Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Soup (Printable version)
Velvety smooth broccoli cheddar soup with tender vegetables, rich sharp cheese, and creamy broth. An effortless slow cooker meal.
# List of ingredients:
→ Vegetables
01 - 5 cups fresh broccoli florets, approximately 2 large heads
02 - 1 medium onion, diced
03 - 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
04 - 2 stalks celery, diced
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
→ Liquids & Dairy
06 - 4 cups vegetable broth, low sodium preferred
07 - 2 cups half-and-half or whole milk
08 - 3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
09 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
→ Pantry Staples
10 - 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
11 - 1 teaspoon salt
12 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
13 - 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
14 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
# Directions:
01 - Place broccoli florets, diced onion, carrots, celery, and minced garlic in the slow cooker. Pour vegetable broth over the vegetables, ensuring they are mostly submerged.
02 - Cover slow cooker and cook on low heat for 4 hours until vegetables are completely tender and easily pierced with a fork.
03 - Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly until mixture bubbles and becomes fragrant but does not brown.
04 - Gradually pour half-and-half into the roux while whisking continuously. Continue whisking for 3 to 4 minutes until sauce thickens and becomes completely smooth without lumps.
05 - Pour the cream mixture into the slow cooker and stir to combine. Use an immersion blender to puree soup until desired consistency is reached, leaving some texture if preferred.
06 - Stir in shredded sharp cheddar cheese, salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and ground nutmeg. Continue stirring until cheese is fully melted and incorporated throughout the soup.
07 - Taste soup and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve hot, garnished with additional shredded cheddar cheese or accompanied by crusty bread.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Set it and forget it freedom means you can actually tackle that laundry mountain while dinner cooks itself
- The secret ingredient combination makes everyone think you worked harder than you actually did
02 -
- Never boil the soup once the cheese is added or it will separate into an unappealing grainy mess that still tastes fine but looks sad
- Temper the hot soup with the milk mixture gradually instead of dumping it all in at once
03 -
- Cut all your vegetables to roughly the same size so they cook evenly and nobody gets an enormous chunk of onion
- Grate your cheese from a block for that professional-quality smooth melt that makes all the difference