• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
West Coast Kitchen Garden
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • About
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Recipe » Vegetarian » Gluten Free Broccoli Cheddar Soup

    Gluten Free Broccoli Cheddar Soup

    Published: Apr 17, 2019 · Modified: May 8, 2022 by Sabrina Currie · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    A yummy, wholesome broccoli cheddar soup that is naturally gluten free and kid favorite in our house. Possibly the most requested dinner, it is thickened with vegetables and perfect on cold winter days. I love that my kids will inhale it AND it's quick and easy, ready in just 30 minutes... #momwin right?!

    Close up of orange broccoli cheese soup with white swirl of cream and broccoli florets garnishing.
    Jump to:
    • Vegetable Based Gluten Free Soup
    • Step By Step Instructions
    • What To Serve With Broccoli Soup?
    • Expert Tip
    • Tips To Get Kids To Eat More Veggies
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Get My Free Book
    • 10 Herbs 10Ways
    • 💬 Community

    Vegetable Based Gluten Free Soup

    A weeknight favourite in our house, this is something I feel good about feeding my kids.  My broccoli cheddar soup is a much healthier version than restaurant soups without compromising flavor or texture. It's “creamy” but without the cream unless you choose to garnish the soup with a little at the end. In fact this soup is made almost entirely of vegetables and of course the cheddar cheese at the end. Broccoli cheddar soup is FULL of vitamins and fiber and a perfect easy dinner for Meatless Monday.

    How does it get a creamy texture?  One russet potato, a ton of broccoli then finished with a cup of cheddar. My kids go nuts for this stuff and it’s easily done in a half hour making it perfect for a busy weeknight meal. (here's my daughter trying to eat it while I was trying to take pictures)

    • Kid Friendly Broccoli Cheese Soup
      Kid Friendly Broccoli Cheese Soup
    • Healthy Vegetarian Broccoli Cheese Soup
      Healthy Vegetarian Broccoli Cheese Soup
    • Cheesy Delicious Gluten Free Broccoli Soup
      Cheesy Delicious Gluten Free Broccoli Soup

    Another of our favourite soup-as-a-meal recipes is my mom's Beet and Beef Borscht recipe and Roasted Cauliflower soup.

    Step By Step Instructions

    Labelled ingredients: broccoli, cheddar, russet potato, onion and carrots.
    1. Saute onions and carrots in your soup pot.
    2. Add vegetable stock and potatoes and cook until potatoes are soft.
    3. Add broccoli and cook a few more minutes until soft but still bright green. Remove from heat.
    4. Using an immersion blender (or regular blender), puree the soup until creamy.
    5. Add shredded cheddar and stir until melted, season to taste with Worcestershire and Tabasco sauce, salt and pepper and serve immediately.
    Diced carrot, onion, potato and broccoli simmering in a stainless steel pot for soup.
    Cook just until all broccoli is soft but still bright green.
    Immersion blender in pot pureeing the broccoli cheese soup.
    Using an immersion blender quickly makes this soup creamy.
    Thin slices of cheddar cheese are added to the soup and starting to melt.
    Shredded or thinly sliced cheese melts quickly into the soup.
    Child scooping a spoonful of creamy broccoli cheddar soup from bowl.

    What To Serve With Broccoli Soup?

    My kids love it served with some homemade no knead bread so I often make that too if time permits or else pick up a fresh whole wheat baguette at the store. Salad are another perfect side dish. Try it with Crisp Apple and Fennel salad, Rocket and Pear salad, or my Fresh Fig salad if you are lucky enough to have fresh figs.

    Loaf of bread in red dutch oven with text overlay that says, "Easy No Knead Bread Recipe Made In One Day"

    Expert Tip

    This recipe is very straightforward, the only thing to be aware of is that you add the cheese at the end of cooking. Don't let the soup come to a boil after adding cheese or it can become grainy as the cheese separates.

    Tips To Get Kids To Eat More Veggies

    I've been lucky that my kids generally like fruits and vegetables. That being said, they love carbs more and as they've gotten older, they've gotten a little pickier. I find they are least picky when they are hungry to the first thing I do when I make dinner is chop up the veggies. I put a simple plate of raw veggies (usually 3-5 choices like cucumber, carrots, peppers, cherry tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower etc.) When the kids come in the kitchen complaining of hunger, I have an answer, a fresh plate of veggies, washed and ready to eat. While they are sometimes resistant if the vegetables aren't ready, if the plate is out, they will mindlessly start snacking on them.

    Another "hidden veggie" recipe that my kids love are these Zucchini Muffins. Give those a go for more veggie snacking.

    Enjoy the soup and let me know in the comments if it converts your kids to broccoli lovers!

    Black tablecloth with white bowl and orange broccoli cheddar soup with swirls of cream and a few florets of broccoli.

    For more on what I'm cooking up, follow me on Instagram or Facebook. You might also like my FREE printable weekly meal planner.

