This cheesy cauliflower soup also happens to be the cauliflower version of the most popular soup recipe on Wholesome Yum: easy broccoli cheddar soup! We’re using the same method and similar components, but swapping out the broccoli for cauliflower. Both are delicious options to eat your veggies!
What Is Cauliflower Cheddar Soup?
This cheesy cauliflower soup recipe tastes similar to broccoli cheddar soup, but made with cauliflower instead of broccoli.
Cauliflower Cheddar Soup Ingredients
Here I explain the best ingredients for creamy cauliflower and cheese soup, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
Cauliflower – You’ll need four cups, which is about one medium head. I used fresh cauliflower, but frozen will work fine, too. Garlic – Fresh minced has the best flavor, but pre-minced from a jar is also fine. Chicken Broth – I prefer homemade chicken broth for best flavor and nutrition, but you can use low sodium store-bought or any kind of chicken broth. Use vegetable broth for a vegetarian soup. Heavy cream – This makes the soup rich and creamy. Half and half would also work, but the soup will be a bit thinner. Full-fat coconut milk is also fine to substitute. Cheddar cheese – Buy the cheddar pre-shredded to save some time. You can use mild or sharp cheddar cheese. Or mix it up by adding other cheeses, as long as they melt well.
How To Make Cauliflower Cheese Soup
This section shows how to make cauliflower and cheese soup with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
Saute. In a dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat, saute minced garlic until fragrant. Simmer. Add chicken broth, heavy cream, and chopped cauliflower. Bring to a boil, then simmer until the cauliflower is tender.
Blend. Remove 1/3 of the cauliflower and set aside. Use an immersion blender to puree the soup.
TIP: If you don’t have an immersion blender, you can puree in a regular blender instead. You may need to do it in batches, depending on the size of your blender.
Melt cheese. Reduce heat and add cheese 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly, until melted. Puree the mixture until smooth.
TIP: Use the cheese to thicken the soup to your liking. The more you add, the thicker the soup.
Finish cheesy cauliflower soup. Remove from heat and add the reserved cauliflower florets back into the pureed soup. If desired, garnish with more shredded cheddar and a sprinkle of chopped parsley.
Cheesy Cauliflower Soup Additions
This is a basic cauliflower cheese soup recipe, but here are some additional things you can add if you like:
Onion – Saute diced onion before you add the garlic. Bacon – You’ll want to cook it before adding to the soup. You can cook bacon in the oven, air fryer bacon, or microwave bacon, then chop and add toward the end. Alternatively, you can cook raw bacon in the dutch oven first, then saute the garlic in the bacon grease. Other vegetables – You can saute carrots or celery together with the garlic. If you like to keep them in chunks instead of pureed, remove them before you add the cauliflower to the soup and add them back in at the end. Or even make this a hybrid of simple broccoli cheese soup by swapping half of the cauliflower with broccoli. Make it spicy – Try crushed red pepper flakes, hot sauce, or cayenne pepper. Ground Meat – Add some ground beef to create a cheeseburger soup. Or, try ground sausage, or ground turkey.
Storage Instructions
Store this cauliflower cheddar soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Can cauliflower cheese soup be frozen?
Yes, you can freeze cheesy cauliflower soup! Simply let it cool to room temperature, then freeze flat in freezer bags or in a freezer safe container. Thaw it in the fridge completely overnight before using. Then, you can cook it over low heat, stirring frequently to prevent curdling.
Reheating instructions:
Reheat the cauliflower cheddar soup over low heat so that the cheese doesn’t seize. Sometimes it separates a bit after a while, but usually comes back together after you reheat while stirring frequently. If that doesn’t help, you can also puree it in a blender – this will bring it back together.
What To Serve With Cauliflower Cheddar Soup
Soup and almond flour crackers make a perfect lunch idea. Or, serve this cheesy cauliflower soup with one of the dishes below:
Proteins like juicy baked chicken breast, sirloin steak, or pan seared pork chops Veggie side dishes like roasted asparagus, roasted broccoli, or roasted Brussels sprouts Healthy salads like avocado Caprese salad, kale crunch salad, or Big Mac cheeseburger salad Keto breadsticks from the Wholesome Yum Easy Keto Cookbook
More Healthy Soup Recipes
If you like this cauliflower cheese soup recipe, you might also like some of these other healthy soup recipes:
Cream of Asparagus Soup Gluten-Free Cream Of Mushroom Soup Creamy Chicken Florentine Soup Stuffed Pepper Soup Low Carb White Chicken Chili Kale Sausage Soup
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