Is Broccoli Cheese Soup Keto

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Make It Thick & Cheesy

Keto Broccoli Cheese Soup | Easy Low Carb Broccoli Cheddar Soup Recipe

Do you like your broccoli soup super smooth or with chunks of broccoli? You actually have 3 options here to finish it off:

  • Pieces Leave all the broccoli florets whole in your broccoli cheese soup. To do this, add the shredded cheddar cheese gradually, stirring constantly, and continue to stir until melted. This will help thicken the broccoli and cheese soup.
  • Pureed Pureeing is an excellent way to get a thicker soup, if thats what you like, because the broccoli thickens it. Transfer to a blender and blend until smooth, or use an immersion blender.
  • Combination Puree the soup, but reserve 1/3 as florets. Its the best of both worlds! To do this, remove about 1/3 of the florets using a slotted spoon, blend using an immersion blender, then return the florets to the pot.

Tips For Making The Best Keto Broccoli Cheese Soup

Making soup is always easy and forgiving, especially this one. but heres a few Tips for making it easier:

  • Use frozen broccoli. Less mess and its already pre-measured. Frozen broccoli is picked at the peak of freshness and you can keep it on hand without worry about fresh produce going bad if you dont eat it up that same week!
  • Grate your own cheese. Prepackaged cheeses almost always have an anti-caking agent added which, even though not called out on the package, can add carbs or ingredients you are intolerant to.
  • Homemade Bone Broth or high quality purchase bone broth is best but chicken base will work in a pinch, just reconstitute it according to package instructions.
  • Customize this soup to fit your taste. We prefer large chunks of broccoli and chicken, but you can finely chop yours if thats better for your family. We also like to serve our soup with shredded cheese on top, instead of melting it all into the soup itself.
  • Thickeners arent necessary. While I have an optional thickener step in the recipe, you might prefer your soup without it since the high fat dairy gives the soup a slightly thickened body on its own. Taste it first before thickening.
  • Best Keto Soup Thickeners

    But how to thicken a soup?

    I get this question a LOT. How can you thicken a soup without using non-keto ingredients like flour, cornstarch, etc.?

    Ive talked about this before in other recipe blog posts, but there are many options. Check out my post on Keto Pork Chops for more detail on keto sauces thickeners.

    Some of the thickeners I use most are cream cheese, eggs, gelatin, xanthan gum, and almond flour. In this keto broccoli cheese soup recipe, Im using a combination of several as well as a new thickener to add to the fold.

    Cauliflower.

    Yes, our inspiration soup from the dinner theater had cauliflower in it. I thought, why not? Could it be used as a thickener as well?

    Indeed, it can! In fact, I have to say it turns out pretty tasty too.

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    How To Make The Best Keto Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe:

  • Break down the broccoli. For this recipe, I like to use the stalks as the base of this soup, and the florets are sautéed in butter and added in whole towards the end. Once you remove the florets, chop the stalks. You can use a vegetable peeler to peel the outer layer of the stalks if you find they are particularly fibrous.
  • Saute and puree. Saute the onions and broccoli stalks in butter and olive oil until softened. Then, add the garlic along with all the seasoning. Pour in the chicken stock and allow the soup to reach a simmer. At this point, you can use an immersion blender or transfer the soup into a blender and puree. Once pureed, add it back to the soup pot, add the shredded carrots, and cook a bit in the soup.
  • Saute and finish. While the soup is simmering, add the remaining butter to a skillet and allow it to melt over medium heat. When melted, add the broccoli florets and saute them until bright green and al-dente. Transfer the florets into the prepared soup. Kick the heat up to medium-high. Add the cream and stir to combine. Then, lower the heat to low, add in ½ cup of shredded cheese at a time as you stir. Allow the cheese to melt in completely before adding in the next ½ cup. Take your time here dont rush this part. Once combined, taste and adjust with additional seasonings as desired. Serve the soup while warm in your favorite bowl.
  • How To Blanch Broccoli

    15 Delightful Instant Pot Keto Broccoli Cheese soup

    Fill a large pot with water and bring the water to a boil and then add the fresh broccoli. Cook the broccoli in the boiling water for 3-5 minutes until it turns bright green. Then using a strainer strain the water from the broccoli. You will know the broccoli is cooked when it has turned bright green and is tender enough to pierce with a fork but still firm.

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    How To Make This Keto Broccoli Cheese Soup In An Instant Pot Or Slow Cooker/crock Pot

    If you want to make this soup ahead of time and keep warm, an instant pot or slow cooker are both great options! Follow these instructions below if you want to make this soup this way.