    Cheers friends! Sabrina

    ox Sabrina

    • Best (Easy) Vegan Rhubarb Crumble Recipe With Oats
    • Collage of four recipes with title in the middle. Shown is brie and blackberries baked in puff pastry, blackberry grilled cheese sandwiches stacked high and a plate of potatoes and veggies with blackberry glazed salmon and skewers of chicken with dark berry sauce.
      30 Best Savory Blackberry Recipes To Try This Summer
    • Collage of 4 celery recipes including creamy topped celery sticks, green celery juice, orange flecked cheese stuffed sticks and reindeer decorated celery topped with peanut butter and Nutella.
      Best Celery Snacks And Appetizers For kids And Adults
    • Round bowl of cupped tortilla chips with a bowl of white, red, green and purple ceviche in the middle.
      Easy And Healthy Cod Ceviche With Lime and Jalapeño

    📖 Recipe

    Delicious And Healthy Broccoli Cheddar Cheese Soup

    Gluten Free Broccoli Cheddar Soup

    A quick and easy soup that is hearty and satisfying and naturally gluten free. Perfect for a weeknight dinner, this kid-friendly soup recipe is full of vegetables, fiber and protein. 
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dinner, Soup, Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 287kcal
    Author: Sabrina Currie

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoon Olive Oil
    • 1 c Onion, Chopped About 1 medium sized onion
    • ½ c Carrot, Chopped ¼" About 1 small-medium carrot
    • 4 c Vegetable Stock
    • 1 ½ c Russet Potato, Peeled And Chopped ¼" About 1 med-large potato
    • 4 c Broccoli, Stems And Florets Chopped About 1 head of broccoli
    • 1 c Cheddar, Shredded Or Cut Small 4 oz
    • Salt And Pepper To Taste I used ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper
    • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
    • 5-10 drops Hot Sauce To Taste I use Tobasco and 5 drops if making for my 5 year old gives it a very subtle spice level

    Instructions

    • In a 4 quart or similar pot, heat oil on medium until hot but not smoking.  Add onion and carrot and saute, stirring occasionally until onion is translucent, then add vegetable stock and potato and simmer until carrot and potato is soft, about 10 minutes.  Add broccoli, top with lid and simmer 5 more minutes or until soft but still bright green then turn heat to low.
    • Using an immersion/stick blender or in a regular blender (be careful if pouring hot soup in blender and make sure lid is on firmly before blending) puree soup until smooth or desired consistency.
    •  Add shredded cheese, hot sauce, Worcestershire, salt and pepper and stir gently until cheese is melted. Serve immediately. 
      (Take care not to let soup come to a boil after adding cheese or it will separate and although it will still taste good, it will have a grainy texture.)
    • Garnish as desired with a swirl of cream, extra shredded cheese, fresh herbs or broccoli florets.

    Notes

    Be sure to only add the cheese at the end and cook on low only until melted. If soup comes to a boil, the cheese will seize and have a grainy texture. (Still fine to eat but a less appealing texture)

    Nutrition

    Calories: 287kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 1209mg | Potassium: 673mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 4028IU | Vitamin C: 89mg | Calcium: 270mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @wckitchengarden or tag #wckitchengarden!
    Fast And Easy Broccoli Cheese Soup (Gluten-Free)
    Fast And Easy Broccoli Cheese Soup (Gluten-Free)
    Quick Easy Healthy Broccoli Cheese Soup
    Quick Easy Healthy Broccoli Cheese Soup


    book cover titles 10 herbs 10 ways by Sabrina Currie West Coast Kitchen Garden over top of a white table full of various herbs.

    Get My Free Book

    10 Herbs 10Ways

    SIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL LIST + RECEIVE YOUR FREE DOWNLOAD OF

    10 HERBS 10 WAYS

    We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

    Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

    About Sabrina Currie

    Classically French trained cook, photographer and food stylist living on beautiful Vancouver Island, BC.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Deb

      April 17, 2019 at 6:26 pm

      Mmmm looks delicious! And the model is soooo cute !

      Reply
      • SabCurrie

        April 17, 2019 at 9:17 pm

        Thank you! She was a pretty willing model lol.

        Reply
    2. Cynthia Priest

      April 22, 2019 at 3:00 pm

      Mm! I will have to try this recipe! I always look to hide broccoli in cooking. I wonder if I can adapt it to cook in a Vitamix on soup cycle.

      Reply
      • SabCurrie

        April 22, 2019 at 3:18 pm

        Thanks Cynthia, I think you could adapt it for a vitamix. If you are pureeing everything right away, it will all cook at the same rate, I would just add the cheese at the end after it’s all cooked and mixed. If you try it, let me know how it works! (A Vitamix is on my wish list 😉)

        Reply
    3. Joss

      April 23, 2019 at 12:30 pm

      5 stars
      Great recipe for kids!

      Reply
      • SabCurrie

        April 23, 2019 at 3:21 pm

        Thanks Joss, it’s definitely a family favourite in our house, I hope your family loves it as much as we do!

        Reply
    4. Trish

      April 25, 2019 at 5:30 pm

      5 stars
      I love using potatoes to make creamy soup! Great idea. I’ll have to try this.

