Chicken and Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe (2024)

Chicken and Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe (1)

Fall is for soup, and this chicken and broccoli cheese soup recipe is the best soup recipe. Between all the creamy cheese, butter, and chicken, this is a chicken broccoli cheese soup that you won’t forget.

Chicken and Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe (2)

Who does not love a good chicken and broccoli cheese soup recipe?! Pretty much anything you put in a cheese soup, I am going to love it. Haha.

With this broccoli cheese soup with chicken, you will be making it from scratch, without using Velveeta as the base. Don’t get me wrong, Velveeta is delicious, but I always tend to have extra cheese in my fridge, but I don’t always have Velveeta so it is nice to have a delicious chicken broccoli cheese soup recipe that does require it.

We have this recipe on repeat especially during these cold months as winter rolls in. You can make it up or even freeze it ahead of time!

While the soup is cooking, try one of our delicious bread or breadsticks recipes! A few of my favorites to pair with this soup recipe are our homemade french bread, sheet pan garlic breadsticks, and our Olive Garden breadsticks copycat recipe. Pretty much anything you can dip into this soup will work great!

Chicken and Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe (3)

Ingredients You Need to Make Our Chicken and Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe:

  • Onion, diced
  • Garlic, minced
  • Butter
  • Flour
  • Chicken broth
  • Boneless, skinless, chicken breasts cooked and cut into bite-sized pieces
  • Fresh broccoli
  • Salt
  • Garlic powder
  • Ground black pepper
  • Cayenne pepper
  • Hot sauce (optional)
  • Milk
  • Sharp cheddar cheese
  • Shredded parmesan cheese

How To Make Our Chicken and Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe:

Chicken and Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe (4)

When you are ready to get started, get out your large saucepan and add in the onion and minced garlic over medium-high heat and saute them until they are nice and tender. This should only take a few minutes.

Then add in the butter and flour over medium heat to continue to make your roux base for this cheese soup recipe. You want your roux to be bubbly and just starting to brown (and of course, it will smell amazing).

Once the roux is done, pour it into a large stock pot and pour the chicken broth on top, stirring everything together the whole time to avoid getting clumps and lumps in the broth.

After you have the broth fulling incorporated into the roux, add in the cooked chicken bites, chopped broccoli, salt, garlic powder, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and hot sauce (if you want it) and continue to cook everything together for about 35-40 minutes or until the broccoli is tender.

NOTE: If you are using frozen broccoli it will cook up a little faster and give off a little more liquid than fresh broccoli.

Now, after the chicken and broccoli are perfectly cooked, stir in the milk, sharp cheddar cheese, and parmesan cheese.

Chicken and Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe (5)

Stir everything together until the cheeses are completely melted and then serve it with your favorite sides, and enjoy!

To Make this Chicken and Broccoli Recipe You Will Need:

  1. Large saucepan
  2. Wooden spoon
  3. Large stock pot (THIS is a great one!)

What is a Roux?

A roux is a base for a lot of soups or casseroles that you make with fat and flour to create a thickening agent for your meal. While it does not contain complicated ingredients, however, the execution of the roux can be more complex because if you aren’t paying attention things might not turn out how you want.

Bon appétit has a great informational article that is called “what is a roux and why do I keep messing mine up”. If you find that your recipes aren’t turning out the right way when you have a roux base, give it a read and get some ideas for the next time you need to make one.

Topping Suggestions

I always love to top off my soups with one or more fresh ingredients since you can add even more flavor and of course, it makes them look even more like they are from a restaurant.

Soup Toppings:

  • Sour cream
  • Cheddar cheese
  • Chives
  • Green onion
  • Croutons
  • Oyster crackers
  • Tortilla strips
  • Avocado

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Chicken and Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe (6)

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Warm Up with Tasty and Easy Soup Recipes:

  1. Slow Cooker Beef Minestrone Soup Recipe
  2. Creamy Ground Beef and Macaroni Tomato Soup Recipe
  3. Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Soup (Cafe Zupas Copycat) Recipe
  4. Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe
  5. Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup Recipe
  6. Instant Pot Sausage Ravioli Soup Recipe
  7. Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup

More Ways To Prepare Chicken and Broccoli Together!

