccoli Cheddar Soup:
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Other Diets This Recipe Is Good For
This is already keto-friendly, but what other diets is it ok for?
Considering that there is absolutely no flour it makes it gluten-free. But make sure that your chicken broth is gluten-free as well.
Speaking of chicken broth, unfortunately, since we use it, it doesnt make your soup 100% vegetarian.
However, an easy fix to that problem is to replace the chicken broth with vegetable broth and now your problem is solved.
How To Make Lightened Up Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Making your own broccoli cheddar soup is simpler than you think. In fact, the whole shebang only takes about half an hour!
First, heat the avocado oil in a dutch oven. Add the onion and sauté until it softens.
Add the garlic and let cook for 2 minutes.
Then, use a whisk to add the flour, followed by the chicken stock. Combine well until all of the clumps are dissolved.
Bring the mixture to a boil, and then add the broccoli, carrots, salt, pepper, and nutmeg and cook for 10 minutes.
After 10 minutes, add the milk and cheese. Lower the heat to medium and stir.
In a small dish, whisk together the arrowroot powder and milk to create a slurry. Pour it into the soup to help thicken the mixture.
Let the soup cook for 10 minutes over medium-low heat.
Turn off the heat and serve!
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Broccoli & Cheddar Soup
Because potatoes are used to thicken this soup, you end up with a thick yet light tasting soup .
For the broccoli stalks, peel off their tough/woody outer skin .
Since the broccoli florets dont take long to soften, they get added in last. Use a food processor or immersion blender to puree the soup as smooth as you desire.
- 1head broccoliwith stem
- 1Tbspbutter or margarine
- 3leekswhite & light green parts
- 2potatoeswhite or yellow, peeled & cubed
- 4clovesgarlicminced
- 4cupsGF vegetable broth
- 2cupswater
- 1cupaged cheddar cheesegrated
- ¼cupfresh parsley
What Ingredients Are In Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Broccoli 4 cups of fresh broccoli chopped into small pieces. I use both the tops and the stalks.
Cheddar Cheese 2 cups of freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese. The more cheese you add the thicker and creamier it will make it.
Butter One stick of butter is melted down and used to cook the veggies.
Onion, Celery & Shredded Carrots ¼ cup of each is just enough to add some flavor. If you arent on keto then up the amount to ½ -¾ cup of each.
Chicken Broth 3 cups of chicken broth. If you need it to be completely vegetarian, then use vegetable broth instead.
Heavy Cream A small amount is needed, I only use about ½ cup. Now if carbs dont matter then use half and half or use milk to make it fewer calories.
Spices Salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, and paprika
Xanthan Gum When using xanthan gum always start off with a small amount. Start with ¼ tsp then add more for a thicker consistency.
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What To Serve With Dairy
In lieu of a gluten-free bread bowl, serving this healthy broccoli cheddar soup in a bowl with some carby accompaniments is just as good. Serve it up with some crusty gluten-free garlic bread or biscuits or make it an appetizer to a cozy dinner. You can even enjoy it as a soup and salad lunch or add in some leftover gluten-free pasta, rice, or potatoes to get your fill! From appetizer, side dish, lunch, or entree, you can enjoy this creamy soup any time of day!
Naturally Creamy Yet Gluten
More and more of my friends are either vegetarian or gluten-free. Though Im neither of those things, Ive been making dishes that my vegetarian and gluten-free friends can thoroughly enjoy. This easy broccoli cheddar soup recipe is a winning victory with everyone. Women, men, kids, teenseveryone devoured this creamy cheesy goodness.
After much experimenting, I settled on thickening this broccoli cheddar soup with dissolved cornstarch, which means theres no messing with the typical flour-butter-roux. Yes, applauses all around would be very appropriate.
This soup is rich and dreamy without much elbow grease at all. You dont even have to chop veggies with this recipe. We opt for frozen broccoli floret, pre-cut matchstick carrots, and even pre-chopped onions if your grocery store carries it. This is the spectacular broccoli cheese soup that takes only 30 minutes from stove to table.
All your hungry people wont be mad about that at all.
Grab a blanket and cozy up to the best broccoli cheese soup thats ever hugged your bowl. Enjoy.
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