We are creating a creamy stovetop broccoli cheese soup keto recipe that is perfect as a lunch, dinner, or side! Made with fresh broccoli, heavy cream, cream cheese, and fresh cheddar, this low-carb broccoli and cheese soup is both flavorful and super simple to get on your table. You are just a few minutes away from a WHOLE LOTTA YUM!
This is the best Keto Broccoli Cheese Soup
Broccoli cheese soup is a hearty, flavorful dish that we love in our home. Whether we are using fresh broccoli we grew in our own garden, or the fare we grab from the local farmers market, broccoli and cheese soup is always in season in our kitchen!
Yet soups don't always work well with certain dietary lifestyles. Our broccoli cheese soup keto recipe does though! Not only is our soup keto and low-carb, but it's also gluten-free and vegetarian when you follow our recipe.
Whether you are looking for a side dish for your dinner or a quick and simple lunch, this keto soup recipe is just the thing!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- With fresh broccoli, our broccoli cheese soup keto recipe lets the flavor of the vegetable take center stage.
- Supporting the broccoli, of course, is a base of onions, garlic, salt, pepper, and just a dash of cayenne. Never too spicy, this low-carb broccoli and cheese soup has the perfect blend of seasonings.
- With heavy cream, cream cheese, and cheddar, our broccoli cheese soup is rich and hearty, yet healthy enough for even the most limiting dietary lifestyles.
Are you looking for more flavorful keto soups to add to your fall rotation? Then look no further than our chicken bacon ranch soup, low carb taco soup, and low carb eggdrop soup!
On Keto? Grab our FREE keto foods list here OR Snag our Keto Binder HERE
Easy Broccoli Cheese Soup Ingredients
- Butter - if using salted butter reduce additional salt added.
- Onion - any kind will work! Red, yellow, or sweet.
- Garlic - fresh minced garlic is best
- Broccoli - washed and cut into small florets. Use can use broccoli crowns or bags of broccoli florets if preferred.
- Chicken broth - use vegetable broth to make it vegetarian
- Cream cheese - room temperature and cut into cubes
- Heavy whipping cream - look for 0 carb whipping cream brands
- Cheddar cheese - fresh, shredded cheddar from the block
- Seasoning- sea salt, pepper, cayenne pepper
Variations
- Feel free to add precooked chicken (like these panfried tenders), shredded chicken, or even leftover rotisserie chicken to your soup.
- Other protein options include sliced sausage pieces and crumbled bacon.
- Cauliflower is also a great addition. Substitute some of the broccoli with cauliflower for a great broccoli and cauliflower cheese soup!
Diet Adaptions
- Vegan- Use vegetable broth instead of chicken and a cheese substitute.
- Gluten-Free- Be sure to read the labels on your chicken stock.
- Keto- To keep carbs as low as possible use block cheddar cheese and shred it yourself. Pre shredded cheese is coated with potato starch to prevent sticking.
How to make Broccoli and Cheese Soup
This hearty and comforting soup is a super simple dish that requires a little bit of prep, a little bit of cook, and a little bit of patience.
All of which will be rewarded in about 40-minutes.
Prep Ingredients
- Wash and dry your broccoli crowns. Cut the florets off and discard the stalk or save for broccoli rice.
- Cut your onion and mince your garlic.
Cook
3. In a large pot over medium heat melt the butter and add the onion. Cook the onion until it softens, which takes about 3-4 minutes.
4. Add in the minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
5. Add the broccoli, salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, and chicken broth to the pot.
6. Gently press the broccoli down into the liquid to make sure it's covered as much as possible by the chicken broth.
7. Put the lid on the pot and reduce the heat down to low.
8. Simmer until the broccoli is completely cooked and the soup mixture is heated through.
9. Stir the cream cheese into the soup.
10. Add the whipping cream and bring to a warm temperature over low heat.
11. Once the soup is fully heated, in ½ cup batches stir the cheddar cheese into the soup. Do this step slowing, making sure to fully melt the cheese before adding more.
12. Serve warm and enjoy! Top with additional shredded cheddar, if desired.
Broccoli and Cheese Soup Recipe tips
- To find the freshest broccoli, look for crowns that are dark green and without a lot of gaps.
- Cook the broccoli to your preferred doneness but remember it will continue cooking while you add the cheese in.
- Use full-fat dairy to get the best flavor with the least amount of carbohydrates.
- Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature before you add it in. It makes it easier for the cheese to incorporate into the soup. If your cream cheese is in the fridge, microwave it for 15-30 to soften it.
- Gently whip the cream cheese with a whisk to help it incorporate.
- Add the slowly dairy over low heat to prevent curdling.
