Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Bean (Printable Version)

Velvety soup combining broccoli, creamy beans, and sharp cheddar with savory vegetables in a smooth blend.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
03 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
04 - 4 cups broccoli florets, chopped
05 - 1 medium carrot, diced
06 - 1 celery stalk, diced

→ Beans

07 - 2 cups cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

→ Liquids

08 - 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
09 - 1 cup milk

→ Cheese

10 - 1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

→ Seasonings

11 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
12 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
13 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
14 - Pinch of nutmeg

# How to Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, carrot, and celery; sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
02 - Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Stir in broccoli florets and cook for 2 minutes.
04 - Add cannellini beans and pour in vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes until vegetables are tender.
05 - Remove pot from heat. Use an immersion blender to puree soup until smooth and creamy. Alternatively, blend in batches in a blender and return to pot.
06 - Stir in milk, shredded cheddar cheese, thyme, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Return to low heat and stir until cheese is melted and soup is heated through.
07 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve hot, garnished with extra cheddar or steamed broccoli florets if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's ready in under 45 minutes, which means weeknight dinners that don't feel rushed.
  • The texture is naturally creamy without heavy cream, thanks to blended beans doing the real work.
  • Sharp cheddar gives you that satisfying, almost savory punch that makes simple vegetables taste indulgent.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the canned beans; that cloudy liquid makes your soup taste starchy and flat.
  • Immersion blenders are worth their weight in gold here, but if you don't have one, a regular blender works—just blend in smaller batches so you don't overflow.
  • The nutmeg sounds optional but it's the detail that makes people say this tastes restaurant-quality.
03 -
  • For a vegan version, swap the milk for unsweetened oat or almond milk and use a quality plant-based cheddar; it won't taste identical but it'll be genuinely delicious.
  • If you prefer a chunkier soup, blend only half of it and stir the blended portion back into the whole pieces for more texture.
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