This high protein broccoli cheddar soup with chicken gives you the creamy, cheesy bowl you know from Panera, made lighter at home. Tender broccoli, carrots and shredded chicken breast turn it into a full meal you can eat for lunch or dinner.
Reduced fat sharp cheddar, Swiss and nutritional yeast give it plenty of cheese flavor, and the chicken goes in at the very end so it stays tender. The recipe makes 10 cups, which is enough for dinner tonight and easy lunches all week.
For a dairy-free version, try our Vegan Broccoli Cheddar Soup!
Most broccoli cheddar soup gets its richness from butter, heavy cream and a lot of cheese. This version cooks the roux in olive oil, uses skim milk and blended broccoli for the creamy base, and adds lean chicken breast, so every cup brings protein and vegetables together.
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It can be when it's made like this. A cup has 169 calories, 6 grams of fat and 2 grams of saturated fat, and the chicken and broccoli make it a balanced meal.
Shredded chicken breast is the easiest way, and it's how this recipe reaches 20 grams per cup. For even more, blend half a cup of low fat cottage cheese into the puréed half.
This recipe uses a flour roux and blends half the soup, which is usually enough. If it still seems thin, simmer it uncovered a few more minutes before adding the cheese.
Yes, for up to 3 months in airtight containers. Soups made with milk and cheese can turn a little grainy after thawing, so reheat slowly and stir often to smooth it out.
If you like how filling this chicken and broccoli soup is, our other high protein chicken soups, from chicken noodle to white bean chili, make easy lunches and weeknight dinners too.
For more bowls that get their creamy texture from vegetables, milk or yogurt, try our lighter cream soups, including a healthy corn chowder and a creamy cauliflower soup.
A bowl of Panera broccoli cheddar soup has 420 calories and 1,520 mg of sodium. The same amount of our homemade version, about 1½ cups, has 254 calories and 185 mg of sodium, with 2½ times the protein.
A few ingredients do most of the work in this soup. Reduced fat sharp cheddar has a stronger flavor than mild cheddar, so half a cup is enough to make the whole pot taste cheesy. Nutritional yeast adds a nutty, cheese-like taste on top of that, and a small pinch of nutmeg makes both cheeses taste richer.
Recipe yields 10 servings
In a large Dutch oven or stockpot, heat the oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add the chopped yellow onion and sauté until beginning to soften and turn translucent, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Sprinkle in the gluten-free all-purpose flour over the onion mixture and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute.
Slowly and gradually pour in the milk, whisking after each addition (this helps prevent the roux from clumping and keeps the mixture smooth). Whisk in the unsalted chicken stock. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat and then reduce the heat to medium-low.
Add the chopped broccoli and matchstick carrots. Cook for 20 to 25 minutes, until the broccoli and carrots are tender. Remove from the heat.
Add the ground black pepper, garlic powder and onion powder; stir to combine. Transfer half of the soup to a blender or food processor and purée until smooth. Return the puréed soup to the Dutch oven or stockpot and heat over low heat. Add the reduced fat sharp cheddar cheese, Swiss cheese and nutritional; stir to combine. Cooking, stirring frequently, until the cheeses are melted. Stir in the nutmeg and shredded chicken breast; heat until chicken is warm.
The stovetop gives you the most control, but this soup also works in a slow cooker or an Instant Pot.
This soup is filling on its own, but a simple side turns it into a bigger meal.
Use 8 ounces of frozen chopped broccoli and cut the simmering time to about 10 minutes.
Cooked turkey breast works the same way and is a good use for leftovers.
Regular all-purpose flour works if you don't need the soup to be gluten-free.
If you love the pairing of broccoli and cheddar in this soup, you’ll also like these easy broccoli recipes, from a light broccoli and cheese side to a chicken broccoli casserole.
