Homemade broccoli cheese soup is warm, cozy, and comforting, and when it’s paired with a grilled sandwich, it makes for a quick and easy dinner.
When I started up the blender for this Broccoli Cheese Soup my cat flew through the air like a rocket, over the couch, and under the end table. Ten he came back and looked at me with the “how dare you startle me look.” Ever wonder what goes on in the mind of your pet? My cat goes on crazy adventures all day long. I think it’s awesome. Last night he got lost in bed sheets and made a fort out of laundry. Next thing I know he’s playing fetch with bottle caps and herding socks to a corner. What goes on in his head? How is he always so self occupied and entertained? Maybe he is just bored stupid. Either way, he’s awesome. I am so glad he never lost that kitten charm. Anyway, now that he has kept me entertained all day, it’s time to make some dinner.
Broccoli Cheese Soup
I was looking for something quick and easy tonight, yet warm and filling. While I was tempted to just throw some meat between two slices of bread, I decided that I could take the extra ten minutes and whip up something delicious.
So I decided to make homemade broccoli cheese soup and a grilled Italian panini for dinner tonight. So glad that I did! It’s easy to understand why combos like this do so well at places like Panera. It really is simple to make, but you don’t feel like you took the lazy route.
How I made this homemade broccoli cheese soup my own
So I started off preparing this soup according to instructions, but you know I can’t possibly make a meal without dabbing slightly in alchemy. So I added a couple things to my version:
- 1 carrot, 1 stalk celery, finely minced in a food processor.
- 1/2 cup Velveeta
The soup just wasn’t cheesy enough for my liking (really, is anything ever cheesy enough?) – so Velveeta it was. Yes, I know… but its so yummy, and when you’re melting cheese into a recipe, don’t knock it. This stuff is made for melting.
I also added a bit more cream then called for. My soup got really thick after its spin through the blender and the 1/2 cup just wasn’t cutting it (Ok, that may have to do with the extra cheese… but worth it).
Crispy Italian Panini
Remember my impulse to throw a sandwich together? Still there. Only with the soup simmering away I had about 10 minutes to kill, and there was this panini press sitting conveniently on the counter so… yeah, I did it. I had stacked up an Italian sandwich harkening to my Philly roots, and then I stuck it in that magical sandwich squisher/griller. You know it was good. And a perfect complement to the soup.
If you’re also itching for some soups and stews, look no further. These recipes will warm you up inside and out!
Creamy Carrot Soup Recipe
Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Apple-Cranberry Relish
Creamy Sweet Potato Soup with Maple Cream
If you’ve tried my Broccoli Cheese Soup, Crispy Italian Panini recipe or any other recipe on passthesushi.com please don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know where you found it in the comments below, I love hearing from you! You can also follow along for more good eats and travel tips on Instagram @passthesushi & @girlcarnivore, Twitter & Facebook.
Broccoli Cheese Soup
AmericanEquipment
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter - plus 2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- 1 cup yellow onions or sliced leeks - white parts only, well rinsed
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper
- Pinch nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 carrot – finely minced
- 1 stalk celery – finely minced
- 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3 cups chicken stock or canned - low-sodium chicken broth
- 16- ounces frozen broccoli - thawed and separated
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 1/4 cups shredded medium Cheddar
- 1/2 cup Velveeta
- Croutons - for garnish
Instructions
- In a medium pot, melt the 3 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat.
- Add the onions, salt, pepper, and nutmeg and cook, stirring, until soft, 3 minutes.
- Add The Carrot and celery, cook 2-3 minutes.
- Add the garlic and thyme cook, stirring, until fragrant, for 20 seconds.
- Add the flour and cook, stirring until the mixture is well blended and smells fragrant, 2 minutes.
- Slowly add the chicken stock, whisking constantly, and bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat and simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes.
- Add the broccoli and cook, stirring, until tender, for 10 minutes.
- Remove the pot from the heat and puree with a hand-held immersion blender. (Alternatively, in batches, puree in a blender or food processor and return to the pot.)
- Add the cream and bring barely to a simmer to heat through.
- Add the cheese and cook over low heat, stirring, until melted.
- Add the remaining 2 tablespoons cold butter, stirring to blend.
- Remove from the heat and ladle the soup into bowls.
- Sprinkle croutons over the top of the soup and serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional informations provided as a courtesy and is only an approximatation. Values will changes based on ingredients used.
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Crispy Italian Panini
AmericanEquipment
Ingredients
- 4 slices of Focaccia bread of your choosing - cut into sandwich sized portions
- Olive Oil
- 1/8 lb Sandwich pepperoni - sliced
- 1/8 lb Salami - sliced
- 1/8 lb Ham - sliced
- 1/8 lb Turkey - sliced
- 4 slices Fontina cheese
- Fresh ground pepper
Instructions
- Preheat grill pan, panini press or whatever other fancy contraption you have going on to medium high.
- Drizzle olive oil on the inside of the bread. Add ground pepper to season.
- Layer your meat and cheese slices as desired (I’m a one slice of each on top and bottom with the cheese in the middle kind of girl).
- Place in panini press making sure to apply pressure to the lid for 10 seconds.
- Let cook for 5 minutes.
- Remove, slice in half and serve.
Nutrition
Nutritional informations provided as a courtesy and is only an approximatation. Values will changes based on ingredients used.
⭐ Tried this recipe? Rate it ⭐
Help out the next person and give it a star rating below!
Seriously, could dinner be any easier than a bowl of homemade broccoli cheese soup and a delicious grilled panini sandwich?
MMMMM, both of these recipes look phenomenal! I love broccoli cheddar soup, and I love panini! And my lunch hasn’t arrived yet, so I’m getting increasingly hungry with every recipe I read! Delicious!
And, on cats, I have one that just acts bored until it’s time for snuggles, and another one that goes on “zoomie” jags around the house, tearing across the carpet and skittering across the tile, and then up and over all pieces of furniture! Playing for 10 minutes with the laser reduces the zoomie frequency at night! We love the laser! 🙂
I am a big fan of paninis! That looks great!
That is a fabulous broccoli soup recipe, thanks for this one!
Looks like a good recipe to me~