Roasted Broccoli Cheddar Soup (Printer-Friendly)

Creamy soup with roasted broccoli, carrots, and sharp cheddar. Comforting and satisfying in under an hour.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 large head broccoli, cut into florets
02 - 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
03 - 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced

→ Dairy

05 - 1½ cups sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
06 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
07 - 1 cup whole milk
08 - ½ cup heavy cream

→ Broth

09 - 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth

→ Seasonings

10 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
11 - ½ teaspoon dried basil
12 - ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
13 - ½ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
14 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ Oil

15 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F
02 - Toss broccoli florets with 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread on baking sheet and roast for 20-25 minutes until golden and tender, stirring halfway through cooking
03 - While broccoli roasts, heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and butter in large pot over medium heat. Sauté onion and carrots for 5-6 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more
04 - Add roasted broccoli to pot, reserving a few florets for garnish if desired. Stir in thyme, basil, and nutmeg
05 - Pour in vegetable broth. Bring to boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes
06 - Use immersion blender to puree soup until smooth, or blend in batches in countertop blender, exercising caution with hot liquids
07 - Stir in milk and heavy cream. Gradually add cheddar cheese, stirring until fully melted and soup reaches creamy consistency. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste
08 - Ladle soup into bowls and serve hot, garnished with reserved broccoli florets and extra cheddar if desired

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The roasted broccoli brings a depth of flavor that tastes like someone who actually knows how to cook made this, but you'll have it ready in under an hour.
  • Sharp cheddar and cream balance each other so well that this tastes indulgent without being heavy or one-note.
  • It blends to silky smoothness, which means even people who claim they don't like visible vegetables will ask for seconds.
02 -
  • Pre-shredded cheese will make your soup look grainy and broken; spend the extra minute grating it fresh—the difference is genuinely shocking.
  • Don't blend the soup while it's at a rolling boil or you risk splatters everywhere; a gentle simmer is all you need and much safer.
  • If your soup breaks or looks separated after adding the cheese, whisk in a splash of cold milk and it'll come back together.
03 -
  • Grating the cheese fresh is worth every second—it melts into the soup silkily instead of clumping up like pre-shredded does.
  • If your soup seizes or looks broken after adding dairy, whisk in a little cold milk and it'll relax back into creaminess.
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