This thick and creamy chicken broccoli cheddar soup is a delicious filling dinner on a cold day. A substantial mix of onions, carrot, and broccoli simmers in a thick cheesy base with added protein from shredded chicken.
Why You Should Make This Soup
This chicken broccoli cheddar soup is a well-rounded meal. It contains vegetables, fat, protein, and carbs (a little flour in the soup + bread on the side), so the gang's all here! Even picky eaters and small humans will love this delicious soup - the base is so cheesy and creamy they won't even notice (or care about) all of the broccoli. Ready in 40 minutes or less, this is an easy dinner idea that is not only quick enough for a weekday but also comforting enough for a weekend.
Which Ingredients Do I Need?
- Onion: You'll need one small onion or half of a large onion. Yellow or white will do.
- Broccoli: I used fresh broccoli, rinsed and cut up into bite sized pieces. You can use florets only or use a mixture of florets and stems.
- Carrots: Just a bit of shredded carrots adds texture and flavor. You can use pre-made matchstick carrots or shred your own.
- Butter: Half a stick of butter will be needed to cook the veggies... and add buttery goodness, of course.
- Milk: I used whole milk. You can use lower fat options, but the soup won't be quite as rich. You can also use a mixture of milk and half and half or milk and cream.
- Chicken Broth: You can use regular or low-sodium.
- Flour: Used to make the soup thick and rich.
- Cheese: But of course! I used shredded sharp cheddar. Mild or extra-sharp can be used, depending on your preference.
Do I Need Any Special Equipment?
You need only a few basic supplies to create chicken broccoli cheddar soup:
What Should I Serve With This Soup?
Chicken broccoli cheddar soup is amazing dipped with a warm dinner roll with a crunchy crust, chunks of French or Italian bread, sliced Ciabatta rolls, or garlic butter toast. It's also an ideal soup to eat from a bread bowl - yum yum!
Can I Make This Soup In Advance?
Yes. I find that chicken broccoli cheddar soup reheats very well either covered in the microwave or reheated on the stove. It will keep for several days stored in the refrigerator. So eat up those leftovers!
Can Broccoli Cheddar Soup Be Frozen?
Yes, it can!
- To Freeze: Allow the soup to cool and then transfer into gallon-size freezer-safe zip top storage bags. You may need more than one. Stack the bags onto a baking sheet and freeze until mostly solid, and then you can stack the flat bags like little files in your freezer so that they take up less space!
- To Thaw: Allow the soup to sit on the counter for just long enough to be able to break up it up with your hands while inside the bag. Transfer the contents to a pan and reheat on the stove.
Chicken Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Thick, creamy, and cheesy, this delicious broccoli cheddar soup has added chicken to make it even more filling.
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 servings
Ingredients
- 4 TBS (½ a stick) unsalted butter
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- ½ cup finely shredded carrots
- 3 cups broccoli florets and stems, cut small
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups whole milk
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or chopped small
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a soup pot, melt the butter and add the onions, shredded carrots, and broccoli. Cook until softened.
- Add the broth and milk and heat until warm, stirring occasionally.
- In a bowl, add the flour and then add ¼ cup of the warm soup. Whisk to remove any lumps.
- Return the flour slurry to the soup pot and stir. Continue cooking until thickened - this may take 10-15 minutes.
- Season with salt and pepper. Add the shredded cheese and chicken. Stir until cheese is melted and chicken is warmed. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
- Serve immediately with warm dinner rolls.
Notes
You can use white or yellow onions
Low fat milk options can be used, though the soup base will not be as rich and creamy.
You can cook the chicken however you like - bake it, boil it, or pan fry. You can also pull apart a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
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