      Reply
    5. Kristen

      April 26, 2019 at 7:49 am

      5 stars
      Sabrina, this is such a perfect recipe for the whole family - I mean who doesn't love a cheesy broccoli soup.
      We love any kind of soup - so I'm definitely saving this one. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    6. Terri

      May 06, 2019 at 7:57 pm

      5 stars
      I have never tried broccoli soup- it sounds so healthy and delicious!

      Reply
      • SabCurrie

        May 06, 2019 at 8:12 pm

        Really?!?! I highly recommend it. Broccoli cheese is such a yummy combo and this version is healthy to boot. 🥦

        Reply
    7. Sangita

      April 06, 2021 at 9:24 am

      5 stars
      The soup looks really delicious and your model is so cute!

      Reply
      • SabCurrie

        April 06, 2021 at 4:41 pm

        Thanks Sangita:-)

        Reply
    8. Addison

      April 06, 2021 at 6:26 pm

      5 stars
      One of my favorite soups ever!

      Reply
      • SabCurrie

        April 11, 2021 at 6:00 pm

        Thanks so much Addison!

        Reply
    9. Caralyn Longhurst

      May 14, 2023 at 5:32 am

      I have enjoyed your recipes very much. As I came to this one via the 'Vegetarian' label, do you mind if I point out that not all Cheddar cheeses are vegetarian, at least in the UK. Some use animal rennet. Similarly, traditional Worcester sauce contains anchovies.

      I have been vegetarian for decades, although I will happily prepare and cook food for all appetites. It still troubles me that vegetarian options, when eating out, often contain hidden animal products, (chicken stock in soups; non-vegetarian cheeses like parmesan - I have even been offered fish as a vegetarian choice!).

      Thanks very much for your thoroughly enjoyable articles and recipes

      Reply
      • Sabrina Currie

        May 15, 2023 at 9:00 pm

        You are right Caralyn, that is so true. I admit I make the assumption that vegetarians have vegan or vegetarian versions of these popular ingredients but I will try to specify that going forward. Cheers to chiming in to share our collective cooking knowledge. Sabrina

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Join Me On Social

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    Sabrina Currie in her kitchen

    Hi, I'm Sabrina! Welcome to my West Coast Kitchen Garden. I hope to inspire you to grow, forage and shop your local farmer's market with these easy and delicious recipes using whole foods.

    More about me →

    Most Recent Posts

    • Best (Easy) Vegan Rhubarb Crumble Recipe With Oats
    • Collage of four recipes with title in the middle. Shown is brie and blackberries baked in puff pastry, blackberry grilled cheese sandwiches stacked high and a plate of potatoes and veggies with blackberry glazed salmon and skewers of chicken with dark berry sauce.
      30 Best Savory Blackberry Recipes To Try This Summer
    • Collage of 4 celery recipes including creamy topped celery sticks, green celery juice, orange flecked cheese stuffed sticks and reindeer decorated celery topped with peanut butter and Nutella.
      Best Celery Snacks And Appetizers For kids And Adults
    • Round bowl of cupped tortilla chips with a bowl of white, red, green and purple ceviche in the middle.
      Easy And Healthy Cod Ceviche With Lime and Jalapeño
    • Collage of 4 recipes including a stack of green flecked fritters with sour cream on top, chicken yakitori skewers on a baking sheet, cauliflower and red pepper salad and yellow corn chowder in white bowls.
      What To Serve With Fritters For Dinner-55 Side Dishes
    • Collage of 4 recipes including long green broccolini, a chopped salad topped with hard boiled egg halves, a round loaf of bread and a white bowl of seafood fettuccini. Title text in the middle says, "30+ sides to serve with fettuccine alfredo."
      What Goes With Fettuccine Alfredo? Best 30 Side Dishes

    Follow to the bottom if you'd like to sign up for my latest shop sales, best cooking tips and newest recipes.

    Most Popular Recipes

    • Ooni Pizza Dough Cooking in the Fyra
      Ooni Pizza Dough Recipe
    • Chirashi Sushi Bowl Recipe
      Chirashi Sushi Bowl (aka Chirashizushi)
    • Miso Baked Oyster Recipe
      Miso Baked Oysters-A Quick And Easy West Coast Appetizer
    • A blue bowl of tortilla chips with a smaller black bowl of pink, red, green and purple rhubarb salsa in it. The background is all black.
      Savory Spring Rhubarb Salsa
    • Strawberry rhubarb oatmeal muffins on a flax colored linen tea towel with garden in background.
      Strawberry Rhubarb Oatmeal Muffins
    • White and red cabbage sauerkraut with simple airlock lids
      Red Cabbage Sauerkraut/Fermented Red Cabbage
    Close up of thinly sliced sockeye salmon drizzled with white mayo based dressing and topped with arugula and a sprinkling of capers and red onions all on a blue plate.
    Best Salmon Carpaccio

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    Sabrina Currie of West Coast Kitchen Garden
    Sabrina Currie of West Coast Kitchen Garden

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Services
    • Media Kit

    Copyright © West Coast Kitchen Garden 2021 - All Rights Reserved

     

    Loading Comments...