  1. Chicken and Broccoli Stuffing Casserole Recipe
  2. Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo Casserole Recipe
  3. Slow Cooker Chicken and Broccoli over Rice Recipe
  4. Chicken and Broccoli Noodle Casserole Recipe
  5. Korean BBQ Chicken and Broccoli
  6. Easy Chicken and Broccoli Casserole Recipe
  7. Instant Pot Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Recipe
  8. Broccoli Chicken and Rice Bake
  9. Broccoli and Cheese Chicken Pasta Recipe

Chicken and Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe (7)

Serves: 8

Chicken and Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe

4.50 from 2 votes

This soup went above and beyond my greatest expectations- it was cheesy, hearty, warm, and delicious. You can’t go wrong with it!

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 55 minutes mins

PrintPin

Ingredients

  • 1 onion diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • ½ cup butter
  • 1 cup flour
  • 8 cups chicken broth
  • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts cooked and cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 heads fresh broccoli (or 2 bags of frozen broccoli)
  • teaspoons salt
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • a couple shakes of hot sauce optional
  • 1 cup milk
  • 4 cups sharp cheddar cheese
  • ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  • In a large saucepan, saute onion and garlic over medium high heat until tender (just a couple of minutes).

  • Add butter and flour, lower heat to medium, and cook until roux is bubbly and starting to brown (it will start to smell amazing!).

  • Pour roux into a large stock pot and add chicken broth, stirring the entire time you add the broth to prevent lumps.

  • Add chicken, broccoli, salt, garlic powder, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and hot sauce to stock pot and cook for about 35-40 minutes (less if using frozen broccoli).

  • Stir in cheese and milk until cheese is fully melted and serve.

Notes

Our favorite soup toppings:

  • Sour cream
  • Cheddar cheese
  • Chives
  • Green onion
  • Croutons
  • Oyster crackers
  • Tortilla strips
  • Avocado

Nutrition

Calories: 630 kcal · Carbohydrates: 27 g · Protein: 49 g · Fat: 37 g · Saturated Fat: 22 g · Trans Fat: 1 g · Cholesterol: 170 mg · Sodium: 2044 mg · Potassium: 1241 mg · Fiber: 5 g · Sugar: 5 g · Vitamin A: 2058 IU · Vitamin C: 155 mg · Calcium: 619 mg · Iron: 3 mg

Equipment

  • Large Saucepan

  • large stock pot

  • Wooden Spoon

Recipe Details

Course: Soup

Cuisine: American

Chicken and Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe (8)

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  1. Jenn says:

    This soup sounds so comforting and delicious.

  2. Cathy says:

    Thanks so much for the recipe! I'm going to try it tonight. My sister says, "You always are making new recipes." It's true, because I love trying your recipes and usually have everything in the house to make your new ones. Biggest hits so far were your sweet and sour chicken, ranch chicken taquito recipe, and cheesy vegetable soup. My kids are flexible so they please everyone.

  3. Kelly says:

    I made this last night & everyone in my family loved it! Brought leftovers to work to share and everyone there loved it too! Will be making this one again. Thank you!

  4. Tiffani says:

    My family loves this soup. I usually make it when I have spinach that will soon go bad. I ass it in there for a few extra nutrients and no one realizes they're eating it :)

  5. Krystal says:

    Have you ever tried making a double batch & freezing the rest for a meal at a later date? just curious to know if it freezes well?

  6. carly says:

    just made this on sunday. it's fantastic. i skipped the chicken, but it turned out great. have been eating it all week! will be making again soon for sure! thanks for the great find!

  7. Barb says:

    hi there-love you blog/recipes, etc.... I am wheat intolerant, what would you replace the flour with in this recipe? There is a whole cup which is a lot for any other thickener, just wondering if you had any thoughts. I love Broccoli Cheese Soup, but it's been a long time.Warmly,Barb

  8. Jenny Burggraf says:

    Use gluten free flour (I have Celiac Disease and always "alter" recipes)

  9. Janet says:

    I made this for lunch on Saturday, without the chicken. I cut the recipe in half as it was just lunch for four of us, and there wasn't a drop left! Very yummy - thanks!

  10. Kristina says:

    Thanks. Made it and its is yummy. Added carrots, peas and some sweet bell pepper.

