• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Now Cook This!
  • Home
  • RECIPES
  • ABOUT
    • TERMS OF USE
    • PRIVACY POLICY
  • CONTACT
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Email
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Broccoli, Cauliflower and Cheese Soup

October 16, 2019 by Michelle | 61 Comments

Pin Recipe Jump to Recipe
lade of soup being taken from the pot with a text overlay that says now cook this broccoli cauliflower and cheese soup

This easy, creamy Broccoli, Cauliflower and Cheese Soup takes everyone’s favorite broccoli cheese soup and amps it up with even more good-for-you veggies, and it’s ready in less than an hour!

bowl of broccoli, cauliflower and cheese soup with a spoon in it this recipe

One of the reasons I love soup is it’s a delicious way to eat your vegetables. This soup is the perfect example – you start with 9 cups of raw veggies!

But that’s not what you’ll be thinking about while you’re eating it. You’ll just be thinking about how yummy it is…creamy, cheesy, and full of fabulous flavor!

I love classic broccoli cheese soup, but I’ll be honest – I’m picky about it. I want it creamy and slightly thick – not super thick to the point where it’s like paste.

I’m not a huge fan of the texture of pureed soups (too much like baby food for me), so I want little chunks of broccoli in there – and lots of them. I want the soup to be super flavorful, and I want to actually taste the cheese.

Who’s with me on this one?

Sadly, too many times when I have ordered broccoli cheese soup out, I have indeed gotten a bowl of thick, pasty, overly pureed, where’s-the-broccoli, is-there-really-cheese-in-here, how-long-ago-was-this-soup-made, gray, flavorless soup.

You’ve been there too. Am I right?

The answer? You know what I’m going to say. Make it at home, of course. That way, I get exactly what I want!

spoonful of broccoli, cauliflower and cheese soup being taken out of the bowl

First and foremost, I want lots of veggies (look at them all – you’re not getting that in most restaurant or canned soups), so along with the broccoli I add cauliflower, carrots (love the pop of color they add), celery, and onions.

I add a little flour to lightly thicken the soup, but I don’t add so much that it ends up being super thick and pasty.

I use chicken base (Better Than Bouillon is my favorite brand #notsponsored) and water for the broth because I find that it has so much more flavor than canned or boxed chicken broth.

Instead of pureeing the soup, I mash the veggies with a potato masher until they get to exactly the texture I want. I don’t want to wrangle with big pieces; I just want nice little bits that I can see and actually have to chew (If you want to puree it, though, go right ahead!).

Finally, I add some half and half to make the soup creamy and then some sharp cheddar cheese so that you know there’s cheese in there!

pot of broccoli, cauliflower and cheese soup with a ladle in it

INGREDIENTS YOU NEED:

  • Olive oil (regular or light – extra virgin not recommended)
  • Carrots
  • Celery
  • Onion
  • Salt and pepper
  • All-purpose flour
  • Water
  • Chicken base (such as Better Than Bouillon)
  • Broccoli
  • Cauliflower
  • Half and half*
  • Sharp cheddar cheese

*Half-and-half is simply a mixture of equal parts milk and cream. You can find it in the dairy aisle of the grocery store next to the milk and cream. If you can’t get it, you can just make your own mixture of half milk and half cream (I would use heavy cream).

HERE’S A QUICK LOOK AT HOW TO MAKE BROCCOLI, CAULIFLOWER AND CHEESE SOUP:

three images showing the steps to make broccoli, cauliflower and cheese soup
three images showing the steps to make broccoli, cauliflower and cheese soup
three images showing how to make broccoli, cauliflower and cheese soup
two images showing how to make broccoli, cauliflower and cheese soup

Super easy, right? And it only takes about 40 minutes – including chopping all the veggies. You’ll be sitting down to a bowl of this warm and comforting soup before you know it!

