Perfect for fall, this newly updated Crock Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup From Scratch is cheesy, creamy, and dreamy but without any store-bought canned goods. Instead, it's packed full of fresh broccoli and cheese!
Is there anything more comforting than a big bowl full of creamy, cheesy soup? Definitely not. Even better is when it only takes a couple of minutes to throw together like this Crock Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup From Scratch!
My mom is visiting from New Hampshire this week and since I need to still work, I want to make sure that dinner is mostly done and easy for maximum time to visit. Crock Pot to the rescue!
Ingredients Needed
Fresh ingredients and as much from scratch as possible, pretty standard for recipes made in our house.
- Cheese - We prefer sharp cheddar for this but you could also use a milk cheddar. Or even a white cheddar or extra sharp.
- Broccoli - We prefer fresh, but you could definitely sub frozen florets, too. No need to thaw, just toss 'em right in.
- Fresh Carrot, Onion, and Garlic - For added flavor. We use white onions, but yellow would also be great.
- Chicken Stock - Or Vegetable Stock if you want to keep it vegetarian friendly. Either works great. Have you made your own Chicken Stock From Scratch or Vegetable Stock From Scratch, yet?
- Butter, Milk, and Flour - To create a roux for the cheese sauce.
- Seasoning - Salt, pepper, and celery salt.
Step-by-Step Instructions
As with a lot of our Crock Pot meals, this one is easy!
Step 1: Add all of the broccoli, onion, carrots, garlic, and seasonings to your trusty Crock Pot with the stock, and slow cook!
Step 2: Once it's done, use either an immersion blender, blender, or Vitamix to blend your cooked veggies creamy.
Step 3: On the stovetop, make a roux and thick cheese sauce. This is the crucial step of making a creamy cheese soup that ensures that the cheese is well incorporated into the whole soup.
In an effort to save dishes and effort, we've tried adding the cheese directly to the blended soup, but it just isn't the same for ensuring creaminess.
Step 4: Once you have that well blended, thick cheese sauce, add it to your blended broccoli cheese soup.
We do like to add just a little extra shredded cheese, too! Just for good measure. Because is there anything wrong with just a little added cheese. Crock Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup From Scratch!
A little more cheese (because again, why not) and then a touch of parsley, served with fresh homemade bread, and you have an easy dinner that's perfect for a busy weeknight. Especially when you want to be able to maximize Grandma's snuggle and book reading time.
Other Favorite Fall Soups
Roasted Parsnip and Potato Soup
Crock Pot Beef Pho From Scratch
Cream of Mushroom Soup From Scratch
French Onion Soup From Scratch
Serve it With
Easy Buttermilk Cheddar Cornbread
Easy Dinner Rolls From Scratch
No Knead Rosemary Garlic Bread
Enjoy! As always, if you make this recipe or any of my others, I love to hear what you think! Leave a comment below, email me, or you can find me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest!
Crock Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup From Scratch
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lb fresh broccoli cut into florets about 5 cups, or 13 oz of florets
- 1/2 small yellow onion chopped
- 2 large carrots peeled and chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 1/4 teaspoon celery salt
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 1/2 cup milk 2% - half and half
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese divided
- fresh parsley garnish
Instructions
- Add broccoli, onion, carrot, garlic, salt, pepper, celery salt, and chicken stock to a Crock Pot. Cook on low for 6-8 hrs or on high for 3-4 hours.
- Once done, use an immersion blender, blender, or Vitamix and blend soup until creamy. Return to Crock Pot on low.
- In a small sauce pan on stovetop, heat butter over medium and sprinkle on flour. Whisk as butter melts to create a roux. Once all the butter is melted and flour incorporated, slowly add milk and whisk. Slowly add shredded cheese and whisk until well combined into a thick cheese sauce. Reserve 1/4-1/2 cup of cheese.
- Add cheese sauce to soup and give a gentle mix. Add some of the reserved cheese and give another mix.
- Serve in soup bowls and garnish with fresh parsley and some shredded cheese.
I’m so disappointed 😭 I had such high hopes for this soup - I’ve made broccoli cheese from scratch before, but as a new mom, I just didn’t have time to make the roux and all so thought I’d try this. The cheese didn’t homogenize very well in the soup and I ended up with lots of lump of gooey cheese. If you like soup with melted cheese mixed in, like my husband does, you will like this soup. Personally, I think lumps of melted cheese are nasty. And I paid for the short prep time with time trying to scrape it off of every dish and spoon this soup touched instead. Maybe there’s a way to modify the recipe to make the cheese incorporate better? I don’t want to be a hater, but I also don’t want other people to be as disappointed as I was.
I'm so sorry you were disappointed, Sara. Thank you for your valuable feedback! I have updated the recipe to better incorporate the cheese!
Not going to lie, this soup didn't meet my expectations and did not look like the pictures. Not sure if I blended too much or left the broccoli in the crock pot too long... either way I have a green mush. It tastes good....but not like broccoli cheese soup.
Hmmm, I'm so sorry to hear that, Randa. If it was a green mush, then it sounds like the broccoli to cheese ratio was off and maybe it was cooked too long. Again, sorry to hear that it did not meet your expectations.
Homemade broccoli soup is so so dreamy! I can't even fathom how delicious this would be, with all that glorious cheddar. Cheddar is, hands down, my favorite type of cheese. I do throw roasted broccoli in my cheddar macs once in a while, and the combo is dynamite. I need this soup in my life; in my bowl, and in my mouth. Stat. Lol.
We buy that exact same cheese at Costco LOL! I'm loving this recipe so much. We got a bunch of snow last night and wouldn't you know it... I have a bag of broccoli AND cheese and I might just need to make this. 🙂
I seriously need to make this recipe so I can get your "condensed cream of celery soup from scratch" onto my "made that!" list. I love the sound of that AND broccoli cheddar...and I'm pretty sure you have comfort food nailed! Thanks for this beautiful recipe 🙂
I remember when my daughter was young - Grandma (and Grandpa) time was the best! And having a slow cooker, hands off meal makes any day even better. Especially, these chilly winter days we're having right now. This is the perfect time to pull out the slow cooker and make a healthy batch of broccoli cheddar soup. Thanks!
I love how easy this is to just throw in the crockpot and let it cook away while you enjoy mom time and your mom enjoys grandma time! Even more special is using your own stock and condensed cream of celery soup!! Love it
Broccoli cheddar soup is the best way ever to warm up on a cold day! I’ve never made it in a slow cooker, but I love the idea of putting everything in the slow cooker and coming home to soup hours later. Perfect comfort food!
Who knew it could be so simple? I'm married to my crockpot this time of year and so happy to find another soup recipe because....well, WINTER!! This sounds absolutely delish!
I looooove a good broccoli cheddar soup. A hands-off crockpot version sounds like a fantastic idea. I like that you've got lots of carrots in the soup too - I find that makes a much tastier, slightly sweeter base. I bet it smells fantastic to come home to the house with this bubbling away. Cheers!