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!
I’m so excited to be partnering with Crystal Farms® Cheese to make this soup cheesy in the most delicious way possible!
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??
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, turn your slow cooker to HIGH FOR 30 MINUTES, and 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.)
Next add cheddar cheese to the roux. I love using Crystal Farms® Cheese. There really are differences in cheeses, and for this soup to be good, you want to make it with a high quality cheddar, like Crystal Farms. 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!
Slow Cooker Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Ingredients
- 4 cups broccoli florets cut into small bite sized pieces
- 1/2 yellow onion diced small
- 2 cups shredded carrots
- 4 cups chicken stock (or vegetable stock)
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/8 tsp nutmeg
- 3 TBSP unsalted butter
- 1/3 cup all purpose flour
- 1 cup half and half
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (see note)
Instructions
- Combine the broccoli, onion, shredded carrots, chicken stock, salt, pepper, and nutmeg in the slow cooker and cook on low for four hours.
- Turn the slow cooker to high.
- In a small saucepan melt the butter. Slowly whisk in the flour. Get a cup of liquid from the slow cooker. Very very slowly add it to the sauce pan whisking it in as you go. Then very slowly whisk in the half and half.
- Add the shredded cheese to the roux mixture a little at a time until it is fully melted and combined.
- Add the cheese sauce to the crock pot and stir it in to combine.
- After it is fully combined, serve and enjoy!
Recipe Video
Notes
Taylor says
My 10 year olds favorite soup! She eats it for breakfast 😂 I do it on the stove. Just not a fan of slow cookers. Seriously so easy!! Thank you!
I’m so happy it is such a hit!
Kathi says
Can not wait to make this when the weather cools down a bit – it’s still in triple digits here in Sacramento< CA for the next 6 – 8 weeks. But I am really looking forward to it.
I hope you enjoy it!
DD Murray says
Can I substitute almond flour to make this receipe “Keto” friendly?
I have done that with a roux in the past, and the result was okay. It isn’t nearly as creamy, but it does work.
Chris says
This recipe sounds absolutely wonderful and super easy !! I have recently been diagnosed with a gluten intolerance. Do you think I could use a 1:1 gluten free flour like King Arthur for the roux ? I see that you don’t think almond flour is all that great. I have been substituting the King Arthur in many dishes and it seems to work ?? Love all your dishes I have tried !!
Hi Chris! I haven’t tested a roux with gf 1 for 1 flour yet. My guess is that it will work, but will be slightly less creamy than all purpose flour.
Katherine Greer Henderson says
I wood like a good green bean casserole!
I have a great one! You can find it here: Green Bean Casserole
Rosi says
Can I use fat-free half-and-half or maybe coconut milk
Thank you
You can, but the end result will be a bit thinner.
jess says
Very yummy soup but too much liquid. I had to make two extra roux. Aside from that it tasted really good. I omitted the onions (my boyfriend is too damn picky) and added some onion powder (hopefully he don’t notice LOL). Will def make again!!! I would suggest only using half the amount of stock
Katie says
The flavor is good, but it was WAYYY too much broth. Mine was so soupy it was hard to eat.
I’m not quite sure what happened here, Katie. This hasn’t been my experience with this soup at all.
Christine says
I am looking for a recipe I can use for a community soup event. I need to make the soup ahead of time, bring it in a crockpot, and have it plugged in for several hours before lunch is served. Would this stand up to that, or would it be overcooked?
I think because of the dairy this wouldn’t be a great pick. I would recommend my crockpot chili, chicken enchilada soup, or beef stew.
Rachel bledsoe says
How long would you cook it for on the stove? We are gone to long during the day to use my crock pot.i would hate for it to burn up after 11-12 hrs
Hi Rachel! I would suggest following this recipe: Broccoli Cheddar Soup.