TIPS AND TIDBITS:

  • I prefer using fresh veggies for the best flavor and texture, but you can use frozen broccoli and cauliflower. Just make sure you reduce the cooking time so they don’t get too mushy.
  • You can use boxed or canned chicken broth/stock instead of the chicken base and water (but I can’t guarantee it will be as flavorful!).
  • Since I use flour to thicken the soup, this recipe is not gluten-free. However, you could omit the flour to make it gluten-free and then use your favorite gluten-free thickening agent and method (such as cornstarch, arrowroot, tapioca starch, etc.) to thicken the soup.
  • I don’t recommend freezing this soup. Soups with dairy in them can separate and have an odd texture when frozen and reheated.
bowl of broccoli, cauliflower and cheese soup topped with extra cheese and cajun spiced oyster crackers

I know it’s gilding the lily a bit, but I usually top my soup with a little extra cheese. I also like to sprinkle on some of my Cajun-Spiced Oyster Crackers for some crunch and extra flavor. Grilled cheese cut up into croutons also makes an excellent topper!

Oh, and it’s also fabulous with some of my Easy Cheesy Garlic Biscuits!

I hope you try this recipe for Broccoli, Cauliflower and Cheese Soup and love it as much as I do. Thanks for visiting today!

michelle signature

  • Cajun-Spiced Oyster Crackers
  • Spicy Tomato Vegetable Soup
  • Sausage, Potato & Kale Soup (Zuppa Toscana)
  • Sausage & Tortellini Soup
  • Easy Cheesy Garlic Biscuits
image that states follow now cook this on pinterest for more simple and delicious recipes, click here
image that states if you make this recipe, please leave a star rating and comment below, thanks

Broccoli, Cauliflower and Cheese Soup

This easy, creamy Broccoli, Cauliflower and Cheese Soup takes everyone's favorite broccoli cheese soup and amps it up with even more good-for-you veggies, and it's ready in less than an hour!
4.91 from 21 votes
Print Recipe Rate/Comment Pin Recipe
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 471
Author: Michelle / Now Cook This!

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, use regular or light – not extra virgin
  • 1 cup diced carrots, about 2 medium to large
  • 1 cup diced celery, about 2 large ribs
  • 1 cup diced onion, about 1 small to medium
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 4 cups water
  • 4 teaspoons chicken base, such as Better Than Bouillon
  • 3 cups fresh broccoli florets
  • 3 cups fresh cauliflower florets
  • 1 cup half and half
  • 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Instructions

  • In a large pot (I use a 4-quart or larger), heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the carrots, celery, and onions. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Sauté until the veggies begin to soften, about 5 minutes.
  • Add the flour and cook for another minute, stirring.
  • Combine the water and chicken base. Add to the pot along with the broccoli and cauliflower.
  • Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover the pot with a lid and simmer until the veggies are tender, about 10 minutes. Turn off the heat.
  • Using a potato masher, mash the veggies until they reach the desired consistency.
  • Add the half and half and the cheese. Stir until the cheese is melted. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.

Notes

  • This recipe makes 4 generous servings of about 2 cups each, which is perfect for a bowl of soup as the main dish, but you could stretch it out to 6 servings of about 1 1/3 cups each if you were serving it as a starter – more like a cup of soup rather than a bowl.
  • You can use frozen broccoli and cauliflower. Just be sure to reduce the cooking time so that they don’t get mushy.
  • You can use 4 cups of canned or boxed chicken stock in place of the chicken base and water, but the flavor will be a bit different (I think the chicken base has much more flavor).
  • Omit the flour to make the soup gluten-free. Use your favorite gluten-free thickening agent and method to thicken the soup (cornstarch, arrowroot, tapioca starch, etc.).
  • I don’t recommend freezing this soup. Soups with dairy can separate and take on an odd texture when frozen and reheated.   
Did you try this recipe? I’d love to see it!Mention @nowcookthis or tag #nowcookthisrecipes!

This post was updated on 2/10/21 (updated images).

