Cheesy Carrot and Broccoli Soup with chopped broccoli florets and diced carrots in a creamy and cheesy broth is so full of flavor you will think you got it from your favorite local cafe!
Broccoli cheddar soup seems almost synonymous with a certain bakery cafe (ahem, Panera Bread), but this cheesy vegetable soup is actually super easy to make at home.
Not only can you make a large pot of it and have multiple servings at a cheaper price, but you can also tailor the soup recipe to your exact tastes (more/less salt, make it vegetarian, etc.).
Want the full cafe experience? Serve this cheesy broccoli carrot soup in sourdough bread bowls!
Looking for more delicious soup recipes?
Try creamy cauliflower chowder, or any of the following!
Ingredients
Butter: Butter is mixed with flour to make a roux which is the base of most cream soups, as it is a thickening agent.
Chopped Broccoli: Whether you use a whole head of broccoli or broccoli florets, make sure to cut down the size of the broccoli pieces to be small enough to fit on a spoon and make sure that they are uniform in size.
Chopped Carrots: Carrots add orange color and a little sweetness to this soup.
Onion: Onions are one of the main flavoring agents in this simple cheese soup, so you don't want to skip them.
Chicken Broth: Use chicken broth instead of water for an extra layer of flavor in this soup. If you wanted to make the soup vegetarian, you can substitute vegetable stock for the chicken stock.
Milk: Some broccoli cheese soups call for heavy cream but I decided to lighten it up a bit by using milk instead. Don't worry, between the milk and lots of shredded cheese it is still incredibly rich and creamy.
Shredded Cheese: Use shredded cheddar or monterey jack cheese to melt into this vegetable soup.
How to make carrot and broccoli soup
Melt butter in a soup pot over medium heat. Add onions, broccoli, and carrots and saute until onions are translucent and vegetables begin to soften (about 8-10 minutes).
Add flour and stir to coat the vegetables. Allow flour taste to cook off for about 1 minute.
Stir in chicken stock and then add milk. Bring up to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes.
Add cheese and stir to melt. Serve warm.
Want to make your vegetable soup less chunky?
I like to cut all of the veggies to a small size when making the soup, and then after cooking the soup check the texture and see if I want it to be thinner or not. If I do, a few pulses of the immersion blender normally does the trick.
If you do not have an immersion blender, ladle half of the soup into a regular blender pulse once or twice, and pour it back into the pot with the rest of the soup.
Can you use frozen broccoli florets?
Of course. Just make sure that the pieces are bite-sized and uniform so they cook alongside the carrots at a similar pace. Broccoli and carrot soup is also a great way to incorporate leftover broccoli (or carrots!) into another recipe.
Storage
Allow soup to cool completely and store carrot and broccoli soup in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. You can also freeze this soup for several months.
Easy Carrot and Broccoli Soup
Ingredients
- ¼ cup butter
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 cup carrots diced
- 1 small onion diced
- ¼ cup flour
- 1 cup milk
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 1 tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. garlic powder
- 2 cups shredded monterey jack cheese
Instructions
- Melt butter in a soup pot over medium heat. Add onions, broccoli, and carrots and saute until onions are translucent and vegetables begin to soften (about 8-10 minutes).
- Add flour and stir to coat the vegetables. Allow flour taste to cook off for about 1 minute.
- Stir in chicken stock and then add milk. Bring up to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes.
- Add cheese and stir to melt. Serve warm.
BC Perry
This is a recipe I made often when our kids were at home and I haven’t in a long time. So long in fact that I forgot the recipe. Yours is right on the mark and I have to say it’s the best soup ever. Even our kids loved it (broccoli??). 😊 Thanks for sharing I made it today and it’s the best
Sarah
Perry,
I am so glad you and your kids enjoyed the soup. Your kind words made my day!
Sarah
Jill
Can you substitute Parmesan or feta cheese for cheddar?
Sarah
The soup would be considerably less creamy and I would use less, as those are both stronger/saltier. If you don't want to use cheddar, I would try another cheese that melts well, like swiss or gruyere. -Sarah
Rhenisa
Tried it for my 18 months toddler. He loved it 🙂 I used all purpose flour (maida) because that's whats usually used in soups. But just wondering if wheat flour or any other healthier option can be used.
Sarah
Whole wheat flour can be used in the same way as all purpose for this recipe. Depending on the brand you use, it may add a subtle nutty flavor, but nothing too strong.
I'm so glad he enjoyed the soup!
-Sarah
Julia Palmer
I threw in some peas, and mints which were languishing in the fridge. And liquized! Reheated and grated some parmasan on the top rather than adding cheese! Very tasty.
Gabriel G Caetano
Just came across this recipe and tried it at home. The consistency is perfect, it tastes delicious!
Sarah Baumeister
Thank you, Gabriel! Glad you like it. -Sarah
Sue
Perfect consistency. I used gluten free flower and almond milk. Tossed in some leftover roasted yams with the carrots, broccoli and onion. I cut back on the cheese and used 1/3 cup of Asiago. Yummy!
Dylan
great soup tast good
Dylan
This soup was very tasty and very easy to make I would definitely recommended for more people to try this. -Dylan Magee
Dylan meegaet
This was great -Dylan mageet
Sarah Baumeister
I am so glad you enjoyed it, Dylan!
Kim
I'll try this soon! I got A LOT of broccoli in my CSA box from the farmer's market.
I LOVE how simply your recipes are written! Thank you for all the testing and time put into sharing your recipes!
Sarah Baumeister
What a sweet thing to take time to tell me. I really appreciate it. I hope you enjoy the soup. -Sarah
April
This is the second time I've made this. My only change is using home made chicken stock. Luscious and filling. Keeps well in frig.
Sarah Baumeister
Love the addition of homemade stock! Thank you for your kind words.