Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure.This healthy Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup takes forty-five minutes to make. It’s a lightened up version of the classic, without losing any of the cheesy goodness of the original!
One of my family’s favorite soups is Broccoli Cheddar Soup like the one at Panera Bread.
Warm, gooey, cheesy, rich – there are a lot of things to love about Broccoli Cheddar Soup.
What I don’t love is the fact that one tiny cup of the traditional recipe can run you over 400 calories and 18 grams of saturated fat! That’s because most versions of this recipe end up being more like “cheese soup with a tiny bit of broccoli.”
This easy instant pot broccoli cheddar soup recipe is comfort food at its best: delicious (thanks to the cheese and cream) but also nutritious (thanks to the fiber and nutrients from the broccoli – which have anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties!).
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My whole family loved this recipe and we managed to finish all of this delicious soup between us!
And the best part — this great recipe takes less than 30 minutes to make in the Instant Pot! Serve this bowl of hot soup with some crusty bread and you’ve got yourself a delicious, light, dinner.
👩🍳 Why This Recipe Works
- Easy Recipe
- Flavorful Soup
- Low in Calories
- Low in Fat
- Healthy and Satisfying
- Rich and Creamy
- Family Friendly
- Vegetarian
- Gluten-Free
- Low Carb
- Panera broccoli cheddar soup copycat!
🥘 Ingredients
This recipe calls for simple ingredients easily found in your pantry or local grocery store! For the full ingredients list and nutritional information, see the recipe card below.
Vegetables: This vegetarian soup is loaded with broccoli, with added diced onions, garlic, and carrots for flavor and texture.
Vegetable Broth: Use a low-sodium vegetable broth, or chicken broth if you are not making this soup vegetarian.
Reduced Fat Shredded Cheese: Keeping this recipe low in saturated fat, I used reduced fat sharp cheddar cheese. You can also use full fat cheddar cheese, just use half the amount this recipe calls for. I recommend shredding your own cheese for maximum flavor! If you can’t find sharp cheddar cheese, you can also use mild cheddar.
Heavy Cream: You only need a small amount of cream or half and half, but it gives the soup a nice creaminess without adding too much fat or calories. You could also use whole milk if you don’t have heavy cream. While you can use skim milk, I don’t recommend it as the cream really makes this instant pot broccoli soup recipe shine!
A little bit of salt and black pepper to taste. If you want more of a kick, add some crushed red pepper flakes or hot sauce. Don’t forget the chopped parsley for a fresh garnish!
🍽 Equipment
- Instant Pot
- Cutting Board
- Chopping Knife
- Immersion Blender or Regular Blender
- Ladle and Wooden Spoon
📖 Variations
Make it Vegan: All you need to do to make this soup vegan diet friendly is to use vegan cheese shreds in place of the regular cheese, and full fat coconut milk or almond milk in place of the heavy cream.
Slow Cooker Version: Prepare this instant pot cream of broccoli soup in the slow cooker by adding the onion, garlic, carrots, broccoli, vegetable stock, salt, and pepper to your slow cooker. Set to low, and warm for 4 hours. Blend with the immersion blender, then stir in the cheese and cream.
Stove Top Version: Sauté the onions and garlic over medium heat until translucent. Add the carrots and broccoli and sauté an additional three minutes. Add the vegetable stock, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover and cook for 20 minutes or until broccoli is soft. Blend with the immersion blender, then add the cheese and cream.
🔪 Instructions
Step 1: Press the saute button on the Instant Pot – set it to medium heat. Add olive oil, chopped onions and the minced garlic to the pot. Sauté for 3 minutes, or until onions are soft and translucent.
Step 2: Add the chopped carrots and broccoli florets. Stir to combine. Sauté for 2-3 minutes.
Step 3: Add the vegetable stock, salt and pepper. Secure the Instant Pot lid. Set valve to sealing. Set the Instant Pot to Manual High Pressure for 10 minutes.
Step 4: Allow to naturally release for 10 minutes. Then turn the valve to vent to quick release any remaining pressure.
Step 5: Using an immersion blender, blend the soup until smooth, or leave a few chunks of broccoli if you like a chunkier texture.
Step 6: Stir in the cream and cheese.
Step 7: Ladle the instant pot broccoli cheese soup into serving bowls. Top evenly with 1 tablespoon of cheese per bowl and chopped parsley. Enjoy!
❓Recipe FAQs
Is Cheddar Broccoli Soup vegetarian?
Most versions of this soup are not vegetarian because they are made with chicken stock. This healthy version is vegetarian by using vegetable stock instead.
I also made this popular recipe healthier by increasing the broccoli and decreasing the cheddar and cream without losing any of the cheesiness that makes this cream of broccoli soup instant pot recipe such a favorite!