Previous Post: « Cajun Spiced Oyster Crackers
Next Post: Maple Vanilla Chai Tea Latte »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Shirley Caldwell

    December 17, 2020 at 1:16 pm

    I made this soup last night. It was SO delicious 😋

    Reply
    • Michelle

      December 17, 2020 at 1:38 pm

      Thank you so much, Shirley! I am so happy that you enjoyed the soup, and I really appreciate you taking the time to come back to comment and rate the recipe!

      Reply
      • Patrick J

        June 26, 2021 at 9:21 pm

        Wonderful tasting soup!!! Any Idea how many carbs per serving?

        Reply
        • Dwayne

          April 21, 2022 at 3:13 pm

          This is definitely delicious made it family loved it made garlic biscuits to go with it

          Reply
          • Michelle

            April 21, 2022 at 3:54 pm

            Thank you so much, Dwayne!

    • Kimberly Ann Carrington

      August 7, 2022 at 8:56 pm

      I made this soup topped it with crispy bacon mmmm… chefs kiss;)

      Reply
      • Michelle

        August 7, 2022 at 10:12 pm

        Thank you, Kimberly! And bacon on top…YUM!

        Reply
  2. Joy H

    January 6, 2021 at 12:13 pm

    I really look forward to making this, but I’m curious about the nutritional information: ie calories/cup/serving, fat, carbs. Any help would be great!

    Reply
    • Michelle

      January 6, 2021 at 5:24 pm

      Hey there, Joy! Estimated calories are 471 per serving (about 2 cups of soup). This estimate was calculated based on the ingredients/brands that I used when making the recipe and could vary depending on the specific ingredients that you use. Sorry that I don’t have the other nutrition information yet, such as fat and carbs (working on that!), but you can always use one of the many available recipe nutrition calculators that are available online to get that info. Hope you give the recipe a try and enjoy it!

      Reply
  3. Colorado Cook

    February 22, 2021 at 12:30 am

    Light, creamy, and delicious. I love the idea of using a pastry blender instead of puréeing it. The texture turned out perfect.

    Reply
    • Michelle

      February 22, 2021 at 8:10 am

      Thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed the soup!

      Reply
  4. Kathy

    March 2, 2021 at 5:38 pm

    Awesome recipe. I added more cheese.

    Reply
    • Michelle

      March 2, 2021 at 7:36 pm

      Thank you, Kathy! So happy you enjoyed the soup (and more cheese is always yummy)!

      Reply
  5. Melanie

    March 16, 2021 at 12:25 pm

    This is awesome! I made it today for lunch. Really easy and quick to make and it tastes great! I did not have whole carrots so used the bagged little carrots, did not have the chicken base so I used some good build on and no half and half, but used whipping cream. It tastes as good as in a restaurant. Thank you for the recipe!

    Reply
    • Michelle

      March 16, 2021 at 3:29 pm

      Thank you so much for the awesome comments, Melanie! I’m so happy that you enjoyed the soup, and I love that you made it work with what you had on hand!

      Reply
  6. Jane

    March 17, 2021 at 2:38 pm

    Absolutely delicious! I used arrowroot to thicken rather than flour so it was a Keto soup. I loved it!

    Reply
    • Michelle

      March 17, 2021 at 3:01 pm

      Thank you so much, Jane! I’m so happy that you enjoyed the soup, and I appreciate you taking the time to comment and rate the recipe!

      Reply
  7. VL

    June 1, 2021 at 9:22 pm

    This recipe is exactly what I was looking for directions. Going to make it tomorrow. Thank you for the extra time you too to provide pictures & instructions on how to make it. Nice alternative to videos, when you prefer reading vs a video. 👍🏻

    Reply
    • Michelle

      June 1, 2021 at 9:31 pm

      Thank you, VL! I’m so glad you appreciate the step-by-step photos (I am actually working on video too and hope to have both options available for my readers soon!). Also excited that you plan to make the soup. Please stop back and let me know how it went!

      Reply
  8. Kellie

    October 27, 2021 at 12:32 pm

    WOW!!! This was YUMMY!!! and super simple to make. Packs a lot of flavor!!

    Reply
    • Michelle

      October 27, 2021 at 12:56 pm

      Thank you, Kellie! I’m really happy that you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  9. Judy Latam

    October 29, 2021 at 1:44 pm

    I made this soup this morning and so glad I did!!! Loved every spoonful!!! My new go to recipe!!! Thanks for sharing!!!!

    Reply
    • Michelle

      October 29, 2021 at 1:46 pm

      Thanks so much, Judy!! I’m absolutely thrilled that you loved the soup!

      Reply
  10. Sarah

    November 3, 2021 at 10:18 pm

    I’m excited to try this soup! Have you ever added any protein to this recipe? Wondering if some shredded chicken would be a good addition?

    Reply
    • Michelle

      November 4, 2021 at 2:13 am

      Hey, Sarah! I haven’t yet added any protein to this soup, but some shredded chicken sounds good (that would be my pick)! Hope you enjoy it!

      Reply
  11. Dana

    November 9, 2021 at 2:07 pm

    Love love love this soup! My husband won’t eat broccoli and cauliflower so I tried this when he was out of town for work. I’m on my way to eating the whole pot by myself 🤪

    Reply
    • Michelle

      November 9, 2021 at 2:24 pm

      That’s so awesome, Dana! I’m thrilled that you love the soup! Thank you very much!

      Reply
      • Liza A Steinmetz

        January 23, 2023 at 9:54 pm

        Made this tonight and the family loved it. Made a few changes so we could have a chunky soup. Going to add chicken next time.

        Reply
        • Michelle

          January 23, 2023 at 10:45 pm

          Thank you, Liza! So happy your family loved this soup!

          Reply
  12. KathyR

    January 9, 2022 at 1:48 pm

    This is outstanding. Very, very hearty. Perfect texture. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Michelle

      January 9, 2022 at 8:15 pm

      Thank you so much, Kathy! I’m so happy you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  13. Francine

    January 11, 2022 at 3:21 pm

    I increased some of the ingredients and it was excellent. My husband is not one for vegetables unless they are loaded with cheese, this was right up his alley. We added a little Tuscan bread and wished there was more.

    Reply
    • Michelle

      January 11, 2022 at 6:08 pm

      Hi, Francine! Thank you for the 5-star rating! I’m so happy that both you and your husband enjoyed the soup!

      Reply
  14. Rene W

    January 19, 2022 at 10:42 pm

    This was so yummy!!!!

    Reply
    • Michelle

      January 20, 2022 at 8:07 am

      Thanks so much, Rene!

      Reply
  15. Cathleen

    April 11, 2022 at 2:19 am

    Made this today this was delicious and very easy. Will make again

    Reply
    • Michelle

      April 11, 2022 at 8:09 am

      Thank you, Cathleen! I’m so happy you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  16. Susie O

    April 12, 2022 at 1:33 pm

    This was wonderful. Thanks for the recipe.
    Susie

    Reply
    • Michelle

      April 12, 2022 at 8:37 pm

      Thank you very much, Susie!

      Reply
  17. Katie Neil

    April 29, 2022 at 4:55 pm

    I know I am late to the party but I just tried this recipe and it is hands down the best soup! I left out the cream and cheese so I could freeze servings and added them when ready to eat. I actually like the soup better without them though. This soup is addictive and it was all gone within the week. Thanks for a great recipe.

    Reply
    • Michelle

      April 29, 2022 at 8:52 pm

      Hey, Katie! I’m so glad you like the soup, and freezing the soup without the cream and cheese is an excellent tip. And I never thought of trying the soup without them, but I’m going to give it a try sometime! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment and rate the recipe!

      Reply
    • VAL

      November 9, 2022 at 10:40 am

      Can you cook it in a crock pot?

      Reply
      • Michelle

        November 9, 2022 at 12:45 pm

        Hi, Val! I suppose you could, but I haven’t tried doing that, so I’m not able to give you any instructions. Sorry!

