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Slow Cooker Broccoli Cheddar Soup

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updated: 04/21/22

4.85 from 206 votes
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy

This Slow Cooker Broccoli Cheddar Soup is simple and so delicious! Made in the crock pot with fresh ingredients, make it once and it will become part of your dinner rotation!

a small soup bowl filled with broccoli cheddar soup topped with shredded cheddar cheese.

Are you ready for the most mind-blowing Broccoli Cheddar Soup ever?

This recipe has:

  • Comes together easily in your slow cooker.
  • Has minimal ingredients.
  • Even less hands on time.
  • Has the best, most amazing flavor you could ask for.

Should we make it??

a crock pot filled with shredded carrots, diced onions, and broccoli florets with chicken stock being poured on them for slow cooker broccoli cheddar soup

How to Make Slow Cooker Broccoli Cheddar Soup

This Slow Cooker Broccoli Cheddar Soup is so easy to make.

Start by adding carrots, onions, broccoli, chicken stock (or vegetable stock), and a few spices to your slow cooker.

Cook on low for four hours.

NOTE! If you like your Broccoli Cheddar Soup to be completely smooth, now is the time to blend it. I choose not to blend mine.

At the end of the cook time, create a roux on the stovetop. This is going to add the thick creamy backbone to the soup. It is worth the five or so minutes it will take. (See the section below on tips and tricks for making a roux.)

an overhead view of a brown soup bowl filled with crock pot broccoli cheddar soup with a block of cheddar cheese next to it

Next add cheddar cheese to the roux. There really are differences in cheeses, and for this soup to be good, you want to make it with a high quality cheddar. It’s at the heart of the flavor of your soup, so it’s the way to go.

Add the shredded cheese to the roux and then add the cheesy roux to the slow cooker.

And that’s it! So simple, right?

How to Make a Roux

As I mentioned above, the backbone of this soup is the roux. Without it, you don’t get the creaminess that you are likely expecting from this soup.

These tips will help:

  • Let the butter melt completely over low heat and then whisk in the flour.
  • Cooking the flour/butter mixture for 30 seconds before adding any liquid adds a nice flavor to it.
  • Using the cooking liquid from the crock pot is a nice trick that makes for an incredibly flavorful soup.
  • When you add the stock, add just a little at a time to start over medium heat. It helps it combine more evenly.

Shred Your Own Cheese

You have likely heard me say this so many times. It is worth the extra five minutes to shred your own cheese. It melts much much better than a bag of pre shredded cheese.

Leftovers

This soup is best served right away, but if you have left overs (you won’t), heat it over low heat on your stove top!

Other Great Soups

I have a great recipe for Broccoli Cheddar Soup on the stove top if you forgot to start your slow cooker!

My Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini Soup is delicious comfort food.

I love how easy my Slow Cooker Vegetable Meatball Soup is!

If you make this soup or any of my other recipes, leave me a comment and let me know!

a close up of a brown bowl of broccoli cheddar soup topped with cheddar cheese

Recipe Video

4.85 from 206 votes

Slow Cooker Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Author: Lisa Longley
Serves: 4 servings
(tap # to scale)
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 4 hours 30 minutes
Total: 4 hours 45 minutes
This Slow Cooker Broccoli Cheddar Soup is beyond simple, but so delicious!  It definitely needs to be part of your dinner rotation!

Ingredients

  • 4 cups broccoli florets (227 grams)
  • 1/2 medium yellow onion diced small
  • 2 cups shredded carrots (200 grams)
  • 4 cups chicken stock or vegetable stock (236.6 ml or 453.6 grams)
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (42.4 grams)
  • 1/3 cup all purpose flour (40 grams)
  • 1 cup half and half (236.6 ml or 227 grams)
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese see note (226 grams)

Instructions

  • Combine the broccoli, onion, shredded carrots, chicken stock, salt, pepper, and nutmeg in the slow cooker and cook on low for 4 hours (or on high for 2 hours).
    4 cups broccoli florets, 1/2 medium yellow onion, 2 cups shredded carrots, 4 cups chicken stock, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
  • At the end of the cook time, make the sauce on the stovetop. To do this, you will need to pull 1 cup of the broth from the slow cooker. See note about blending.
  • In a small saucepan, melt the butter. Whisk the butter into the flour to make a roux. Let the roux cook, stirring, for about 30 seconds. Then slowly whisk in the broth you took from the slow cooker. While you want to add this slowly, it shouldn't take more than a minute. Then whisk in the half and half.
    3 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1/3 cup all purpose flour, 1 cup half and half
  • Add the shredded cheese to the roux mixture a little at a time until it is fully melted and combined. Then add the sauce to the slow cooker, stirring to combine. Serve and enjoy!
    2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Notes

