Oh, when the weather turns chilly or honestly, any time I need a hug in a bowl, nothing beats soup, right? Forget those watery, thin versions you sometimes get out there. I’m sharing my absolute favorite, the quickest, creamiest recipe known to humankind: the Delicious Cream Of Broccoli Soup A Comforting Delight. This isn’t fussy; it’s pure magic made on the stovetop in under forty minutes. I love making this because the kitchen smells incredible—that gentle scent of sautéed onion and garlic just pulls everyone straight to the counter, waiting for the first spoonful.
Why This Delicious Cream Of Broccoli Soup A Comforting Delight Stands Out
Seriously, this isn’t your grandmother’s soup unless she was secretly a culinary genius who developed recipes incredibly fast! This Delicious Cream Of Broccoli Soup A Comforting Delight is special because it hits all the right notes without stressing you out.
- It’s fast—ready in about 40 minutes total. Who needs takeout?
- The texture is velvety smooth but still has that honest, vegetable-forward flavor.
- We use simple ingredients to create a deeply satisfying taste experience.
If you’re looking for great ways to use up that broccoli, check out my notes on using roasted broccoli for cheddar soup, but for pure speed, this stovetop method wins every time.
Unmatched Creaminess Without Complicated Steps
We achieve that dreamy thickness through two sneaky partners: a quick flour-and-butter thickening agent—we call it the roux—and then a splash of heavy cream right at the end. There’s no soaking cashews or messing around with a complicated separation technique. It’s all built right there in the pot, making it wonderfully uncomplicated.
Gathering Ingredients for Delicious Cream Of Broccoli Soup A Comforting Delight
Okay, prepping for this Delicious Cream Of Broccoli Soup A Comforting Delight is almost as fun as eating it! You just need a few real pantry staples to get that deep, rewarding flavor. Trust me, having everything chopped and ready before you even turn on the stove prevents so much mid-cooking chaos.
Here is what you need to pull together for four lovely servings. Make sure your broccoli is washed and chopped nicely—I chop both the florets and the stems because we want every bit of green flavor in there!
- One tablespoon of butter—real butter makes the base flavor so much richer.
- One medium onion, and make sure you get it finely chopped!
- Two cloves of garlic, minced up nice and small.
- Four cups of broth—I use chicken broth usually, but vegetable works great if you’re keeping it vegetarian. If you want to make your own amazing broth, check out this hack on homemade bouillon cubes!
- Four cups of broccoli, both florets and stems, chopped medium.
- Half a cup of all-purpose flour to help it get thick.
- One cup of milk.
- Half a cup of heavy cream—this is non-negotiable for that luxurious texture!
- Just half a teaspoon of salt and a quarter teaspoon of pepper to start.
- And totally optional, but I always do it: a quarter cup of sharp shredded cheddar cheese to melt in at the very end. So good!
Essential Equipment for Your Delicious Cream Of Broccoli Soup A Comforting Delight
You don’t need a huge arsenal of gadgets for this soup, which is part of why I love it so much! Having the right tools just makes the process that much smoother, though. Don’t worry if you don’t have an immersion blender; we have a backup plan.
Make sure you have:
- A large, sturdy soup pot or Dutch oven.
- A cutting board and a sharp knife for prepping your veggies.
- A whisk—you need this for beating out those lumps when adding the flour and broth!
- Either an immersion (stick) blender for easy blending right in the pot, or a standard blender ready to go if you need to transfer the soup carefully.
Step-by-Step Instructions for the Best Delicious Cream Of Broccoli Soup A Comforting Delight
Follow these steps exactly, and you are going to have the most incredible Delicious Cream Of Broccoli Soup A Comforting Delight on your table faster than you think! I’ve broken it down so there are no guesswork moments. Remember, the key to anything creamy is patience during those initial steps!
Building the Flavor Base
- First things first, get that big pot sitting over medium heat, and drop in your tablespoon of butter. Let it melt completely until it shimmers a little bit.
- Toss in your medium chopped onion. This needs a good five minutes here, just stirring occasionally, until they get soft and see-through—don’t let them brown!
- After the onion has softened up nicely, add your minced garlic. Garlic burns so fast, so only let it hang out in the heat for about one minute until you can really smell it.
- Now for the thickener! Sprinkle in your half cup of flour right over the butter and veggies. Stir constantly for exactly one minute; we are cooking that raw flour taste out. This is your roux, the secret weapon!
Simmering and Achieving Tenderness
- This is where you need your whisk! Slowly, slowly start pouring in those four cups of broth while whisking the whole time. Keep whisking until everything is completely smooth and there are absolutely zero lumps.
- Toss in all four cups of your chopped broccoli—florets and stems! Bring the whole pot up to a boil, and the second it starts bubbling hard, turn that heat way down to low.
- Let it simmer gently for about 15 minutes. This cooks the broccoli until it’s perfectly tender. Expert Tip: If you like some actual texture in your soup, scoop out about half a cup of the florets right before blending and stir those back in at the very end! It’s a great trick, just as good as putting extra crunch in a chicken pot pie topping!
Blending and Finishing Touches for Delicious Cream Of Broccoli Soup A Comforting Delight
- Time to make it smooth! If you have an immersion blender, this is easy: stick it right in the pot and blend until you get that beautiful, silky texture you expect from a Delicious Cream Of Broccoli Soup A Comforting Delight. If you’re using a regular blender, you MUST be careful! Let the soup cool down for a bit before transferring it in batches. Don’t fill the blender more than halfway. Secure that lid with a towel over the top, because hot liquids expand, and we don’t want soup explosions! Blend until smooth and pour it all back into the pot.
