This Slow Cooker Broccoli Cheese Soup is as easy as dumping everything into the slow cooker and walking away. It's also healthy, hearty, and lighter than your typical crockpot broccoli cheddar soup, as well as being Weight Watchers friendly. It's really the perfect comfort food.
Broccoli Cheese Soup is one of those comfort foods that's especially comforting during cold weather, but great for any time of the year. And since it's made in your slow cooker, no matter what the season, you don't need to worry about heating up the house. It's a great meal for busy nights and an ideal lunch or dinner idea for Meatless Monday!
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🥘Ingredients
You don't need heavy cream and all the accompanying fat and calories to make this creamy soup. Instead, I use low-fat milk and simply thicken it.
You will need the following ingredients for this crockpot soup.
- ½ medium chopped onion
- 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
- 2 cups 1% milk
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 3 cups fresh broccoli chopped into bite-size pieces
- 1 cup carrots shredded julienned or match stick
- 2 ounces of fat-free cream cheese
- 2 ½ cups low-fat sharp cheddar cheese (shredded)
- 1 ½ tablespoon corn starch and cold water (to make a thick paste)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ tsp paprika (optional- not shown) - you can also add it to the soup, not just as a garnish
- Parmesan cheese (optional- not shown)
🔪Instructions
I really don't like "pre-cooking" anything in the crockpot if I can help it and that's not necessary with this recipe because I made sure of that. And all you need is a few minutes of prep!
Combine the broccoli, onion, shredded carrots, garlic, cream cheese chicken stock, milk, salt, and pepper, in the slow cooker.
Cook on LOW for 4 hours.
*Do not add cheese, cornstarch or water yet.
Mix cornstarch with water until it's a thick paste
Turn the slow cooker to high. Add the shredded cheese and cornstarch
Allow 15- 30 minutes to thicken. *Add more cornstarch/water if it's not thick enough for your liking
*Add additional salt and pepper to your preference
Hint: If you want a little more flavor, add some low-fat (or fat-free) parmesan cheese
📖Variations & Substitutions
- Lactose-free - Use dairy-free milk, cheese, and cream cheese
- Vegetarian - use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth
- Cream Cheese - use regular, fat-free, or low-fat, whichever you prefer
- Milk - you can use 1%, 2%, or whole milk
- Cheddar Cheese- you can use regular cheddar cheese instead of low-fat or use medium cheddar instead of sharp, if you prefer
- Spicy- you can add additional paprika or cayenne pepper
- Broccoli - you can use regular broccoli with the stems cut off, broccoli florets or frozen broccoli
Or eat it in a delicious bread bowl like this Panzanella Pasta Soup (see directions here)
🥗 Side Dishes
This slow cooker soup pairs well with bread, a sandwich, or a salad:
- Everything Bagel Cloud Bread Recipe
- Bread Machine Italian Breadsticks
- Spinach salad
- Turkey Reuben Panini (shown)
🍽Equipment
You will need a slow cooker (affiliate link) for this crock pot broccoli cheese soup. I have a 6-quart Hamilton Beach, it was economical and works great! You don't need an immersion blender or food processor unless you want to puree it, but it's really not necessary.
🌡️Storage
Store leftover Broccoli Cheese Soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. It will freeze well in a sealed container for 3 months.
👪 Serving Size
This easy recipe makes 4 (about 1.5 cups) servings. However, you can half, double, or triple the recipe by clicking on the blue serving number and selecting the number of servings you'd like. The ingredient quantities will automatically adjust.
🔢WW Points
This cheesy soup is Weight Watchers friendly @ 7 WW points per serving (¼ of the entire pot - about 1.5 cups). The WW points can be reduced a little more by using fat-free cream cheese. I don't recommend using fat-free cheddar, as it won't completely melt.
❔ Frequently Asked Questions
To prevent your broccoli cheddar soup from becoming grainy:
1) Cook it on low heat - the slow cooker is a great way to do this!
2) Add the cheese at the very end and only cook until melted and thickened
You can use cornstarch and water or a roux (flour and oil) to thicken broccoli cheese soup.
If you are looking for a healthy broccoli cheddar soup, this delicious soup is for you! And it's one that the whole family will enjoy.
📋 Slow Cooker Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ medium chopped onion
- 2 garlic cloves finely minced
- 2 cups 1% milk
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 3 cups fresh broccoli chopped into bite-size pieces or frozen
- 1 cup carrots, shredded juliened or match stick
- 2 ounces low-fat cream cheese
- 2 ½ cups low fat shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 ½ tablespoon cornstarch (add cold water until it becomes a thick paste) *to make a paste/slurry
- salt and pepper to taste
- ½ tablespoon parmesan cheese (low-fat) optional
- ¼ teaspoon paprika (optional)
Instructions
- Combine the broccoli, onion, shredded carrots, cream cheese, garlic, chicken stock, milk, salt, pepper, in the slow cooker and cook on low for four hours. *Do NOT add the cheese or cornstarch!*Add paprika, if desired
- Mix cornstarch with water until it's a thick paste
- Turn the slow cooker to high. Add cheese and cornstarch
- Allow 10-15 minutes to thicken. *Add more cornstarch/water if it's not thick enough for your liking
Garnish
- Garnish with paprika, additional cheddar cheese. Add a little parmesan cheese, if desired.
Edith
I made this today and we really liked it. Love slow cooker recipes, this one was really easy, my kind of recipe!
Terri Gilson
So glad you enjoyed it!
Susanne
Easy to make and tastes delicious!!
Terri Gilson
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Susanne!