Cheese: For best results, shred cheese from a block rather than using pre-shredded cheese.
Blending: If you would like your broccoli cheddar soup to be smooth or partially smooth, blend the soup before you make the cheese sauce on the stovetop. To do this, use an immersion blender (the easiest method), or transfer the soup to a blender a little at a time. I don’t blend the soup, and that is what you see pictured here.
Serving: 1.75cup Calories: 573kcal (29%) Carbohydrates: 34g (11%) Protein: 26g (52%) Fat: 38g (58%) Saturated Fat: 21g (131%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g Monounsaturated Fat: 10g Trans Fat: 0.3g Cholesterol: 107mg (36%) Sodium: 1407mg (61%) Potassium: 905mg (26%) Fiber: 5g (21%) Sugar: 12g (13%) Vitamin A: 12310IU (246%) Vitamin C: 87mg (105%) Calcium: 544mg (54%) Iron: 2mg (11%)
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

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Slow Cooker Broccoli Cheddar Soup

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Hi! I'm Lisa Longley, and I am committed to giving you simple dinner ideas and recipes that are easy to make; recipes that will fill your home with joy. I am the owner and author of SimpleJoy.com and I'm so glad that you are here.

Reader Interactions

    4.85 from 206 votes (104 ratings without comment)

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  1. Mir says

    Broccoli cheddar soup is my crack. I’m usually a dessert girl, but with this? No way. I’m slurping away in my mind here! Love that slow cooker, too. Makes life easier!

    • Kathryn says

      5 stars
      Just made this slow cooker broccoli, cheddar soup last night. So delicious! My husband said it is the best broccoli cheddar soup he’s ever had! Definitely adding this recipe to my favorites. I think it tastes better than any restaurant soup. No comparison!

      • Lisa Longley says

        Thanks so much Kathryn! I’m so happy you liked it!

  2. Alaina @ A Not So Quiet Kitchen says

    I love that you don’t need to make a roux for this slow cooker recipe! Broccoli Cheese Soup is basically the only way I can get one of my daughters to eat broccoli, so I’m all for an easy slow cooker recipe! This looks so yummy!

  3. Karen @ The Food Charlatan says

    OH BOY. I’m so ready for soup and soup weather!! loooove me some broccoli cheddar. I’ll have to make sure to get crystal farms when I make this!

  4. Matt says

    This looks delicious!

    • Lisa Longley says

      Thanks Matt!

  5. gerryspeirs says

    A classic favorite!!

    • Lisa Longley says

      Thans Gerry!

  6. Jeffrey says

    This my favorite soup as well. I can’t wait to try it. Thank you for posting.

    • Lisa Longley says

      I hope you like it Jeffrey!

  7. Allison says

    This was really yummy and easy. thanks!

  8. Tracey says

    Can I freeze it

    • Lisa Longley says

      I wouldn’t. I haven’t tried it that way, and I don’t think the thawing would go well.

      • Alli B says

        Oops! I had so much that I threw a two-serving size container in the fridge. I did NOT put the half-and-half in though.
        I’ll try to remember to let you know when we do getting around to thawing it.

        • bev says

          5 stars
          People freeze it all the time, even with the half and half. Stores that sell bowls of it, use the bags of frozen soups bought from the vendors. It is just as good thawed and reheated.

  9. Katrina says

    Can you increase the heat on the crock pot and cook it for a shorter amount of time?

    • Lisa Longley says

      You could certainly try it Katrina, but I have to tell you I haven’t tried that so I don’t know how it will turn out.

  10. Lori says

    Have you tried frozen broccoli in it?

    • Lisa Longley says

      I haven’t. I would worry that if you do frozen broccoli, and not frozen other veggies they are going to cook at really different rates.

      • Suzanne says

        5 stars
        I just made this today with frozen broccoli – I ran it under warm water to thaw it a bit, drained it and added it. It worked for me! I used the frozen broccoli that included the stems.

        The soup was a hit with me, my kids said it was ok (which I consider a win haha)

        I also used a hand blender to purée it to a smoother texture. I added some cheese, puréed it, added the rest and did it again. So good!

        • Lisa Longley says

          I’m so happy you liked it Suzanne!

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