This Broccoli Cheese Soup is lightened up, but no one ever guesses! It’s the best Broccoli Cheese Soup I’ve tried, and I’ve tried a lot! Use your Instant Pot or make it on the stovetop.
My in-laws come to visit a lot, and my mother-in-law drinks half and half in her coffee. When they leave, I’m always left with half and half that I don’t know what to do with. I drink my coffee black, so I’m always searching for different ways to use it since I hate wasting food.
When they left after Christmas, there was some unused half and half and I happened to buy a huge bag of broccoli florets at Costco. It’s pretty obvious what I needed to make, right? Broccoli Cheese Soup!
Broccoli Cheese Soup is usually made with heavy cream. I wondered if it would still be creamy and delicious with half and half? It definitely was! Nobody would know that this Broccoli Cheese Soup is lightened up considerably. I even cut back on the cheese a little bit, but it was perfectly creamy and cheesy.
I’m not going to lie. When I was eating this soup I was really happy I’m not doing a Whole30 this January like I did last year . I’m forever grateful we did that as it totally changed my husband for the better, but cutting out cheese was tough for me!
Thankfully, I’m good at moderation and can enjoy cheese once in a while and my body seems to tolerate it fine.
I made this in the Instant Pot (<—that’s my affiliate link if you need an Instant Pot. :))because one of my goals for the year is to use it more. These Instant Pot recipes are helping, and I’m working to develop more of my own.
I think you’re going to love this Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Soup! It’s so quick and easy to make in the Instant Pot, but if you don’t have one, you can still make it. I’ve put the notes to do so in the printable recipe card! Enjoy!
If you make this recipe, please give it a star rating below. It’s so helpful to other readers to see which recipes are tried and true! Also take a pic and share it on Instagram, tag me @happyhealthymama, and I’ll feature you!
You might also love this Broccoli Cheddar Orzo Bake! Looking for more delicious soup recipes? Try this Greek Lemon Chicken Soup that’s ready in 20 minutes!
PrintInstant Pot Broccoli Cheese Soup
This Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Soup is quick, easy, and absolutely delicious! You’ll never know it’s a lightened up version!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth (I prefer chicken)
- 3 cups broccoli florets, cut into very small pieces
- 1 cup matchstick carrots
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
- 1 1/2 cups freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese*
- 1 cup half and half
Instructions
- Start the Instant Pot in sauté mode and melt the butter. Add the diced onion and minced garlic and sauté for two minutes.
- Stir in the flour and allow it to cook for one minute. Stir in the broth until it is a smooth consistency.
- Add broccoli, carrots, salt, pepper, and paprika. Press cancel and put the lid on the Instant Pot with the vent in the sealing position.
- Set the Instant Pot on manual mode at high pressure for eight minutes.
- When the Instant Pot beeps, use the quick release method to release the pressure.
- Open the lid and set to sauté mode again. Gradually stir in the half and half. Next, gradually stir in the cheese, stirring continuously, until it melts. Press cancel and serve! Enjoy!
Notes
*I highly recommend you grate your own cheese rather than buy the bagged shredded kind. Freshly shredded will melt better and the shredded kind has added ingredients that won’t let it incorporate as easily. Also, sharp cheddar or extra sharp cheddar will lend the most flavor.
** To make this without an Instant Pot, follow the directions, but use a heavy bottomed soup pot on the stove top, when it calls for pressure cooking the vegetables, instead simmer the broccoli and carrots until they are tender, about 20 minutes. Then continue and add the half and half and cheese.
***Links to products are affiliate links.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 388
- Sugar: 5.1 grams
- Fat: 30.4 grams
- Carbohydrates: 16.3 grams
- Protein: 15 grams
If you make this Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Soup recipe, or any Happy Healthy Mama recipe, I would LOVE to see it! Please take a pic and share it on Instagram or the Happy Healthy Mama Facebook page and tag me @happyhealthymama ?
Also, if you try it, would you mind rating the recipe? It’s VERY helpful for me and other readers if the recipes have ratings and reviews. I appreciate you!
If you’d like to save this recipe for later, here’s an image to save to your Pinterest recipe board!
This soup was excellent! So easy to make too. I did add celery and a dash of cayenne pepper but followed the recipe otherwise. Will definitely make again!
★★★★★
Happy to hear you enjoyed it!
Happy to hear this!
Made this tonight for the first time (first time making ANY broccoli soup at all!). Only change I made was I didn’t measure the onions (just diced half of a large onion) and I “accidentally” used 2 cups of cheese 🙂
I’ve made this soup several times now. I had another broccoli and cheese soup recipe I used for about 8 years with glowing reviews that no longer sees the light of day since discovering this one! Lighter in this case means more flavorful!
★★★★★
I made this tonight and it was delicious! I pretty much followed the exact recipe except for grating the carrot instead of cutting into matchsticks. I will be making this again and again!
★★★★★
So glad to hear that!
This was delicious!! Followed the recipe exactly as given. So easy. Will definitely make it again, and soon.
★★★★★
Delicious!! I ended up adding celery and potato, and the end result was scrumptious! My family thanks you!
★★★★★
Thanks for the feedback!
My husband thought this was delicious!! We are doubling it next time so we’ll have more leftovers. Thanks for sharing!
★★★★★
This soup is a winner! The whole family loved it and my son ate 3 helpings (definitely going to double the recipe next time since there were no leftovers). He told me to come on here and give it 126 stars but I told him the highest I could go was 5:). Oh and I don’t have an instant pot so really appreciate you giving additional directions for those without. Super yummy!
★★★★★
SO happy to hear this, Heather!
I am very new to the instant pot. I tried another recipe from another cook chef. It turned out terrible in my opinion. This recipe was absolutely scrumptious! Very easy! I didn’t have Matchstick carrots so I grated a carrot. Other than that, I followed it your recipe toa T. .
★★★★★
So glad to hear this Kathy! Thanks for your feedback. 🙂
This was my first instant pot recipe to try, because I had broccoli stems and stalks after making a salad. I used soy milk instead of half and half and no onion. Delicious!
So glad to hear that! Thanks Sandy!
Since I can’t have dairy, do you think canned coconut milk and vegan cheese would work? I would really like to make this soup. Thanks.
This was a very good recipe. It also tastes so good and my dad who is a bit picky also enjoyed it. It also reheated well in the microwave.
★★★★★
So glad to hear that Pamela! Thanks for the feedback!
I made it without carrots and with 2% milk as I can’t use crime or half and half. It was super easy and Tatarstan great.
Very good soup. I added some celery to enrich the soup. Super easy to cook and I like the lighter option with half and half instead of cream.
★★★★★
Thanks so much for the feedback!
This looks incredible! Yum!
Thanks, Lisa!