    Instant Pot Method

  • Place the butter in the Instant Pot and press the saute button. Once hot add in the onion and celery, cook for 3-4 minutes to soften. Add in the spices and stir to combine.
  • Cancel the saute function. Add in the remaining ingredients, except cheese and half and half, and place the lid on the pot. Set to manual high pressure for 8 minutes. At the end of the 8 minutes, let the pressure naturally release for 5 minutes then release the valve.
  • Taste for salt and pepper, adding more if necessary. Stir in the half and half and shredded cheese. Use an immersion blender to partially or fully blend the soup if desired.
  • Slow Cooker Method

  • Melt the butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add in the onion and celery. Cook 4-5 minutes until softened then add in the spices. Cook another 30 seconds then transfer the mixture to your slow cooker.
  • Add in all of the remaining ingredients, except for the half and half and shredded cheese and cover. Set to high 3-4 hours of low for 6-7. With one hour to go, add in the half and half and cheese and stir to combine. Continue to cook for an hour or until the cheese is fully melted.
  • Taste for salt and pepper, adding more if necessary. Use an immersion blender to partially or fully blend the soup if desired.
  • Can You Freeze This Keto Broccoli Cheese Soup

    Yes, yes and YES! You can freeze this Keto Broccoli Cheese Soup with Chicken Recipe. This recipe yields 4 generous savings. You can always place your leftover soup in a freezer safe container and it will keep in the freezer for about a month.

    For longer storage or if you are tight on freezer space like us, We prefer to vacuum meal sized portions.

    I know you cant vacuum seal liquids but you can vacuum seal them if you freeze them first!

    I divide ours into 2 2 serving portions, pour into vacuum sealable bags, freeze them standing up THEN vacuum seal them froze. Ill then let them defrost slightly to press them into flat packs to take up the minimum freezer space AND they will defrost easily.

    To reheat simply remove from the bag and heat on the stove OR heat the soup in the bag and pour it directly into your bowl!

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    How To Keep Cheese From Clumping In Soup

    The key to getting a smooth cheese soup is choosing the right cheese, preparing it correctly, adding it to the liquid at the right time. Here are my recommendations for a smooth cheese soup.

    1. Make sure the soup isnt too hot. Temperatures over about 150 F break down the protein bonds in the cheese which can lead to clumps.

    2. Add in small handfuls of cheese at a time. Just bit by bit. Whisk or stir the soup until each handful of cheese is thoroughly melted and incorporated before adding the next.

    3. If you still have clumps, try using blocks of cheese that you shred yourself. Sometimes pre-shredded cheeses can contain stabilizers that might make them harder to melt.

    Keto Broccoli Cheese Soup Slow Cooker

    Keto Broccoli Cheese Soup | Keto Recipes | Headbanger’s Kitchen

    This keto broccoli cheddar soup also happens to be super easy and is made with only a few basic ingredients.

    In fact, chances are you already have the majority of what you need to make this cheesy hearty soup.

    I decided to make this keto broccoli soup recipe in a slow cooker because lets face it, life is so much easier when we can throw some ingredients into a pot and let it do all the work for us.

    Just toss the majority of the ingredients into your crockpot, set it to low, and then a couple of hours later you simply stir in the shredded cheese.

    It really is that simple to enjoy a low-carb version that tastes like traditional broccoli cheese soup.

    Its perfect comfort food, turned into a low carb recipe!

    Make sure you remember also to check out our Keto Cream Cheese Recipesfor other delicious recipes that feature cream cheese.

    Its the secret ingredient that makes this a creamy soup without the need for any thickening agents.

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    How To Thicken Broccoli Cheddar Soup Naturally

    Believe it or not, the thickener in this gluten-free broccoli cheese soup is simply cheese. No flour, starches, or artificial thickeners are necessary for this one.

    The heavy cream also reduces as it cooks, which helps very slightly with thickening. For this reason, I wouldnt recommend swapping out the cream with any kind of milk. It will work okay, but the result will be a lot less creamy.

    Of course, the cheese does the majority of the work in thickening this broccoli cheddar soup recipe

    When I discovered that shredded cheddar works so well, I honestly wondered why Ive never seen this before. Yes, its a teeny tiny bit thinner than a flour-thickened version, but its so much easier. And, its better for you, too.

    No carbs, no fuss, and still creamy and delicious. Thats a win-win, and makes this top my list when it comes to broccoli and cheese soup recipes.

    Use A Blender For Soup

    One of my favorite and most used gadgets in the kitchen may not be what you think.

    Its a blender! I love my Vitamix high speed blender, and use it at least once a day. Its one of those indispensable tools Ive come to rely on and would replace immediately if it were to go out.

    Which I cant imagine happening anytime soon, and Ive used mine regularly for a good seven years. Its great not just for smoothies, but baking, soups, anything.

    But back to the recipe.

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    Ingredients Youll Need To Make This Recipe

    • Butter Unsalted butter to sautee the onions and garlic in.
    • Onion and garlic Both these vegetables add extra flavor to the soup.
    • Chicken broth Also known as chicken stock. You can use a homemade chicken broth or store bought. I like using organic chicken stock as it has no additives or added sugar.
    • Heavy cream Gives the soup an extra rich and creamy texture, without affecting the flavor.
    • Broccoli Finely chopped broccoli. Avoid using frozen broccoli as it will yield a much more thinner soup.
    • Smoked paprika Adds some smokey flavor which works very well with the cheese.
    • Salt and pepper To taste.
    • Cheddar cheese A flavorful and easy melting cheese. You can swap out half of it with red Leicester or vintage cheddar if youd like a more intense cheese flavor. Try to shred your own cheese, as it is cheaper to do and melts into the soup seamlessly.

