Description
Hearty cheddar broccoli potato soup delivers comfort in each spoonful, blending creamy textures with rich flavors. Warm kitchen gatherings become memorable when you savor this soul-satisfying dish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 large russet potatoes
- 6 slices thick-cut bacon
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese
- 2 cups whole milk
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 medium yellow onion
- 3 garlic cloves
- 4 tbsps unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup green onions
- Salt
- Pepper
- Optional: diced ham
- Optional: cayenne pepper
- Optional: hot sauce
- Optional: cream cheese
- Optional: leeks
- Optional: carrots
- Optional: celery
- Optional: broccoli
Instructions
- Heat butter in a spacious cooking vessel over medium warmth, gently sweating onions and garlic until translucent and fragrant, approximately 3-4 minutes.
- Dust flour across the aromatic vegetable mixture, continuously stirring to create a smooth roux and prevent burning, cooking for roughly 2 minutes.
- Pour chicken broth incrementally while whisking, ensuring no lumps form, then introduce diced potatoes and allow the liquid to simmer until tubers become tender, about 15-20 minutes.
- Lower heat and incorporate milk and heavy cream, stirring consistently to prevent scorching, then gradually fold in shredded cheddar cheese, allowing it to melt smoothly into the liquid base.
- Introduce crispy bacon fragments, dollop sour cream, and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, tasting and adjusting seasoning as needed for balanced flavor profile.
- Transfer steaming soup into serving bowls, garnishing with chopped green onions, optional extra cheese shreds, additional bacon crumbles, or a complementary dollop of sour cream for enhanced visual appeal and texture.
Notes
- Prevent cheese from clumping by gradually adding shredded cheese at lower temperatures and stirring constantly to create a smooth, creamy texture.
- Enhance flavor depth by roasting broccoli before adding to the soup, which caramelizes natural sugars and adds a nutty, rich dimension.
- Make soup gluten-free by substituting all-purpose flour with cornstarch or potato starch, maintaining the same thickening properties.
- Boost nutritional value by using low-fat milk and reducing cream, creating a lighter version without sacrificing taste and maintaining creamy consistency.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 440 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 19 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg