Slow Cooker Broccoli Cheese Soup is super easy to make AND it’s a low carb recipe! It’s just the low carb dinner that you’re looking for that the entire family will love!
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January is the time of year for 2 things: new diets and eating habits, and soul-warming recipes to keep you warm during the long winter ahead. Well, this recipe ticks both of those boxes. Not only is this recipe low carb, but it’s some serious comfort food, too!
Once winter hits I almost exclusively cook dinner in the slow cooker. There’s something about slow cooked food that’s so comforting during the chilly months of winter. One thing I’ve found over years of slow cooking is that broccoli has the tendency to turn a rather unappetizing color in the crockpot. To counteract that, I add my secret ingredient: baking soda!
Why Baking Soda in this Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe?
I’ve found that baking soda helps some foods retain their color after being cooked a long time. Broccoli is one of those foods that loses its bright, vibrant color after being cooked awhile. To avoid color loss I use just a touch of baking soda! This trick also works well for homemade black bean soup–adding just a touch of baking soda helps keep the soup black rather than grey or purple.
Some of my Favorite Low-Carb Slow Cooker Recipes:
Cook’s Tools – Broccoli Cheese Soup:
Cook’s Note – Broccoli Cheese Soup:
- This recipe can be doubled, just make sure your slow cooker can hold at least 6 quarts. If you double the recipe you do not need to alter the cooking times.
- If you do not have an immersion blender, then you can use a blender instead. Just blend the soup in batches and make sure you hold the lid on SUPER TIGHT!
- Either yellow or white sharp cheddar cheese will work in this Broccoli Cheddar Soup recipe.
ONE YEAR AGO: Chocolate Cannoli Tart
TWO YEARS AGO: Butter Pecan Fudge
THREE YEARS AGO: Restaurant-Style Black Bean Soup
- 20 oz frozen broccoli
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1 medium onion diced (yellow, white or red onion)
- 2 large garlic cloves
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper + more to taste
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon salt + more to taste
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- 8 ozs sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 4 ozs low fat cream cheese at room temperature and cut into 4 pieces
- Add frozen broccoli, carrots, onion, garlic, and chicken broth to slow cooker insert. Stir in mustard, black pepper, paprika, salt, and baking soda. Cover and cook on HIGH for 2 hours or LOW for 4 hours, stirring every hour. Use an immersion blender to blend soup until no large chunks of broccoli or carrot remain. (Alliteratively, you can blend the soup in batches. Just make sure you hold the lid on tight!)
- Stir in shredded cheddar and cream cheese. Cover and cook on LOW for 15 minutes. Give the soup a quick stir, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve!
Makes 4-6 servings (I’d say it serves 4 if this is the only thing served for dinner, and 6 if there’s a salad as well as this soup for dinner).
WOW, this sounds SO good!
Thank you!
You’re not going to believe this but I’ve never had broccoli soup. It sounds delicious and I’m absolutely going to make it – soon!
Broccoli soup is a staple at my house—my 7-year-old asks for it weekly during the winter!
I love broccoli and never tried broccoli soup! Will definitely try it soon – looks so good!
I hope you enjoy! 🙂
That sounds wonderful, I really do have to try the baking soda trick though!
It’s a good tip to have in your arsenal!
Loving the sounds of this soup. I’m saving this one for when the weather cools in my part of the world.
Yay, I hope you enjoy!
This looks like a delicious soup!
Thank you, it really is! You should give it a try! 🙂
Sounds wonderful! Can I use fresh broccoli?
Yes, you can!
I’ve always enjoyed broccoli soup and this is delicious. Thanks for the hint for the baking soda to retain the color. Also appreciate your information about the Nagasaki Lantern Festival. Someday I will make it to Japan.
You’re so welcome, Karen. I hope you enjoy the recipe!
And the Lantern Festival is amazing, I hope you do make it there one day!
This looks so good! I will be putting it in the slow cooker soon!! Do you think I could substitute some heavy cream for maybe a cup or two of the chicken broth? Looking for a way to make it a little thicker. Thank you!
I wouldn’t use heavy cream as part of the cooking liquid, because if the cream gets too hot it will curdle and become grainy.
I can’t wait to try this. Have tons of frozen broccoli left over from Winter. Will be buying all the ingredients. Have an important question though. Do I put those ingredients in my Ninga blender “before” they go in the Slow Cooker or after they’ve been in it?
Thanks :0)
You put the soup in your Ninja blander after they are cooked in the slow cooker. Remember to hold onto the lid tightly!