How do you add cheese to soup?
Add the cheese to the soup when the broccoli and stock is hot and blended. Add a little at a time, stirring gently until it is melted. Make sure that the cheese is melted and incorporated into the soup before adding more. The heat from the soup will melt the cheese as you add it a little at a time.
What cheese melts easily in soup?
Cheddar is the perfect cheese to melt into soup as it creates a smooth creamy sauce. Other great cheeses for melting include Asiago, fontina, Colby, Gruyere, and Monterey Jack. You can mix it up and choose your favorite melty cheese for this instant pot cheddar broccoli soup!
Will kids like this version of instant pot broccoli cheese soup?
This is the perfect recipe for kids – they will love digging into this soup. Even picky eaters who aren’t huge fans of big chunks of broccoli will likely enjoy this soup since the broccoli has been blended to create a smooth consistency. That coupled with the cheddar and cream, make for a flavorful kid friendly soup!
Is instant pot panera broccoli cheddar soup healthy?
Unfortunately no! One small bowl of Panera’s broccoli cheese soup has 360 calories and 21 grams of fat. Not to mention their soup is not vegetarian friendly
But this broccoli cheese soup is super healthy for a few reasons:
Low in Fat and Calories: This soup is heavy on the broccoli and light on the cheese and cream, making it a lightened up version of the original. With only 163 calories and 7 grams of fat per serving, this soup is satisfying while being heavy!
High in Fiber: Broccoli is an excellent source of fiber. One serving of this soup has 4 grams of fiber. Fiber is essential for healthy digestion, and can improve cholesterol and blood sugar.
High in Vitamins and Minerals: Broccoli is an excellent source of Vitamin C, E, K, folate, and potassium. It also contains anti-inflammatory phytochemicals and antioxidants!
👪 How To Serve
- Crusty Wheat Bread
- Garlic Bread
- Whole wheat Pita and hummus
- Light green salad with vinaigrette dressing
- Whole wheat bread bowl
🧊 How To Store
Refrigerator: Allow leftover soup to come to room temperature. Transfer to an airtight container. Keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Freeze: Allow the soup to cool. Transfer to a freezer safe container. Label with the contents and the date. Keep in the freezer for up to 2 months. You can also store this soup in freezer bags, and freeze it flat to save space.
Reheat: Transfer soup to a saucepan. Warm over medium heat until thawed and heated through.
💭 Expert Tips
- For best results, use fresh organic broccoli since that will have the brightest broccoli flavor. But if you can’t find fresh broccoli, you can use frozen broccoli as a backup!
- Use an Immersion Blender for easier clean-up, or a stand blender if you do not have one. I highly recommend getting an immersion blender for soups. It saves time and you still get a nice and creamy soup!
- Add cheese a little at a time and be sure it is well incorporated before adding more.
- Top with cheese and parsley.
🍲 More Instant Pot Soup Recipes!
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📋 Recipe Card
🎥 Watch How to Make It
Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup
This healthy Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup recipe takes forty-five minutes to make. It's a lightened up version of the classic, without losing any of the cheesy goodness of the original!
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 163kcal
Ingredients
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 1 cup diced yellow onion
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 chopped carrot
- 4 cups broccoli florets coarsely chopped
- 3 cups low sodium vegetable stock
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- ¼ + ⅛ cup half-and-half
- 4 ounces shredded reduced-fat extra-sharp cheddar cheese divided
- ¼ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves optional, garnish
Instructions
- Set the Instant Pot to the sauté function on medium heat. Add the chopped onions and the minced garlic. Sauté for 3 minutes, or until onions are soft and translucent.
- Add the chopped carrots and broccoli florets. Stir to combine. Sauté for 2-3 minutes.
- Add the vegetable stock, salt and pepper. Secure the Instant Pot lid. Set valve to sealing. Set the Instant Pot to High for 10 minutes.
- Allow to naturally release for 10 minutes. Then turn the valve to vent to release any remaining pressure.
- Transfer to a high speed blender. Blend until smooth, or leave a few chunks of broccoli if you like a chunkier texture.
- Return the soup to the instant pot and stir in the cream and cheese.
- Ladle into serving bowls. Top evenly with 1 tablespoon of cheese per bowl and chopped parsley. Enjoy!
Notes
Tips for Making Healthy Cheddar Broccoli Soup
- Ideally, use fresh organic broccoli since that will have the brightest broccoli flavor. But if you can’t find fresh broccoli, you can use frozen broccoli as a backup!
- Use an Immersion Blender for easier clean-up, or a stand blender if you do not have one. I highly recommend getting an immersion blender for soups. It saves time and you still get a nice and creamy soup!
- Add cheese a little at a time and be sure it is well incorporated before adding more.
- Top with cheese and parsley.