        Reply
  18. J myers

    May 1, 2022 at 12:46 pm

    Wow so easy and so delicious! Great recipe.

    Reply
    • Michelle

      May 1, 2022 at 1:25 pm

      Thank you very much!

      Reply
  19. Deb

    May 26, 2022 at 4:38 pm

    So good! I have a head cold and this hit the spot! I did 3tsp chicken and 1 tsp ham better than bouillon. Delicious!

    Reply
    • Michelle

      May 26, 2022 at 7:41 pm

      Hi, Deb! Thank you for this awesome rating and review! I’m so happy you enjoyed the soup…and I hope that head cold goes away soon!

      Reply
  20. Deb

    June 27, 2022 at 4:07 pm

    I omit the flour and cream and use instant potato flakes as a thickener. Adds extra flavour to the soup.

    Reply
    • Michelle

      June 27, 2022 at 5:04 pm

      That’s a great option! Thanks for sharing, Deb!

      Reply
  21. Cherie

    August 9, 2022 at 2:29 am

    What is half & half please.
    Cherie

    Reply
    • Michelle

      August 9, 2022 at 8:19 am

      Hi, Cherie! Half and half is a mixture of heavy cream and milk. You can find it in the dairy aisle of the grocery store (or you can make your own by combining equal parts heavy cream and milk).

      Reply
    • Helen Funk

      October 5, 2022 at 10:57 am

      This is the 3rd time I am making this soup. It is sooooo delicious. Twice I have used 1/2 tsp garlic powder and love it too. I did freeze several portion size containers so as not to waste and it was fine but like you mentioned anything with milk or cheese really doesn’t hold up well in the freezer. Thanks for the recipe. My vegetarian friend just loved it too!

      Reply
      • Michelle

        October 6, 2022 at 12:29 pm

        Hi, Helen! I’m so happy to hear that both you and your friend enjoyed this soup! Thanks for your feedback and also for letting us know how freezing it went for you!

        Reply
  22. Christina Gilson

    September 22, 2022 at 12:27 pm

    This was a yummy soup. I’m glad I found your recipe. Mashing them up was a perfect idea. Little chunks of veggies in every bite. My husband and our granddaughter loved it. I’m making it again tonight.

    Reply
    • Michelle

      September 23, 2022 at 10:48 am

      Thank you very much, Christina! I’m so happy you enjoyed this soup and are making it again!

      Reply
  23. Wren

    October 7, 2022 at 3:29 am

    Definite 5 stars for this soup. Totally delicious!

    Reply
    • Michelle

      October 7, 2022 at 8:05 am

      Thank you, Wren! I’m so happy you enjoyed the soup!

      Reply
  24. Mary

    January 8, 2023 at 9:26 am

    Yummy, total comfort soup. Everyone should make this soup. You and your family will love this easy to make scrumptious soup.

    Reply
    • Michelle

      January 8, 2023 at 1:08 pm

      Thank you, Mary!

      Reply
  25. Stephen Sorsa

    January 9, 2023 at 10:07 am

    Sorry for being a bit of a numpty but what’s half and half…
    Soup is lovely.

    Reply
    • Michelle

      January 9, 2023 at 4:36 pm

      Hey there, Stephen! Half-and-half is simply a mixture of equal parts milk and cream. Here in the States, you get it in the dairy aisle next to the milk and cream. If you can’t get it, you can just make your own mixture of half milk and half cream. So happy you enjoyed the soup, and thanks so much for the 5-star rating!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

photo of website owner with text that says hello, i'm michelle, it's nice to meet you

Welcome to my kitchen where something good is always cooking! I want us all to cook and eat at home more, so I’m here to share my favorite simple and delicious recipes that are perfect for the everyday home cook. I hope you will be inspired to get in the kitchen and try these recipes, and I hope they become some of your favorites too! Read more…

Privacy Policy - Terms of Use

Copyright © 2023 Now Cook This!