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Sometimes I don't think I give soup enough credit. When I start my food planning for the week, I don't often think about adding soup to the menu. I'm not sure why, because soup is the perfect choice for lunches on-the-run and busy weeknights suppers. . .which are what we experience 80% of the time!
Just think about it. Soup recipes normally make enough to serve a crowd. You can freeze soup. Soup often tastes even better the next day. Leftover soup just needs to be reheated and you can have a meal ready to go in minutes. I'm not sure there's really anything negative I could say about soup except I usually don't serve it alone. I like to serve it alongside some fresh bread, a salad or a sandwich. Why? Well, because we're hungry people.
This Cheesy Broccoli Soup is so yummy and comforting! I actually made this last batch for a family birthday party this past weekend. It was a soup and sandwich party. Everyone invited brought a crockpot of soup to share. What a great idea, right? I LOVE trying new soups!
I wish I would have taken a few pictures of the party that day so you could have seen the food setup. We always go overboard and end up with enough food to feed a small army. There were crockpots around the entire kitchen island and lining the kitchen counters. The family cheeseball was there, too. It shows up at most of our family parties. We stopped molding it into a ball. Now we just double the recipe and serve it out of a bowl. Why? Well, because we're crazy and who says a cheeseball really needs to be a "ball?"
Cheeseball aside, you need to dig into this soup. My recipe does incorporate mushrooms because we love them, but if you're not a "shroom" fan you can omit them and the soup will still be flavorful and delicious! Enjoy, and I hope someday you have your own soup party. Heck, try it out this year! I'm betting it will become an annual tradition!
PLAN YOUR OWN SOUP PARTY!
Cheesy Broccoli Soup
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter
- 1 onion (chopped)
- 2 8 ounce cans of mushrooms (stems & pieces), chopped
- 4 cups fresh chopped broccoli (steamed)
- 4 14.5 ounce cans chicken broth
- 2 1 pound loaves processed cheese, cubed
- 2 cups half and half
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- ⅔ cup cornstarch
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- In a stockpot, melt butter over medium heat. Saute onion and mushrooms in butter until onions are softened.
- Stir in the broccoli and chicken broth.
- Reduce heat, and stir in cheese cubes until melted.
- Mix in half and half and garlic powder.
- In a small bowl, mix cornstarch and water until dissolved. Stir into soup.
- Cook until the soup reaches desired consistency.
Notes
- Freshness Matters: While canned mushrooms can be convenient, using fresh mushrooms can elevate the flavor and texture of your soup. Opt for fresh mushrooms and chop them yourself for a more vibrant and flavorful result.
- Controlled Thickening: When adding the cornstarch slurry to thicken the soup, do so gradually and stir continuously to prevent lumps from forming. Adjust the amount of cornstarch mixture based on your desired consistency, as the thickness of the soup may vary depending on personal preference.
- Texture Balance: For a balanced texture, consider blending a portion of the soup after adding the cheese and before incorporating the half and half and cornstarch mixture. This step creates a creamy base while still maintaining some texture from the broccoli and mushrooms, resulting in a smooth yet hearty soup experience.
K Marie
Sorry, actually it is probably closer to less than 1/2 C sharp cheese instead of only 3 oz.....
K Marie
The best soup! I needed to cut down on calories so used 3 T butter instead of 1/2 c, added fresh sautéed to dry mushrooms also, used 1 c 2% and 1 c nonfat milk instead of 2 c half and half, cut the Velveta to only 1 1pound loaf and added 3 oz sharp cheese. I did also use 6- 7 cups of cooked frozen broccoli. It was absolutely delicious and chunky! (We are in to spice, so added a few shakes of ground red pepper and 1 t black pepper)
kinofilms.tv
My husband loves Panera broccoli cheddar soup but it went up in price and therefore we set out on a hunt to create the perfect broccoli cheddar soup.
Cathy
Same. I totally don't give soup enough credit but we all LOVE it! Especially Cheesy Broccoli!!
Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats
Broccoli Cheese Soup is the way to my heart!
Kristyn
Broccoli cheese soup is one of my favorites! Can't wait to try out your spin on it! 🙂
Laura @PetiteAllergyTreats
This reminds me I need to get on that soup thing! Broccoli cheese soup is classic and my boys would devour this!
Maris (In Good Taste)
Soup and sandwich party sounds like a blast. So nice a change from dessert parties!
Tanya
I love soup too, I'll have to steal that soup and sandwich idea and of course I'll try this soup!
Sara
The soup and sandwich party was a hit! It's a great excuse to just get together with friends and family!
Gerry @ Foodness Gracious
I'm on a major soup kick right now and this looks great!