  11. Kasey says:

    I just made this soup on this cold, snowy Sunday. It was incredibly good! I was a little worried about how it would turn out as my roux was a little clumpy, but I could not have been more impressed. I plan on making this recipe again and again, thank you so much ladies!

  12. Cloey says:

    Hi, wonder if I need to cook this ( after adding chicken and broccoli) on medium high heat or medium low before adding milk and cheess, thanks!

  13. Cyd says:

    You add the milk and cheese at the very end and stir in until the cheese is completely melted.

  14. emily says:

    Im sick today and all I want is some broccoli and cheese soup. I didnt feel like making it but its so easy. I used frozen broccoli and frozen diced chicken so it only took maybe 30 minutes to put together which was awesome. I added way more cheese and I used a gluten free flour and it turned out great, I was worried about using the whole cup of flour but it turned out just right. I also always spice things a little more than directed. Always to taste. It was a fast and delicious soup.

  15. Julie Johnson says:

    I just thought I'd get back on here tonight to tell you that I made this for dinner & it was THE BEST broccoli soup I've ever had & the 1st I've ever made! I loved the kick the cayenne pepper gave & the how hearty the chicken made the soup. It was double awesome because I was able to feed 8 people & still have some leftovers, which I will enjoy for my lunch tomorrow! :) The 8 people consisted of 4 adults (2 of which are starving college aged boys) & 4 children. We enjoyed it with French bread & a small salad. Talk about a hit! Thank you, Julie

  16. Jen says:

    This looks awesome :-) I'm wondering if I can make this in the crockpot with frozen chicken breast?

  17. Joanie Steptoe says:

    I'm wondering the same but with uncooked frozen boneless thighs

  18. Jamie says:

    I? just made this soup . I? always wanted to make broccoli soup. It was so easy ? thanks . Now the real test is to come . Let’s see if my husband likes it ?.

  19. Hyde says:

    This recipe was incredible, like seriously the best. I admit I made a few small tweaks though. I used chicken thighs instead of breast, I added julienned carrots, and I omitted the hot sauce and cayenne because my man hates spicy stuff. Even though it turned out amazing I would love to stick closer to the recipe next time by adding the spicy elements since I personally love spicy stuff.

  20. Hyde says:

    I brought mine to a boil after adding broccoli and chicken and then simmered on low for the remaining 50 minutes before stirring in milk/cheese.

  21. Chad Hattie says:

    With a bit o left over bacon from breakfast, this recipe became amazing! Thank you.

  22. MaeMae says:

    Not fair! You didn't explain why.

  23. Shelley says:

    Can this soup be stored in freezer?

  24. Cyd says:

    This soup does pretty well when you freeze it because it's not heavy cream based. Freeze in covered airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Always stir well when reheating frozen soup.

  25. Corinne says:

    I made this soup tonight and it was amazing! Award winning soup. I loved it! Absolutely perfect! Thank you for sharing.

  26. Anita says:

    Currently making this soup. I’d recommend editing the instructions to include heat setting and also to melt the butter first before adding the flour. I just added it at the same time and tried to save it... this was my first time making a roux. I will see if this comes out okay or not considering how the roux was messed up. I needed more directions for heating as well which thankfully I found in the comments, but it should already be part of the directions.

  27. Carey Hathaway says:

    I tried this recipe. What am I supposed to sauteing the onion and garlic in? The butter? And there was so much flour in that 1/2 c. of butter that there was NO letting it get bubbly, it was so thick, more like a paste that I had to add more butter or liquid so that it wouldn't burn. And I must say that 8 cups of chicken broth is NOT NEAR enough liquid for all of the thickness that all of that flour had going on! I had to use a HUGE stock pot and keep adding liquid. Not to mention all of the cheese floated to the bottom of my pot and burned!!!! It could be a good recipe, but I think you left some stuff out!

  28. Naomi Jessop says:

    I stumbled across this recipe and decided to make it. It is SO SO delicious! Definitely worth making. Thanks so much.