- Put the pot back on low heat. Stir in your cup of milk and that essential half cup of heavy cream. Just heat it through gently—do not let it boil once the dairy is in, or it might separate!
- Season generously with salt and pepper. If you are using the cheddar, stir it in now until it melts seamlessly into the creamy base. Serve this beauty piping hot!
Tips for Perfect Delicious Cream Of Broccoli Soup A Comforting Delight
You’ve made a fantastic Delicious Cream Of Broccoli Soup A Comforting Delight, but what if it’s just not quite right? Don’t sweat it! I’ve tweaked this recipe a million times based on what my pantry had on hand.
If your soup is thinner than you hoped—maybe you held back on the flour or didn’t let it simmer long enough—here is my fix. Just take out about a cup of the blended soup and whisk in an extra tablespoon of flour until it’s super smooth. Whisk that slurry back into the pot and let it simmer for another five minutes. It will thicken right up!
Also, if you don’t have both milk and heavy cream, don’t stress about running to the store. Substituting with an equal amount—one and a half cups total—of half-and-half works beautifully. It keeps that wonderful richness without needing two separate containers. Cooking shouldn’t be stressful; it should be fun, just like making my creamy mac and cheese!
Serving Suggestions for Your Comforting Soup
Honestly, this soup is so rich and satisfying, it barely needs anything else, but a few simple additions turn it into a complete meal. You absolutely must have something crusty for dipping!
I always bake a fresh batch of simple cheddar biscuits or even serve it alongside my famous fluffy dinner rolls. The joy of soaking up that cheesy, creamy broth is part of the experience!
If you want something lighter to balance the richness, a simple side salad with a bright vinaigrette—maybe lemon and Dijon—cuts through the dairy perfectly. A sprinkle of fresh chives or crispy bacon bits on top also adds a lovely textural surprise right before serving.
Storage and Reheating Delicious Cream Of Broccoli Soup A Comforting Delight
The problem with making something this good is that you never want it to end! Luckily, leftovers of this Delicious Cream Of Broccoli Soup A Comforting Delight are fantastic the next day. You need to let the soup cool down completely, then tuck it away in an airtight container in the fridge. It usually lasts about three to four days that way.
When you reheat it, remember that the milk and cream are sensitive. Never blast it on high heat on the stovetop! You want to reheat it gently over medium-low heat, just warming it through until steamy. If you’re warming up a big batch, I sometimes thin it out with a splash of milk or broth as it thickens up in the fridge. It’s almost as comforting as my crockpot chicken noodle soup, but takes way less time!
Frequently Asked Questions About Delicious Cream Of Broccoli Soup A Comforting Delight
I know you probably have a few things rattling around in your head after reading through this recipe for Delicious Cream Of Broccoli Soup A Comforting Delight. It’s always easy to adapt things in the kitchen, so here are the answers to the things folks ask me most often!
Can I make this Delicious Cream Of Broccoli Soup A Comforting Delight vegan?
Absolutely! It’s just a few swaps. Ditch the butter for the same amount of olive oil or vegan butter, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth, and swap the milk and heavy cream for a combination of full-fat oat milk or unsweetened cashew cream. Skip the cheddar cheese, though if you want that cheesy flavor, a sprinkle of nutritional yeast might hit the spot!
How do I prevent the soup from becoming grainy when reheating?
This is all about gentle heat, especially because we added that dairy at the end. When you reheat leftovers, never let the soup come to a rolling boil! Let it sit on medium-low heat, stirring often, until it’s just steaming hot throughout. If it seems too thick, stirring in a tiny splash of water or fresh milk while warming it up will keep that lovely creamy texture you worked so hard for.
What about using frozen broccoli instead of fresh?
Frozen broccoli works in a pinch, but honestly, the texture will be a little softer than fresh. If you use frozen, go ahead and toss them in with the broth when you simmer, but cut your simmering time down significantly—maybe just 8 to 10 minutes, since they are already partially cooked. It still makes a great soup, perfect if you’re comparing it to the famous Panera broccoli cheddar soup!
Nutritional Estimates for Delicious Cream Of Broccoli Soup A Comforting Delight
It’s always nice to have a ballpark idea of what you’re eating, especially when you’re enjoying such a satisfying bowl of Delicious Cream Of Broccoli Soup A Comforting Delight! Based on the ingredients here for four servings, here are the rough numbers per cup serving.
- Calories: About 250
- Fat: Around 15g
- Protein: Around 10g
- Carbs: Roughly 20g
Just remember, these figures are estimates! If you load up on extra cheddar insurance (and who could blame you?), or if you use lighter milk, those numbers will shift a bit. But either way, it’s a hearty, comforting choice!
Print
Cream of Broccoli Soup
- Total Time: 40 min
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A simple recipe for a comforting broccoli soup.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 4 cups broccoli florets and stems, chopped
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat.
- Add onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes.
- Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
- Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute.
- Gradually whisk in broth until smooth.
- Add broccoli. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until broccoli is tender, about 15 minutes.
- Use an immersion blender or carefully transfer soup to a regular blender to blend until smooth. Return soup to the pot.
- Stir in milk and heavy cream. Heat through, but do not boil.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Stir in cheese, if using, until melted. Serve hot.
Notes
- For a thicker soup, simmer longer before blending.
- You can substitute half-and-half for the milk and heavy cream mixture.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 25 min
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 550
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Unsaturated Fat: 6
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 20
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 10
- Cholesterol: 40
Keywords: broccoli soup, cream of broccoli, comfort food, vegetable soup, easy soup