- Fully incorporate the cheddar cheese each time before you add more to prevent the cheese from clumping on the bottom on the pot.
- You can add a little xanthan gum to thicken the soup if you prefer yours thicker.
What to serve with Broccoli Cheese Soup
Server your broccoli cheese soup with your favorite proteins such as instant pot beer brats or air fryer frozen chicken breast. Serve with a side salad for a light lunch or dinner.
How to store Keto Broccoli and Cheese Soup
Store: You can store leftover soup in the fridge in an airtight container for 4-5 days. Make sure to cool it to room temperature before storing it.
Can you freeze Broccoli Cheese Soup?
Unfortunately, no, you cannot freeze this soup. Once the dairy is added the soup will not reheat from frozen without becoming gritty.
Keto Broccoli Cheese Soup FAQs
You can use half n half instead of cream and still be low-carb, but you will not have a keto recipe.
There’s a few ways to thicken your broccoli cheese soup!
- Vegetable Puree: One of the easiest methods is to take a portion of the soup (especially the broccoli) and blend it until smooth, then mix it back into the pot.
- Xanthan Gum: This is a low-carb thickening agent that's very effective in small amounts. Start by sprinkling a small amount (about ¼ teaspoon) into the soup while stirring, and then wait a few minutes to allow it to thicken.
- Add cheese: Adding heavy cream or cream cheese can also give your soup a thicker, creamier consistency.
- Grate Your Cheese: Start with block cheese and grate it yourself. Pre-shredded cheeses often have anti-caking agents and it doesn’t melt as well.
- Lower The Heat: Before adding cheese, reduce the heat to low. Cheese can clump exposed to high heat.
- Add Slowly: Gradually add the cheese, a handful at a time, while constantly stirring. This ensures even melting and prevents clumping.
- Use High-Quality Cheese: Higher quality cheeses tend to melt more smoothly.
- Overheating the Cheese: Cheese can become gritty if the soup is too hot when it's added. Always lower the heat before adding the cheese.
- Type of Cheese: Some cheeses, especially those that are aged, can result in a gritty texture when melted. For creamy results, choose cheeses known for their smooth melt, like cheddar, Fontina, or Gouda. And make sure to shred your own cheese and not use pre-shredded cheese.
More Keto Soup Recipes
Looking for more keto soup recipes?
Come connect with us on Instagram! Be sure to tag us (wholelotta.yum) when you make a recipe. You can also find us on Facebook, and Pinterest.
Low Carb Broccoli Cheese Soup
Hearty and easy broccoli cheese soup (keto, gluten free) that's a stovetop version using fresh broccoli and heavy cream instead of flour or potato. Mix in chicken or sausage for a main dish meal.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon butter
- ½ onion
- 2 teaspoon minced garlic
- 4 cups broccoli, cut into small florets
- 4 cups chicken broth
- ½ cup cream cheese, room temperature cut into cubes
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- In a large pot over medium heat melt the butter.
- Add the onions and cook until they're starting to soften, which takes about 3-4 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
- Add the broccoli, salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, and chicken broth to the pot. Gently press the broccoli down into the liquid to make sure it's covered as much as possible.
- Put the lid on the pot and turn the heat down to low. Simmer until the broccoli is completely cooked and the soup mixture is heated through.
- Stir the cream cheese into the soup.
- Add the whipping cream and bring to a warm temperature over low.
- Once the soup is fully heated, in ½ cup batches stir the cheddar cheese into the soup making sure to fully melt the cheese before adding more.
- Serve warm and enjoy! Top with additional shredded cheddar, if desired.
Notes
Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature, it helps make it easier for the cream cheese to break down into the soup. Softening it in the microwave for 15-30 seconds speeds this process up.
Gently whipping the cream cheese into the soup helps eliminate small cream cheese pieces.
To thicken the soup you can add a little xantham gum.
Top with more shredded cheddar and pre-cooked bacon, if desired. Mix-ins like chicken or cut up sausage are great additions too.
Make sure to buy a block of cheddar and shred it yourself to keep the carbs down. Pre-shredded cheese doesn't melt into soup as well since it is coated with potato starch. The starch also increases the carbs.
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Nutrition Information
Yield 8 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 431Total Fat 39gSaturated Fat 24gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 12gCholesterol 120mgSodium 763mgCarbohydrates 9gNet Carbohydrates 6gFiber 3gSugar 4gProtein 12g
Barbara West says
Instructions call for adding salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper, but none are listed in the ingredients? Cayenne can be a very strong spice.
WholeLottaYum says
Thank you so much Barbara! I've fixed the recipe card. It's 1/2 tsp sea salt, 1/2 tsp ground black pepper, and 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper.