A hearty Creamy Broccoli Soup and just over 300 calories for a big filling bowl - this is healthy comfort food and ready in under 20 minutes too. The creaminess will make it feel much more indulgent than it actually is. Soup is an easy way to increase your vegetable intake, it's cheap to make and it's warming for those cold autumn/winter days.
This is the creamiest of creamy soups and that is just thanks to the milk and a little bit of grated cheese - no cream needed. When all blended together it gives it such a creamy texture that this soup feels far more indulgent than it actually is and it's one of your five a day too.
You could mix things up a bit and do half broccoli and half cauliflower. It would change the colour and flavour, but it would make a nice change. We all know how well cauliflower and cheese go together too.
If you want to get more broccoli in your diet, this is an easy way to do it. Fancy trying some more broccoli recipes? Why not try our Roasted Tenderstem Broccoli, Broccoli Pasta Bake or Broccoli Cheese.
Jump to:
Why should you try it?
- Easy way to eat more vegetables - We can all struggle to eat enough vegetables sometimes, and this is an easy recipe to give you a veggie boost. It is also one of your five a day.
- Quick - This broccoli soup is ready in under 20 minutes
- Super creamy and comforting - Total creamy comfort food, but no cream used
- Low calories - This is a low calories meal option with just over 300 calories for a huge filling bowl.
- Healthy - Broccoli is a great source of vitamins K and C, a good source of folate (folic acid) and also provides potassium, fibre.
What you will need
- Broccoli - The star of this dish. To make this the best it possible can be, then try to choose the perfect broccoli. Choose a broccoli head with tight, green florets and firm stalks. Your broccoli should feel heavy for its size. Avoid broccoli with dried out or browning stem ends or yellowing florets.
- Potato - This helps to really thicken the soup up. You could leave it out if you prefer a more brothy soup.
- Onion - You could swap this for shallots if you prefer, and this would give the soup a slightly sweeter taste.
- Milk - This is what helps to make the soup creamy. You can make it more indulgent by swapping the milk for cream.
- Vegetable stock - Try to use the best quality stock you can buy. If you are making this for young children, then use a low salt stock.
- Garlic - To save yourself some time, use some of that lazy ready chopped garlic in a jar.
- Mustard - We used wholegrain mustard, but Dijon would work well too.
- Cheese - We used a mature cheddar, as it has a nice strong flavour, which means you can get away with using less of it.
Step by step
One: Heat some oil in a large pan and cook the onion, garlic and potato for 3 minutes.
Two: ;Then add the stock, mustard and salt and pepper and simmer for 2 minutes.
Three: Add the milk and the broccoli and cook for 10 minutes.
Four: Blend until smooth then stir in the grated cheese.
Five: Pour into bowls and top with grated cheddar.
Watch our web story for a quick how-to of making this Broccoli Soup.
Health benefits of broccoli
This creamy soup is low in calories and fat and even people that don't love broccoli have said that they love this soup. If one of your goals is to get extra vegetables in to your diet, then this is a recipe for you to try. It really doesn't feel like you are eating vegetables.
Superfood is a bit of a buzz food that is thrown around, but there is no denying that broccoli is nutrient dense. It's a great source of vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6 and K, as well as iron, zinc and fibre, which can support digestive health.
Did you know that broccoli is also a good source of protein, although an incomplete one.
You could add even more veggies by throwing some spinach or kale in there too. It would give it even more of a vibrant green colour too, not to mention a vitamin boost.
What to serve it with
Warm crusty French bread is the best thing to dip in this creamy soup. However, if you want to keep it lighter, but still want a bit of texture to it, then why don't sprinkle some croutons on top.
We make our own easy croutons by chopping up some bread in to squares and drizzling over a little olive oil and a sprinkle of garlic granules and dried herbs. Put them in the oven for about 5 minutes to crisp up. Perfect for adding to soups and salads.
Why not try making our Garlic and Rosemary Focaccia to dip in it.
When it comes to toppings, some raw broccoli and grated cheese (although stilton goes really well with broccoli soup) is our go-to combo. However, some crispy grilled bacon is an amazing addition. It adds some nice texture to it.
FAQs
You wouldn't think that creamy broccoli soup was kid friendly, but it really is. In our house anyway! Add a ladle to a bowl and then top with cooked pasta to make it more filling. It's more of a pasta soup stew combo, which makes it easier for little kids to feed themselves.
This soup is all about the creaminess, but that doesn't mean that you couldn't easily make a vegan broccoli soup. Simply swap the semi-skimmed milk for almond/soya milk, or use extra stock and add a dollop of oat creme fraiche once it is blended. Swap the cheese for a good melty vegan cheese too.
This soup is always best eaten fresh, however if you do have leftovers then you can keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days. Let it cool down and then store in an air tight container in the fridge.
Yes, broccoli soup freezes really well. Allow it to completely cool first and then portion it out in to air tight containers or freezer bags (these are great for space saving as you can lay them flat) and then it will keep in the fridge for up to 3 months. Let it defrost and then you can reheat it in the microwave or heat it through on the hob.
It depends on the size of the head of your broccoli. Ours was fairly large, so we cut florets off and then quartered each of them. If you were using a smaller head of broccoli, then you might just need to halve them.
Yes, this can be gluten free if you use a gluten free stock and mustard. Make sure you grate the cheese yourself rather than using a bag of pre-grated cheese as that is sometimes coated in flour to stop it from sticking together.
To thicken the soup, you will need to make a cornflour slurry. Simply mix together equal parts cornflour flour and water and then whisk that mixture in to the soup. Usually 2 tablespoons of cornflour and 2 tablespoons of water mixed together does the job. You can use this tip for thin stews too.
Yes, you can make this in advance and then leave it to cool in the pan, cover and refrigerate the whole pan. Then, when you want to serve it you can put the whole pan (uncovered) on the hob and heat it through.
Extra tips
- You could add some cauliflower too to use a mixture of vegetables.
- Prefer a stronger flavour? Use Stilton instead of mature cheddar.
- If you are making this for young kids, mix some little bits of pasta in to it, to make more of a pasta soup stew.
- You could make this vegan by using almond/soya milk and vegan cheese.
- Try using shallots instead of onions for a sweeter flavour.
- Top with some toasted seeds to add some crunch.
- Give this a green spinach boost by adding some spinach to it. It will make it a really vibrant green colour too.
- Use a stick blender to blend this soup. If you are going to use a jug blender, make sure it cools down first, as putting hot soup in can cause it to explode.
- Add a drizzle of olive oil for presentation.
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DON’T FORGET TO RATE THE RECIPE ↓
Recipe
Creamy Broccoli Soup
Ingredients
- 800 ml vegetable stock
- 200 ml semi-skimmed milk
- 1 medium potato peeled and chopped
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 2 garlic cloves crushed
- 1 large head of broccoli chopped
- 1 teaspoon wholegrain mustard
- 1 pinch sea salt and black pepper
- 60 g mature cheddar cheese grated
Instructions
- Heat some oil in a large pan and cook the onion, garlic and potato for 3 minutes.
- Add the stock, mustard and salt and pepper and simmer for 2 minutes.
- Add the milk and the broccoli and cook for 10 minutes.
- Blend until smooth, then stir in the grated cheese.
- Pour into bowls and top with more grated cheddar (optional).
Notes
- You could add some cauliflower too to use a mixture of vegetables.
- Prefer a stronger flavour? Use Stilton instead of mature cheddar.
- If you are making this for young kids, mix some little bits of pasta in to it, to make more of a pasta soup stew.
- You could make this vegan by using almond/soya milk and vegan cheese.
- Try using shallots instead of onions for a sweeter flavour.
- Top with some toasted seeds to add some crunch.
- Give this a green spinach boost by adding some spinach to it. It will make it a really vibrant green colour too.
- Use a stick blender to blend this soup. If you are going to use a jug blender, make sure it cools down first, as putting hot soup in can cause it to explode.
- Add a drizzle of olive oil for presentation.
Emmeline
This looks so yummy! I love broccoli - add this gorgeous creaminess and I'm all in!
Jacqueline Debono
I love broccoli soup, especially with cheese in it! I sometimes make it with gorgonzola which is delicious too (if you like gorgonzola!) Yours looks so yummy and creamy!
Katie Bryson
I adore broccoli and stilton soup, but your version sounds great - love the mustard for that hit of extra flavour! I think I might have to make me a batch of this for the firefighter...
Mazino Oyolo Kigho
I have never tasted brocolli before. It is not available in my country.
Elizabeth
MMmm I love cream of broccoli soup, myself. I make mine with watercress in it too. I like the addition of mustard in yours, I bet that really enhances everything (love mustard!)
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche
I often avoid making creamy soups because I don't want to add a load of cream to my food - I never knew that adding milk worked just as well! This looks lovely.
ohsogawjess
This looks so yum! We have just eaten a parsnip and lemon soup which is the one thing the Hubs can cook!
xXx
Sonia
Ooh this looks lovely, I love Broccoli but have never has it in soup before. I must try as I was moaning the other day about always having the same old soups lol x
Mazino Oyolo Kigho
I wish I can taste this
fashion-mommy
That sounds amazing, I totally love Broccoli soup so am definitely going to be trying this out.
Beccy
Look at that colour. It looks so healthy.
Kelly
Do you have a recipe for a creamy chicken soup? Similar to the ones you can buy in a can.
Kelly
Chicken noodle soup is my favourite kind of soup. There is just something so comforting about it.
Tracy
I think by putting cheese in this I might actually be able to get my husband to eat broccoli. I would love this, but I think he might turn his nose up at it lol.
Gina
I am making this for lunch today. It sounds really good!
lucie
Broccoli has to be my all time favourite soup - especially when its home-made! We make ours with oats and coconut milk and its the most delicious creamy thing in the world!
JayanthiSindhiya
Lovely and a healthy soup,so colourful
Dannii
Thanks :)
Brittany
I don't trust people that don't like broccoli...HA!
Kathy @ Olives & Garlic
This is one of my favorite soups and now my daughter is becoming a huge fan of it. Making your recipe tomorrow night.
Lacey@fairytalesandfitness
I make a tasty broccoli cheddar soup in the crockpot. I will have to try this version of it.
Kelley @ Chef Savvy
Looks wonderful! Who knew broccoli soup could be healthy? I have been eating soup like crazy can't wait to try this one!