Cauliflower Cheese Soup Recipe (2024)

This smooth, creamy cauliflower soup with sharp cheddar cheese is absolutely what you want on a chilly day. It's ready in under an hour. Serve with some crusty bread and a side salad!

By

Elise Bauer

Cauliflower Cheese Soup Recipe (1)

Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.

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Updated September 29, 2023

21 Ratings

Cauliflower Cheese Soup Recipe (2)

Every fall, when the days get shorter and the nights colder, at some point I reluctantly give up wearing shorts and flips flops. Did you know there are only two real seasons here in Sacramento? Flip flop and shorts season, and jeans and socks season.

It's when your feet tell you, "Hey, put on some socks!" that you know autumn has truly arrived. That's when the soup pot comes out and you look forward to filling it with something warm and comforting.

It's still flip-flop season here, at least during the day, but the chilly weather will be coming soon (if not already where you are). So we're cooking up new soup recipes.

Cauliflower Cheese Soup Recipe (3)

A Light and Creamy Soup

We made this cauliflower cheddar soup the other day, and wow! Okay, now I don't feel so bad about saying goodbye to summer. It's smooth and creamy without any cream. It's packed with cauliflower and uses just enough cheddar cheese to give it flavor, but not so much that you think you've swallowed a brick.

A teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce swirled in at the end helps intensify the cheese flavor.

Keep Your Cores

When you cut your cauliflower into pieces, don't discard the core! The core is just as delicious as the florets themselves and since we're pureeing this soup, no one will even know they're there.

Cauliflower Cheese Soup Recipe (4)

What to Serve With This Soup

This soup begs to be served with some crusty bread for dipping. Some garlic bread or garlic knots would also work well.

If you'd like to turn this soup into more of a meal, add a salad on the side. Try this Radicchio Salad with Chickpeas, Olives, and Parmesan or this simple Kale Caesar Salad.

How to Store and Freeze This Soup

Leftovers will keep refrigerated for up to five days, or can be frozen for up to three months.

To freeze, let it cool completely, then transfer it to freezer containers or bags and freeze. Thaw overnight in the fridge, or reheat directly from the freezer over low heat on the stovetop. If the soup looks at all separated when you warm it up, just blend it in the blender again.

More Easy, Comforting Soup Recipes

Cauliflower Cheese Soup Recipe (5)

Cauliflower Cheddar Soup

Prep Time20 mins

Cook Time40 mins

Total Time60 mins

Servings6to 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons butter

  • 2 cups sliced onion

  • 1 1/2 cups sliced celery (about 2 to 3 ribs)

  • 1/2 cup sliced carrot (1 small carrot)

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic

  • 2 Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced, about 1 1/2 to 2 cups

  • 6 cups chicken stock

  • 6 cups roughly chopped cauliflower (see How to Cut and Core Cauliflower)

  • 2 bay leaves

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, or 1 teaspoon dried thyme

  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 1/2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese (about 6 ounces)

  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Method

  1. Sauté the onions, celery, carrots, and garlic:

    Heat butter in a large 5- to 6-quart Dutch oven or thick bottomed pot on medium high heat. Add the onions, celery, and carrots.

    Cook for 5 to 8 minutes until the onions are softened. Add the minced garlic and cook a minute more.

    Cauliflower Cheese Soup Recipe (6)

    Cauliflower Cheese Soup Recipe (7)

  2. Add the potatoes, stock, cauliflower, bay leaves, thyme, salt and black pepper:

    Heat on high and bring the stock to a simmer. Lower the heat to maintain a simmer. Partially cover and cook for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the vegetables are completely tender.

    Cauliflower Cheese Soup Recipe (8)

    Cauliflower Cheese Soup Recipe (9)

  3. Purée until smooth:

    Remove from heat and remove the bay leaves. Either using an immersion blender or a standing blender, purée the soup mixture until completely smooth.

    Cauliflower Cheese Soup Recipe (10)

    Cauliflower Cheese Soup Recipe (11)

  4. Add the cheddar cheese and Worcestershire:

    Slowly add the grated cheddar cheese, continuing to purée the soup as you add the cheese, until completely blended. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce.

    Add more salt and pepper to taste, if needed.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
289Calories
13g Fat
31g Carbs
14g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6to 8
Amount per serving
Calories289
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 13g16%
Saturated Fat 7g33%
Cholesterol 34mg11%
Sodium 619mg27%
Total Carbohydrate 31g11%
Dietary Fiber 5g16%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 14g
Vitamin C 43mg215%
Calcium 205mg16%
Iron 2mg9%
Potassium 829mg18%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

Cauliflower Cheese Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my cauliflower soup tasteless? ›

Bland cauliflower soup is a result of a lack of seasoning. Here's how to ensure every bowl is packed with flavor. Season twice with salt and pepper: You'll start by seasoning the cauliflower florets with salt and pepper before roasting.

What is the name of the French soup made from cauliflower? ›

Crème du Barry: Cream of Cauliflower Soup

Called Crème du Barry in France, its name lies in history, like many good French recipes. This easy, rich and creamy soup was named after Madame Jeanne Bécu, comtesse du Barry, a famous French beauty who was the last official mistress of the ill-fated king, Louis XV.

