Gluten Free Cheddar Cheese Soup With Ham Recipe
Brianna Hobbs | Flippin’ DeliciousApril 19, 2019
Gluten Free Cheddar Cheese Soup with Ham is great for a crowd. And it makes great leftovers!
As it is getting closer to fall, Ive got soup on my mind. Warm, hearty, cheesy soup! Thick and creamy and loaded with potatoes, carrots, ham, and my favorite: cheddar cheese.
One tricky gluten free food is soup. It may surprise you, but wheat flour is often used as a thickener in soups. Especially cream based soups. Often, if you want a nice hot bowl of creamy soup, you have to make it yourself.
Ive already tackled gluten-free cream of chicken soup to sub in all of your favorite casseroles. Ive also baked up a warm and bubbly gluten free chicken pot pie with flaky crust. The next childhood memory I wanted to re-create was a hearty bowl of gluten free ham and cheddar soup.
I like to cook the onions, potatoes, and carrots BEFORE I add the liquid to the soup because then the vegetables can get a little golden brown color on them. That also gives me a chance to add some cornstarch to thicken the soup up just a tad. If you prefer to toss it all together and let it simmer to cook your root vegetables, go right ahead. Youll need to whisk the cornstarch in a little cold water and then whisk it into the soup just before you add the cheese and half & half.
I dont remember what else we did that evening, Im sure we had some chocolate birthday cake, but Ill always remember that cheese soup.
So If We Didnt Use Flour How Did We Get Our Soup So Thick
In order for this soup to get nice and thick we did 3 things:
Cream based soups really dont need the thickening agent of the flour. Pureeing the soup before adding the cream will usually do the trick.
If you prefer your soup to NOT be so thick or you just want some bits of cauliflower, you can puree only half or ¾ of the soup leaving as many or as little chunks as you like. Or you can add another ¼ cup of chicken broth to thin it out a bit.
I prefer mine on the thick and smooth side so I pureed to my hearts content.
For these photos we obviously used an orange cheddar cheese. There is no right or wrong cheese like ever . so if you want to keep the traditional white creamy look of the cauliflower soup go ahead and use white cheddar.
Either way this soup is sure to please!
- 2 ½ Cups Organic Chicken Broth
- 1 Small Head Organic Cauliflower, cut into florets
- 1 Medium Organic Potato, peeled and diced
- ½ Cup Organic Heavy Cream
- 2 Cups Organic Cheddar Cheese
- 1 Tablespoon dried Chives
Make It Thick & Cheesy
Do you like your broccoli soup super smooth or with chunks of broccoli? You actually have 3 options here to finish it off:
- Pieces Leave all the broccoli florets whole in your broccoli cheese soup. To do this, add the shredded cheddar cheese gradually, stirring constantly, and continue to stir until melted. This will help thicken the broccoli and cheese soup.
- Pureed Pureeing is an excellent way to get a thicker soup, if thats what you like, because the broccoli thickens it. Transfer to a blender and blend until smooth, or use an immersion blender.
- Combination Puree the soup, but reserve 1/3 as florets. Its the best of both worlds! To do this, remove about 1/3 of the florets using a slotted spoon, blend using an immersion blender, then return the florets to the pot.
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Is Broccoli Cheddar Soup Healthy
If you order a small bowl from Panera, you’ll be clocking in at 360 calories, 21g fat , 1330g sodium, 30g carbs, 6g sugar, 14g protein. With an ingredient list that looks like this:
, Carrots, Corn Starch, Onions, Chicken Base , Seasoning , Salted Butter , Dijon Mustard , Pepper Sauce )
Dairy, wheat, chicken. Not safe for celiacs, dairy allergies, nor vegetarians! It’s not the healthiest choice of soup, BUT you can take control and change that by making this EASY recipe from scratch in your own kitchen!
Ingredients In Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Unsalted butter For flavor.
Onion Adds flavor and depth.
Garlic Adds flavor and give a savory touch.
Vegetable broth Use chicken broth for additional flavor, if desired.
Salt Use unsalted butter and add salt to taste.
Black pepper For flavor.
Cayenne pepper For flavor and a little kick.
Broccoli florets You can use fresh or frozen broccoli.
Cream cheese Full fat cream cheese works best.
Cheddar Switch up the cheese and use sharp cheddar or white cheddar for a fun twist.