  29. Charity says:

    I made this tonight and everyone loved it! I used Perdue shortcuts grilled chicken and frozen broccoli. I think I made the mistake someone else mentioned of not melting my butter before adding the flour, but I fixed it when adding the broth to the roux slowly. My husband doesn’t do straight milk and I was all out of unsweetened almond milk, so I used a can of cream of chicken soup (yes I know it has milk in it). I used cheddar and mozzarella, but the cheddar had trouble melting and was quite globby. Not sure what I did wrong. Overall, it was delicious! All 3 kids ages 3,9,11 liked it! Paired with Cheddar Bay Biscuits. Yum yum!

  30. Lynze says:

    This soup is amazing and makes it to my menu at least once a month. It is so easy to whip up in a pinch and I love the leftovers for lunch. Great as a guest meal too whenever we have pop ins. :)

  31. Sheela says:

    This turned out amazing! I threw in a bit of cajun seasoning because I didn't have cayenne or hot sauce, used frozen broccoli, and skipped the parmesan. It was easily as good (or better) than a soup in a restaurant. Tons of leftovers to enjoy too! Thanks for the awesome recipe - it hit the spot! 🙂

  32. Momma Cyd says:

    We are so glad to hear that you liked the soup! This one is easy and delicious!

  33. Christine Duerksen says:

    This is my go-to Broccoli Cheese Soup recipe. My husband is the same way and likes meat in his soups so he loved that but I also added some cooked rice to give it some more "stuff" and it is a hit.

  34. Marlene says:

    This is the best broccoli cheddar soup I've ever had!! It's definitely going to be put into meal plan rotation. My family loved it!!

  35. Momma Cyd says:

    Thanks Marlene. We are so glad you liked this soup!

  36. Lisa H. says:

    I'm a Louisiana girl - been making roux my whole life. I was a little concerned with the butter to flour ratio - I grew up learning that you use a 1 to 1 ratio of flour and oil/butter. But I powered ahead, and while it didn't get bubbly (it was too thick for that), it did brown up a bit, and it made the soup wonderfully creamy and thick enough. I was also worried that it might be the consistency of wallpaper paste when I reheated, but it was not. It reheats beautifully and tastes better the second day!I followed the recipe largely as written. I used heavy cream instead of milk, and I tend to season a bit more generously than most recipes - we like it zesty around here. It fit in my 5-quart Dutch oven just fine, and it was a really good pot of soup. I served it with some homemade beer bread. Great meal for a cool evening!

    Chicken and Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe (9)

  37. Lisa H. says:

    Forgot to add - I did use boneless skinless chicken thighs instead of breasts. I find they have a bit more flavor. I also used fresh broccoli - I like that I can control the size of the bites of broccoli in the soup when I use fresh.

  38. Amber says:

    This a really good soup! The only thing I will do the next time I make it will be cut back on the salt. I will probably add some shredded carrots too for more veggies!

    Chicken and Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe (10)

  39. Callan says:

    What is the serving size on this?

  40. Momma Cyd says:

    It can serve up to 8 people. But you can have the serving size be whatever works best for the size and ages of your family/group. It's a hearty soup.

Chicken and Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe (11)

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Camille Beckstrand

Camille Beckstrand is married to Jared and they have 4 kids. She is a certified life coach that loves helping women become "unstuck" in their lives and is the host of the podcast "Moms On The Rise". She also loves a good true crime podcast, a big plate of cheesy loaded nachos, and going on adventures with her family.

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Chicken and Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why won t my cheese melt in my broccoli cheddar soup? ›

Grate the cheese yourself.

Pre-shredded cheese is often coated in anti-caking agents that can prevent the cheese from melting into a lusciously creamy soup. To ensure that your broccoli cheddar soup has the best smooth and creamy texture, buy a block of cheese and grate it yourself.

Is frozen or fresh broccoli better for soup? ›

Broccoli – Can use fresh or frozen florets. Fresh broccoli will give you the best texture. Paprika – A touch of paprika adds a wonderful slightly smoky hint just enough to give it a welcome depth of flavor. Heavy cream – Gives way to the signature rich, creamy soup base.

How do you keep broccoli cheese soup from separating? ›

Avoid too high of heat when using dairy (milk or cream) because the soup can curdle and separate. Try not to take it to the boiling point. Sometimes an acidic ingredient, like wine, can prevent the soup from curdling. Slowly add the cream or milk and continually stir after adding.

