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This Broccoli Cheese Soup recipe is the perfect busy weeknight dinner solution. Rich and creamy, with the perfect pairing of broccoli and cheese, this soup is all things comfort food. Throw in a hearty slice of fresh bread and sign me up for a drool fest followed by a food coma. Yum! 

 

 

I love the Panera broccoli cheese soup and have searched high and low for a comparably swoon-worthy recipe, and my friends — this is it! The perfect copycat Panera soup recipe! 

One of the things that makes this broccoli and cheese soup recipe even more lovable is how quick and easy it is to prepare! You can have this soup prepped and prepared in a half hour! It really can’t be beat. 

 

 

What you need to make this broccoli cheese soup: 

• Chicken broth – this makes up the liquid foundation of your soup. 
• Butter – butter adds richness and flavor to your soup. We use it to sauté our veggies before adding the other ingredients. 
• Cornstarch – there are a couple options for thickening soups. In this recipe, we utilize cornstarch as the thickener. 
• Velveeta cheese – this is a Velveeta soup recipe. Velveeta is great in that it adds a lot of flavor and maintains a great, smooth and creamy texture. 
• Carrots – this recipe uses grated instead of sliced carrots. The grated carrot helps keep the texture of the soup less chunky and more similar to what you get at Panera. 
• Onion – again, we keep the dice very small so that the soup stays smoother and has a less chunky texture and appearance. 
• Half and half – half and half adds richness and creaminess to your broccoli and cheese soup
• Fresh broccoli – chop your fresh broccoli into bite sized pieces. You’ll steam it before stirring it into the soup at the end. You could use frozen broccoli, thawed and drained.
• Salt and pepper – classic flavor boosters that you can add to your heart’s content! 

 

 

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How to make broccoli and cheese soup:

There are 3 simple steps to making this soup!

1. Preparation.  Prep all your veggies so you can literally just toss them in when ready!
2. Cook.  Yep, a natural step in most dishes.  Cook that soup to blend the flavors and textures.
3. Serve.  Personally we love to serve this in a delicious bread bowl or with our favorite Potato Rolls or Crescent Rolls!

 

 

How to thicken broccoli cheese soup:

There are two main ways to thicken soups and sauces; this recipe uses the cornstarch method. Cornstarch is a quick and easy way to thicken gravies, soups, and sauces. It’s helpful because you can easily adjust the thickness by reducing or increasing the amount of cornstarch you use. 

Pro tip: Just be sure not to add cornstarch to an already boiling mixture as it can form lumps. Also, do not add dry cornstarch straight into a sauce or soup as it will form lumps; always mix with water and add to hot, but not boiling, soups or sauces and then bring to a boil after fully stirred in. 

Another method is to use a flour and fat combination to create a roux. A roux typically uses equal parts fat (butter or oil) and flour, though depending on desired thickness, there is some wiggle room.

Some people have said they made broccoli cheese soup by sautéing the vegetables in butter and then adding  ⅓ cup of flour and stirring constantly until vegetables are well coated. Then slowly add the chicken stock and simmer until thickened. 

 

 

How long does broccoli cheese soup last?

If stored properly, this soup can last about 4 days in the refrigerator. Store in an airtight container.

How to reheat broccoli cheese soup:

Sometimes leftover soup tastes even better than the first time you ate it! You can reheat this broccoli cheddar soup on either the stove top or in the microwave.

Reheat on the stove over medium heat in a pot with a lid, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly heated. Reheat in the microwave a minute or two at a time, stirring well in between. 

 

 

Can you freeze broccoli cheese soup?

Unfortunately, cheese soups are not great for freezing. The creams and cheeses and broth can separate after freezing and it can negatively impact the texture of your soup.

That being said, some people claim to freeze similar recipes without issue. If you’ve got lots of leftovers, give it a try and let me know how it works for you! 

 

 

What goes with broccoli cheese soup:

As with any delicious soup, the best pairing is a hearty slice of bread! Other great pairings for your broccoli cheese soup are a green salad or fresh fruit and veggies. You can also check out these other great recipes too:

• Spinach Strawberry Pecan Salad
• Chicken & Avocado Salad
• Winter Fruit Salad Recipe
• Roquefort Pear Salad
• Bacon, Lettuce Tomato Salad
• Watermelon Feta Mint Salad
• Lemon Jello
• Easy Garlic Bread
• Grape Salad Minnesota
• Ham Biscuits
• Broccoli Salad
• Sautéed Apples
• Creamy Cucumber Salad

 

 

Is broccoli cheese soup keto?

Many broccoli cheese soup recipes are keto approved or keto friendly, but the ones I’ve seen use cheddar cheese instead of Velveeta. I don’t know if this particular recipe is keto approved. 

 

 

If you’re looking for a quick, delicious, and scrumptiously rich broccoli cheese soup recipe, look no further! This soup is a real winner and will have your whole family begging for more. It’s also a great option for entertaining and potlucks as it’s so easy to prepare and mass produce! 

 

 

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