This Creamy Broccoli and Cauliflower Soup is the perfect marriage of two delicious cruciferous vegetables!
There is almost nothing better than a warm bowl of soup. It instantly feels like a hug in a bowl, especially during chilly evenings. This recipe is smooth, rich, and made with nourishing vegetables but is also packed with flavor from the cheddar cheese and crispy bacon topping.
With soup season in full swing, I am currently loving all the cozy soup recipes for dinner. Some of my personal favorites (and reader favorites) are: Panera’s Copycat Broccoli Cheddar Soup , Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup , Instant Pot Lasagna Soup , Slow Cooker Chicken Gnocchi Soup , and for something hearty my Dutch Oven Beef Stew is a must-make!
If you are looking for a vegan soup made in one pot…this Butternut Squash soup will satisfy all of your cravings.
If you’re in the mood for something nutritious and cozy, you’ve found the right soup! My hubby requests this one often during peak soup season. He is currently in his sourdough bread making journey era and we can easily polish off half a loaf of bread with this soup, it’s just the perfect dunking soup! Take it a step further and enjoy it with a grilled cheese!
This soup is:
- Creamy, cozy, and veggie packed!
- Easy to make in just one pot (I’ll do dishes tonight!)
- Oh-So-Flavorful!
- Vegetarian/Vegan friendly
- Perfect for an appetizer or can be made into a meal by adding in ham or serving with grilled cheese sandwiches!
Ingredients Notes
(For the full recipe, scroll down to the recipe card below)
- Onions: Onions serve a great purpose in soups, which is why you may notice it in most soup recipes! Onions provide nice caramel flavors from sautéing them, as well as umami.
- Garlic: Did you know the more you cut or slice the garlic, the more flavor it will give your soup? If you do not prefer the garlic flavor, toss the whole garlic clove into the soup, and you will hardly know there’s any garlic in the soup. For a stronger garlic flavor, cut the garlic clove into 8 slices so more allicin can be formed.
- Carrots: I love the flavor carrots add to soup and, they provide an excellent source of Vitamin A and fiber.
- Cauliflower: Most cauliflower soups lack flavor, but this broccoli and cauliflower soup packs a flavorful punch. Cauliflower is a good source of fiber, Vitamin C and K.
- Broccoli: The broccoli compliments the cheddar in this recipe perfectly and is loaded with vitamin C and antioxidants, which are great for your immune system during the colder months.
- Other ingredients needed in this recipe : butter, chicken broth (or vegetable broth), flour, cheddar cheese, heavy whipping cream, red pepper chili flakes (optional), dried basil, salt and pepper.
How to make Broccoli and Cauliflower Soup
(For the full recipe, scroll down to the recipe card below)
Cook the veg!
Literally add it all in, and saute for ~10 minutes until softened.
Add seasonings and broth
Let’s add some flavor with dried basil, some red pepper chili flakes if you like some heat, salt and pepper of course, and chicken bone broth or chicken stock. Bring it to a boil, then down to a simmer, cover and allow to simmer for 15 minutes.
Blend it up!
Use an immersion blender or a high powered blender like a Vitamix to blend the soup until smooth. Add in the cheddar and heavy cream and stir until the cheese has melted.
Add toppings and dive in
Crispy bacon, fresh herbs, more cheese obviously, and a big slice of toasted bread…hello cozy!
Kitchen appliances needed for broccoli and cauliflower soup:
- A large stock pot or Dutch oven to cook the soup in.
- An immersion blender to make the soup creamy and smooth is preferred but a blender will work well too.
- Chef’s knife for dicing and chopping veggies and a cutting board!
Can I make Broccoli and Cauliflower soup vegan?
Yes! Use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth; use vegan cheese and coconut milk instead of heavy whipping cream.
More soup recipes you’ll love
Creamy Wild Rice Soup
Panera Autumn Squash Soup (Copycat)
Green Chicken Chili Soup (Slow Cooker)
Slow Cooker Chicken Gnocchi Soup
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This recipe was published originally November 2019, and updated with new photos Jan. 2025. 📸 Photos by Megan McKeehan of The Broke Girl Table
Broccoli and Cauliflower Soup
Ingredients
- 1/2 yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter
- 1 head cauliflower, chopped into small pieces
- 2 heads broccoli, chopped into small pieces
- 1 large carrot, diced
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. pepper
- 3 Tbsp. flour*
- 1 tsp. dried basil
- 1 tsp. red pepper chili flakes (optional)
- 6 cups chicken bone broth/chicken stock (or vegetable broth)
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- Garnish: bacon, cheddar cheese, toasted bread
Instructions
- In a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, add the butter, onion, garlic, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and salt and pepper. Stir occasionally for ~7-10 minutes or until vegetables are vibrant, fragrant and somewhat softened. 1/2 yellow onion, diced, 2 cloves garlic, minced, 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter, 1 head cauliflower, chopped into small pieces, 2 heads broccoli, chopped into small pieces, 1 large carrot, diced, 1 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. pepper
- Add in the flour, basil, and red pepper chili flakes if using. Stir for ~1 minute to coat the veggies. 3 Tbsp. flour*, 1 tsp. dried basil, 1 tsp. red pepper chili flakes (optional)
- Add in the chicken broth and bring to a boil. 6 cups chicken bone broth/chicken stock (or vegetable broth)
- Cover, turn the heat down to low and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Using an immersion blender, blend until smooth and creamy. Alternately, carefully transfer the hot soup to a blender and blend. Once blended, add in heavy cream and cheese. Stir until combined. 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- Serve warm and garnish with cheese and bacon if desired. Store in the fridge for up to 3-4 day. Garnish: bacon, cheddar cheese, toasted bread
Video
Notes
- Kitchen appliances to make the soup creamy: Use an immersion blender or blender. An immersion blender is my tool of choice!
- You can use frozen broccoli & cauliflower if you don’t have fresh on hand!
- Flour* To make gluten-free: use gluten-free flour
- This makes enough for eight people for dinner. If serving smaller portions for appetizers, it will, of course, feed more.
- We usually enjoy this for dinner with grilled cheese! So good and comforting.