Why is my broccoli cheese soup clumpy? ›

Pre-grated cheese is coated in anti-caking agents which means it won't melt as smoothly. When it's time to add the cheese into the soup, sprinkle it in in batches, stirring until each batch is melted before adding the next batch vs dumping it all in at once. This will ensure there are no clumps in the final soup.

What cheese melts best in soup? ›

Mild cheddar, Colby, Monterey jack, mozzarella, Swiss and queso blanco can all work well. “The best cheeses to melt into soups are cheeses that are higher in moisture and have a lower melting point,” says Bauer. In addition to cheddar and Monterey jack, he recommends Fontina and Gruyère.

Why do you avoid simmering your soup after adding the cheese? ›

If you are adding cheese to hot liquid, it can become stringy or seizes. If you are adding any cheese to hot liquid, my best tip is to use the finest shreds you can and let the cheese come to room temperature and take the soup off any heat when you stir in the cheese.

What does broccoli soup do to your body? ›

Salads and soups with broccoli are a delight to many diners. Broccoli is one of the richest sources of good carbohydrates which aid digestion maintaining low blood sugar. And because it has the right amount of fibrous roughage it also helps in preventing constipation.

Is broccoli cheddar soup good or bad for you? ›

Is broccoli soup good for you? Most of the time, broccoli cheese soup isn't the healthiest option since it has lots of cheese and heavy cream. This version is lightened up with evaporated skim milk and less cheese. It also uses extra vegetables that are blended to create some of the creaminess in the soup.

When to add cheese to a soup? ›

Keep the heat very low, and make sure the cheese is one of the last things added to the soup. Whisk very quickly but add the cheese in gradually, one cup at a time, to make sure it melts before adding the next cup.

Can broccoli cheese soup sit out overnight? ›

Food should not be at room temperature for more than two hours. Shallow containers or small amounts of hot food can be placed directly in the refrigerator or rapidly chilled in an ice or cold water bath before refrigerating.

Why does my broccoli cheddar soup look curdled? ›

Curdling in a cream soup usually occurs when the milk or cream is added at too high of a heat. As you incorporate the milk and broth into the cooked onion and flour mixture, keep the heat at medium and stir continuously with a whisk. Once all is mixed in, then proceed to heat to a boil.

Why does my broccoli soup taste bland? ›

If your Broccoli Soup tastes bland, there are several potential reasons. Here are some common culprits and suggestions to enhance the flavour: Insufficient seasoning. Solution: Taste the soup and adjust the salt and pepper accordingly.

Can I use pre-shredded cheese in soup? ›

Avoid using pre-packaged shredded cheese as it often contains additives that can prevent proper melting. Add the cheese at the right time: Timing is crucial when it comes to melting cheese in soup. Wait until the soup is almost done cooking before adding the cheese.

Why isn't my cheese melting in my broccoli soup? ›

Why won't my cheese melt in my broccoli cheddar soup? This tends to happen when you use a pre-shredded cheese. Pre-shredded cheeses include anti-caking agents that will prevent them from melting properly in your soup. If you shredded your own cheese and it's still not melting, it may just need more time on the stove.

Why is my cheddar cheese not melting? ›

Age: Finally, the age of a cheese has a lot of impact on how well it will melt. Younger cheeses tend to melt more easily than older ones, so a younger cheddar will melt much better than an aged one. Older cheeses like aged cheddar are actually poor melters and can become grainy or oily when melted.

How do you fix cheese that won't melt? ›

One of the most common ways to help cheese melt smoothly is to add starch: this is a process that works in sauces like mornay, or nacho cheese sauce. Starches and other thickeners will physically impede fat molecules from joining up into larger droplets, as well as making the water phase of the cheese more viscous.

Why is the cheese in my cheese sauce not melting? ›

Why won't my cheese melt? There are many reasons, but the biggest is the moisture content. The moisture content of the cheese has a great effect on the melting process. Cheese that contains higher amounts of fat will melt better than one that doesn't.

Why did my broccoli cheddar soup curdle? ›

TROUBLESHOOTING: WHY IS MY BROCCOLI CHEESE SOUP GRAINY OR CURDLED? This can happen if the temperature gets too high. Basically the proteins in the cheese tighten up and squeeze out the fat. You end up with a grainy, curdled consistency.

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