Heavy whipping cream Also known as heavy cream. Dont skip this.
If you have any questions about the ingredients in instant pot broccoli cheddar soup, please leave me a comment below.
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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
Thats where my Durotherm comes in! Lately, on the evenings that Kash has baseball games, Ive been breaking out my Durotherm Hold and Serve. I dont 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 Im not actually there, makes my mom guilt a little easier to tolerate. I dont 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! Thats 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 dont have to worry about Elizas hands getting burned if she grabs the lid or handles of the pot when shes serving herself a bowl. I definitely cant say that for any other soup pots I own.
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Gluten Free Living 2017
Oh my goodness, I hit the gold mine with Panera Bread Broccoli Cheese Soup! This soup is absolutely awesome. This lovely soup is filled with broccoli, carrots, onions, garlic and celery. Then its seasoned with red pepper flakes and loads of sharp cheddar cheese. So mouthwatering and comforting.
Im serious, this Panera Bread copycat soup recipe is spectacular! Its also super easy to make. I think I had the whole soup ready in about 30 minutes! Its certainly the perfect soup for any family dinner or lunch. I loved the smooth, creamy, savory taste of this soup. I could probably make this multiple times per week and savor and drool over every bite.
I made this soup for a lunch with a friend last month and both of us were amazed at how delicious it was. I chose to make the soup gluten free since both of us are trying to abstain from flour as much as possible. I keep a large bag of Bobs Red Mill gluten free flour in my freezer at all times. Then when I want to switch from regular flour to gluten free I always have fresh GF flour on hand. . Its so helpful.
If youre looking for a fantastic soup recipe to serve your family, I cant recommend Panera Bread Broccoli Cheese Soup highly enough. This recipe makes only 4 servings, so be prepared to make more than one batch at a time, especially if you want leftovers!
Panera Bread Broccoli Cheese Soup is absolutely spectacular!
Panera Bread Broccoli Cheese Soup is one of the best copycat recipes youll ever eat.
Heres what I did.
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Customizing Healthy Broccoli Cheese Soup
Once youve mastered the basic process, its so easy to customize it. Try adding:
- Your favorite spices
- Sun-dried tomatoes
The possibilities are endless!
TIP: Go easy on anything that has added salt, like bacon. The broccoli soup is already salty to begin with, due to the cheese and broth.
Youll also have an easier time with the cheese if you add any other ingredients after the cheese melts first. Otherwise, the cheese might stick to the add-ins and have issues melting.
Alternatively, if your other add-ins need to cook, temporarily remove them with a slotted spoon at the end, melt in the cheese, and then return them to the pot.
What Can You Substitute For Cheddar Cheese Soup
This cheddar cheese soup is a perfect homemade substitution for the canned variety, but if you want a more mellow flavor that is slightly more authentic you can also use American cheese or Velveeta Cheese.
Other condensed soup recipes for you to save:
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Tips For Making Additions:
- Go easy on anything that has added salt, like bacon. This broccoli cheese soup is already salty to begin with, due to the cheese and broth.
- Add any other ingredients after the cheese melts first. Otherwise, the cheese might stick to the add-ins and have issues melting.
- If your other add-ins need to cook, temporarily remove them with a slotted spoon once they are cooked, melt in the cheese, and then return them to the pot.
Gluten Free Cheddar Cheese Soup With Ham
Yield: Cook Time: Total Time:
Easy gluten free cheddar cheese soup with ham is the perfect comfort food recipe to use up leftover ham. Thickened with cornstarch, this gluten free cheese soup is thick and creamy, and is the perfect gluten free soup for chilly weather.
- 2-4 tablespoons Oil, Or butter
- 1 large Onion, Diced, approximately 2 cups
- 4 Russet Potatoes, Diced, medium to large, approximately 6-8 cups
- ½ pound Carrot, Diced, about 2-4 small-medium carrots
- 2 tablespoons Cornstarch, Or 4 tablespoons rice flour
- 1 pound Gluten Free Ham, Diced
- 1 ½ teaspoons Salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons Dried Parsley
- 4 cups Chicken Stock, Or vegetable stock
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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.
Did You Make This Recipe
Tag @rebeccagf666 on Instagram and hashtag it #strengthandsunshine
A copycat of Panera, but a better soup recipe that blows the classic way out of the park! If you’ve missed this decadent cheesy soup then you’re in luck! Fall in love with this super easy vegan recipe and make some now!