    How To Make Broccoli Cheese Soup

    Keto Broccoli Cheddar Soup

    Grab a medium to large soup pot and get that heating up over medium heat on the stove top. Add the butter and let it melt while you chop the broccoli, onions, and celery.

    You want a pretty small chop on these veggies. I go with very small cubes for the onions and celery, and about 1 sized chop on the broccoli.

    Add all of those veggies to the soup pot and stir it around. Season it with salt and pepper. You can adjust the seasoning at the end, if necessary.

    Saute the veggies for about 8 minutes, until the broccoli is tender. You dont want to fry the veggies. They shouldnt be getting any color.

    Add the garlic and saute for an additional 1 minute. It will start to become fragrant and your mouth will surely start watering in anticipation.

    Next, stir in the chicken broth and heavy cream. You want to make sure the soup is just simmering, not high enough heat to boil. Boiling would cause the cream to break.

    Sprinkle in the shredded cheddar and stir until completely melted. I always shred my own cheese from the block to avoid the added flour thats dusted onto pre-shredded cheese.

    Now you can just let the soup simmer for about 5-10 minutes to meld together and thicken slightly. It will still be fairly liquidy. If its too thin for you, it can be thickened with a little bit of xanthan gum.

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    Low Carb Substitutions & Additions

    Here are a few more suggestions that you can do to make this keto broccoli cheddar soup your very own version.

    • Substitute chicken broth for vegetable broth.
    • Add in curry for unique flavoring.
    • Blend the soup into a keto broccoli cheese cream soup.
    • No ground mustard, no problem. Ive used a tsp of regular yellow mustard before as a substitute.
    • Double the broccoli for more veggie power.
    • Top off your soup with extra shredded cheese and/or chives.

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    How To Make A Thicker Gluten

    As I stated earlier this soup uses zero flour, starches, or artificial thickeners.

    The soup is naturally thickened by the combination of heavy cream, cream cheese, and shredded cheddar cheese.

    If you prefer a thicker soup you can also reduce the water in this recipe by one cup. Alternatively, you can increase the cheddar cheese to 3 cups instead of the 2 1/2 cups it calls for.

    You can also puree the keto soup by using a blender, stick blender, or food processor after cooking.

    Lastly, you can also just simmer the soup a little longer and it will reduce naturally.

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    Tips For Creamy Clump

    Following all of these tips will ensure you do NOT have a clumpy cheesy soup!

  • Block cheeses that have been shredded by hand work best. There are additives in pre-shredded cheeses that may cause it not to melt thoroughly. Freshly shredded cheese ensures that all the pieces of cheese are the same size and melt evenly.
  • Let your cheese sit out and come to room temperature before adding to soup to prevent sudden temperature change, which can cause the cheese to get clumpy and stick together.
  • Turn down the heat when adding the cheese.*
  • Add a little bit of cheese at a time and stir each time before adding more.
  • Other Diets This Recipe Is Good For

    KETO BROCCOLI CHEESE SOUP Recipe | PANERA Broccoli cheddar soup copycat

    This is already keto-friendly, but what other diets is it ok for?

    Considering that there is absolutely no flour it makes it gluten-free. But make sure that your chicken broth is gluten-free as well.

    Speaking of chicken broth, unfortunately, since we use it, it doesnt make your soup 100% vegetarian.

    However, an easy fix to that problem is to replace the chicken broth with vegetable broth and now your problem is solved.

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    I Know There Are Already Eleventy

    Before we get to this keto broccoli cheese soup recipe, I must tell you that Ive recently been introduced to the joys of the parmesan cheese chip and Im hooked.

    Ironically I was so outraged over paying $7 for a head of cauliflower that I wrote an irate letter and boycotted it due to the price buuuuuuuttt when it comes to Parmesan cheese crisps that I could easily make at home for literally pennies???

    I paid $4.99 for a 7 oz bag that had maybe 15 chips in it.

    And Id do it again.

    Just look away OK, I cant bear to see you witness my shame.

    Parmesan cheese crisps are a super tasty crunchy addition to this keto broccoli cheddar soup. You can also set aside some smaller pieces of cooked broccoli to add to this low carb broccoli soup if you want a chunkier texture.

    I wanted this keto broccoli cheese soup to be basic at its foundation but you can easily throw in some chopped bacon, chicken or ham to make it even heartier if you prefer!

    Full disclosure I made this entire batch of keto broccoli cheddar soup in the microwave, so there is no stove required. I know some of you are gasping in horror because you think the microwave is the devil, but some people are living in dorm rooms where all they have is a microwave, and those people are psyched right now.

    You can absolutely make this cheesy keto broccoli soup on the stovetop just saying you dont NEED to if its not an option or youre pressed for time.

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