Why do you avoid simmering your soup after adding the cheese? ›

If you are adding cheese to hot liquid, it can become stringy or seizes. If you are adding any cheese to hot liquid, my best tip is to use the finest shreds you can and let the cheese come to room temperature and take the soup off any heat when you stir in the cheese.

How do you thicken cauliflower soup? ›

Add flour or cornflour

Put a tablespoon of either into a small bowl and stir in 2-3 tbsp of the soup until you have a smooth mixture. Stir this back into the soup and bring it to a simmer. Cook for a few minutes to allow the starch granules to burst to thicken, and to cook out any flour flavour.

How do you add depth of Flavour to soup? ›

7 Easy Ways to Make Any Soup Better
  1. Brown or Sear the Meat.
  2. Roast the the Veggies.
  3. Mix up the Texture.
  4. Use Homemade Stock Whenever Possible.
  5. Put Your Cheese Rinds to Work.
  6. Perk up a Bland Soup With Simple Pantry Staples.
  7. Add Fresh Herbs or Dairy When Serving.
  8. Recipes Pictured.

How do I increase the depth of flavor in soup? ›

Add acidic ingredients.

Foods that have a great deal of acidity, like lemon juice, vinegar, white wine, and tomato puree, can help liven up the flavor of bland-tasting bone and other broths. "The acidity of these ingredients works to complement and enhance the broth's flavors, not mask it.

What are the benefits of cauliflower soup? ›

The fiber found in cauliflower helps keep you feeling full and satisfied, maintains healthy digestion, supports gut health, and helps regulate blood sugar levels. At over 2 grams per cup, cauliflower is a good source of fiber, especially insoluble fiber, which helps keep things moving in your digestive system.

What is the national soup of Italy? ›

Minestrone Soup - National Soup of Italy

Minestrone Soup - This is a traditional soup from Italy make with a combination of seasonal vegetables and pasta. It makes a complete meal with a slice of bread.

What soup is New Orleans known for? ›

If you don't know what yakamein is, it's a New Orleans soup made with boiled beef in a seasoned broth, spaghetti noodles, and topped with a hard-boiled egg. It's served with soy sauce, hot sauce, and even ketchup. This soup is also known as 'Old Sober' and has the superpowers to battle a hangover.

What not to put in soup? ›

The Worst Things to Put in Your Soup
  1. By Sara Butler. If there's one good thing about fall and winter, it's soup. ...
  2. Heavy Cream. Heavy cream creates an inviting texture for soups but that's where its positive contributions end. ...
  3. Juice. ...
  4. Turkey Bacon. ...
  5. Cheese. ...
  6. Croutons.

What is the best cheese to put in soup? ›

Mild cheddar, Colby, Monterey jack, mozzarella, Swiss and queso blanco can all work well. “The best cheeses to melt into soups are cheeses that are higher in moisture and have a lower melting point,” says Bauer. In addition to cheddar and Monterey jack, he recommends Fontina and Gruyère.

What is a common mistake that cooks make when preparing soup? ›

The 7 Biggest Mistakes You Make Cooking Soup
  • Boiling instead of simmering. You want a small bubble or two to rise to the surface of the liquid every few seconds. ...
  • Not using enough salt. ...
  • Ignoring water. ...
  • Overcooking the vegetables. ...
  • Adding tomatoes at the beginning. ...
  • Neglecting to garnish. ...
  • Not trying a pressure cooker.
Nov 19, 2014

How do you make cauliflower soup less bitter? ›

Cauliflower becomes bitter when exposed to too much heat. Over-cooking cauliflower can make it bitter. If your soup tastes bitter, you can add a little more salt to help with the bitterness. If you don't want to add any more salt, a little sugar or something sour, lemon juice, or vinegar to help offset the bitterness.

Is it OK to eat cauliflower everyday? ›

The fact that it's a vegetable makes cauliflower automatically good for you. Additionally, cauliflower is packed with nutrients that give it unique benefits, such as fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K and choline. These properties give you a good reason to eat it frequently or even daily.

When to add cream to soup? ›

If you started the soup with broth, stock or water, I would wait until the end to add the cream. You can warm the cream, or “temper” it, which is what I do. Take about half a cup of the hot broth and slowly add your cream to that, stirring constantly.

Why does my soup taste flavorless? ›

If a soup is tasting bland in the bowl, consider adding acid rather than salt. A squeeze of lemon or lime, or a dash of yogurt or sour cream can add brightness to the bowl. Start with the basics. Ensure you've added enough salt and black pepper.

What to add to flavorless vegetable soup? ›

Adding a parmesan cheese rind to the simmering soup infuses it with salty, umami flavor. This is SUCH an easy way to add tons of flavor to soup. Look for parmesan cheese rinds at the cheese counter in your grocery store.

Is cauliflower flavorless? ›

Raw cauliflower has a subtly sweet, slightly nutty flavor. It is delicate and mild with a hint of pepperiness. Cauliflower's crisp texture yields a pleasing crunch when included in salads or used as a vessel for dips.

Is cauliflower tasteless? ›

While it looks like a white broccoli, the flavor is very different. When eaten raw, cauliflower is crunchy, and it has a mild, fresh flavor. This makes it very easy to season or flavor any way you like! It is also a well of nutritional benefits.

References

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