Easy Bacon Broccoli Cheese Soup

An easy cheese broccoli soup with BACON. Everything is better with bacon.

With my current time crunch, most of the cooking needs to last multiple meals and be easy. The weather is cooler so soups seem to be the answer. I have never been the biggest soup eater... too much of that red can stuff as a child. But I'm coming around. I love the tortilla soup from the previous post. This one is right up there also.

This recipe had it's start at My Recipe Finds Online but as usual I can't just follow a recipe. I added bacon (really that was my wife). A few other minor changes also. I doubled it for leftovers so cut in half for a "Cooking for Two" friendly recipe.

Rating

 A very strong 4 and almost a 5.

Notes: Once a week may be my normal rate of posting for a while. I was planning a roast chicken post earlier this week but I consider the recipe a failure for me. It was a ATK recipe in a dutch over but was a "2" at best for me.
We actually used a low fat sharp cheddar but I think the bacon may have contradicted some of the positive health effect. But without the bacon and if you want to use olive oil for the butter, this would be very health. With the bacon, still very good.  I added more cheese then the original recipe because I happened to have it grated already and wanted more cheese flavor hence the 2-3 cup recommendation.

Printable Recipe

Tools: Nothing special. I used a dutch oven but any large pot should do.

Ingredients:

2 T butter
1 medium onion diced
6 cloves of garlic
2 stalks celery, diced
4 cups of broccoli florets cut very small
2 14 oz cans chicken broth
4 cups skim milk
1 cup flour
2-3 cups cheddar cheese grated
8 pieces of lean bacon cut into small pieces and cooked (optional)
Salt pepper to taste (I did 1/2 t salt and 1/4 t pepper)

Instructions:

1) Clean and chop all vegetables, garlic and grate cheese.
2) In a large pot melt butter over medium high heat. Add onion and celery and cook until becoming translucent (about 5-6 minutes). Add garlic and cook another 1-2 minutes.

3) Add chicken broth and broccoli. Cover and cook until broccoli is tender (about 10-12 minutes).

4) While #3 is cooking, in a large mixing bowl, add milk and then slowly add flour while whisking well to combine completely.

5) When broccoli is tender slowly add the milk/flour mixture to the pot while stirring slowly. Continue to stir slowly until thickened (4-5 minutes).

6) Now add salt, pepper, and bacon (optional) along with the cheddar while still stirring. Simmer for 5 more minutes and serve.

Easy Bacon Broccoli Cheese Soup

by DrDan at 101 Cooking For Two September 30, 2010

An easy cheese broccoli soup with BACON. Everything is better with bacon. With my current time crunch, most of the cooking needs to last multiple meals and be easy. The weather is cooler so soups seem to be the answer. I have never been the biggest soup eater... too much of that red can stuff as a child. But I'm coming around. I love the tortilla soup from the previous post. This one is right up there also.

Ingredients

2 T butter1 medium onion diced6 cloves garlic 2 stalks celery, diced4 cups broccoli florets cut very small2 14 oz cans chicken broth4 cups skim milk1 cup flour2-3 cups cheddar cheese grated8 pieces lean bacon cut into small pieces and cooked (optional)1/2 t Salt1/4 t pepper

Instructions

1) Clean and chop all vegetables, garlic and grate cheese.2) In a large pot melt butter over medium high heat. Add onion and celery and cook until becoming translucent (about 5-6 minutes). Add garlic and cook another 1-2 minutes.3) Add chicken broth and broccoli. Cover and cook until broccoli is tender (about 10-12 minutes).4) While #3 is cooking, in a large mixing bowl, add milk and then slowly add flour while whisking well to combine completely.5) When broccoli is tender slowly add the milk/flour mixture to the pot while stirring slowly. Continue to stir slowly until thickened (4-5 minutes). 6) Now add salt, pepper, and bacon (optional) along with the cheddar while still stirring. Simmer for 5 more minutes and serve.

Details

Prep time: 15 mins Cook time: 30 mins Total time: 45 mins Yield: 8 servings

Updated

April 23, 2011