So tell me:
+ What was/is your favorite Panera Bread Soup? Their vegetarian black bean soup was also prime!
–
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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.
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How Do I Reheat Soup In My Instant Pot
The first night I make soup in my Instant Pot I let it cool completely. Then I put the lid on or plastic wrap over top and store it in the refrigerator. The next night when I want to reheat the soup I take it out of the fridge and remove the plastic wrap.
I place the stainless pot back in my Instant Pot and put the lid on making sure its set to sealed. Then I press the manual button and set the time for 3 minutes. The soup will heat up while its coming to pressure and it only takes a short amount of time to have hot soup ready to serve.
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How To Thicken Broccoli Cheese Soup
Most traditional broccoli cheese soups are thickened with a flour roux or potatoes. Without thickening agents, low-carb broccoli cheese soup usually has a thinner, broth-like consistency.
But if you are like me, you might want a thicker, creamier, broccoli cheese soup. So, how can you make broccoli cheese soup thick without using flour or potatoes? There are a few options.
One of the easiest ways to thicken gluten-free soups is by adding a small amount of xanthan gum.
Xanthan gum is a plant-based thickening agent that is commonly used in gluten-free foods. You can find xanthan gum at almost all large grocery stores, or online.
With xanthan gum, a little goes a long way. To thicken this recipe for broccoli cheese soup, you can add up to 1/2 tsp. or xanthan gum.
Another way to thicken broccoli cheese soup is to add an extra 2-3 oz of cream cheese. The cream cheese will melt into the soup and thicken the broth. The additional cream cheese will also make the soup even creamier.
A third way to thicken broccoli cheese soup is to puree part of the soup. Using an immersion blender or a traditional blender, you can blend half of the soup, and then add it back into the pot with the remainder of the soup.
All About Cheddar Cheese: Gluten
If you are gluten-free, you may be wondering if cheddar cheese is gluten-free. The answer to that question is a little complicated.
Cheddar cheese is made from cows milk, and it generally does not contain any gluten and is safe for people with celiac disease. The rest of the ingredients needed are salt, rennet, and starter culture .
According to the USDA data , below is a list of popular brands that are considered gluten-free:
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There are many brands did not list here. So if you are unsure about a brand of cheddar cheese, you can check the ingredients list or contact the manufacturer to be sure.
For shredded cheddars, such as the Kraft Shredded Cheddar USDA, they may also contain natamycin, modified corn starch, potato starch, cellulose, and artificial coloring. But these are all gluten-free ingredients.
However, some brands of cheddar cheese may be processed in a facility that also processes wheat products or cheddar products.
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Is Campbells Soup Gluten Free
The Campbell Soup Company is an American producer and icon within the US food industry. They are mainly known for producing canned soups and related products that are sold in 120 countries around the world.
In this review, we will be focusing on Campbells Soups. Lets find out if they are gluten-free:
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Notes On Ingredients For Baked Potato Soup:
- Potatoes: my first choice for soups is always butter gold or yellow gold potatoes. If you cant find those, go ahead and use Russets.
- Chicken broth: I always stick to broth that is clearly labeled gluten-free. Pacific organic chicken broth is my go-to brand. I can find it at my local Winco and Kroger stores, but it can also be bought in .
- Bacon: Feel free to use your favorite bacon. I personally opt for varieties that are clearly labeled as nitrate/nitrite free since those are triggers for me.
- Seasonings: I give measurements for garlic salt and pepper but if youd like to add more or less, feel free to adjust.
My kids thought it was fun that I included bowls of cheese, bacon, and green onions, so they could customize their toppings on this potato soup adding as much bacon or cheese as theyd like.
If you love onions, you could also mix in chopped sweet onions into the soup when you add the potatoes.
You can also add some broccoli florets to this soup if youd like to sneak another vegetable in there!
Looking for more soup recipes? I highly recommend the soups I mentioned above as well as my 30 minute gluten-free chicken tortilla soup recipe.
If you like broccoli, youve got to try this Broccoli Cheese Soup recipe too! And if you have turkey, try this gluten-free creamy turkey chowder from my friend Jeanine.
Next time your family is needing something warm and comforting, I hope youll make this gluten-free soup for them!
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