Nutrition
Calories: 163kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 1223mg | Potassium: 475mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g
Delicious, warming bowl of comfort food! I love how tasty this soup is.
Thank you so much Alexandra! So glad you enjoyed it!
I agree, many traditional versions are far too heavy on the cheese and cream, I much prefer more broccoli in there so this sounds like a bowlful I’d like.
Totally!! The traditional versions feel more like cream soup than a broccoli soup – this recipe has the perfect balance between the two!
This is so warm and satisfying – and I love that it lower in calories
Yay! So happy to hear that Cyndy!
My husband loves the broccoli and cheddar soup from Panera, and I kinda sorta cringe every time he orders it! I made this version for him at home, and he loved it! Love that this is more broccoli than cream and cheese, yet still has the flavor and texture of a traditional broccoli cheddar soup.
Haha that’s so funny – that was my husband’s favorite broccoli and cheddar soup (the one from Panera) before I made this version haha! So glad your “picky” husband liked this as much as mine did!
This was amazing! My husband who loves super creamy soups couldnt tell the difference!! He asked when we could have it again! I loves it as well – thank you for sharing!
Yay!! So happy to hear that!! This is one of my hubby’s favorite soups as well! 🙂
I have made this twice now. Great soup and genius of you to double the broccoli. This resolves the complaints about thinness in the original.
Thank you so much!! I’m so glad you like this recipe as much as we do! 🙂
I have made this recipe about 10 times or more. My family loves it and I usually triple the recipe and freeze some for lunches at work. It never disappoints.
Yay!! That’s so awesome Christine! Thanks for letting me know! This is one of my favorites as well 🙂
Recipe sounds great, although I do not own any kind of blender. Has it been tried with potato masher?
Hi Jody! I’m not sure you’d get a good consistency for this soup if you just used a potato masher. It tastes best when it’s fully pureed. That said, it’s worth trying to see if it works for you!
I am wondering if this is a soup that you can freeze after its made?
Hi Holly! Honestly I’m not sure how it would freeze — I’ve never tried it with this recipe! The only ingredient in this soup that might not freeze well is the half and half – but it’s worth a shot to try freezing it and seeing what happens. If it freezes well let me know! 🙂
Hi. I tried a few of your Italian recipes and love them.
I am so looking forward to making this soup. But I don’t like the cheese flavour. Could you suggest any alternative for this please.
Hi Guna! I’m so glad you’ve been enjoying my recipes! If you don’t like cheese, you could just leave it out of the soup and try it without the cheese altogether. Let me know how that works for you!
Loved this soup. Couldn’t wait to make it so it had to be tonight. Had an abundance of broccoli in my first crop and had to make this soup. Awesome, delicious, healthy and best of all…so quick! Ready to try it with potato and soy milk and lactose free cheese. Thank you soooo much!
That’s so great Bron! I’m so happy you enjoyed this recipe. Let me know how it goes with the soy milk and lactose free cheese – I’d be curious to see if it tastes any differently!
OMG!!! I love this recipe! I love broccoli and cheese and I think that soup is just for me! Thanks a lot for sharing this recipe! I will definitely try it!
Aw yay! I’m so glad you like it – can’t wait for you to try it!
Could you substitute the half-and-half cream for coconut milk?
I think that could probably work – coconut milk does pretty well in soups and warm dishes. Try it out and let me know how it works out for you!
Hi,
I was just wondering if someone could explain what 1/4 + 1/8 cup half-and-half is.
Thank you
Hi Amy! That just means you want 1/4 cup half and half and also 1/8 cup half and half. 3/8 of a cup (the total amount you need) is hard to measure, which is why I broke it down that way. Hope that helps!
Any suggestions on substituting half/half for almond milk? Thanks!
Sorry wrote that backwards…. 🙂 I want to use almond milk…. straight substitution regarding measurements?
Hi Lisa! Regarding the almond milk, it’s a 1:1 substitution. But honestly, I’m not sure how almond milk will taste in this recipe. I feel like it wont give you the same consistency or mouthfeel as the half & half – and I’m also not sure if it’ll coagulate in the soup. It’s worth a shot though – let me know how it goes!
Hi,
I was wondering why my cheese never fully integrated into the soup. I like my soup chunky so I did NOT blend it but when I added the cheese it just basically suck to the broccoli. Is it a requirement to blend?
Also, I see the ingredients call for 4 oz of cheese but I only see where you use 2 oz. Is the rest just for topping?
Hi Caroline! Yes – I do think you need to blend this soup, because otherwise the cheese won’t be able to melt directly into the soup and combine with the rest of the ingredients. It’ll melt on one of the ingredients and just stick to it (like you experienced with the broccoli). And yes, the remaining 2oz is for topping the soup. Hope that helps!