Description
A comforting and creamy soup made with fresh broccoli, sharp cheddar cheese, and crispy bacon, perfect for chilly days.
Ingredients
- Fresh broccoli: 4 cups, chopped into small florets
- Sharp cheddar cheese: 2 cups, shredded
- Crispy bacon: 6 slices, cooked and crumbled
- Heavy cream: 1 cup
- Garlic: 3 cloves, minced
- Onion: 1 medium, diced
- Vegetable broth: 4 cups
- Olive oil: 2 tablespoons
- Salt and black pepper: to taste
- Red pepper flakes: 1/2 teaspoon (optional)
- Fresh parsley: for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the broccoli by washing and chopping it into small florets.
- Cook the bacon in a skillet until crispy, then crumble it into small pieces.
- Sauté the diced onion in olive oil until translucent, then add minced garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
- Add the chopped broccoli to the pot, pour in the vegetable broth, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes until broccoli is tender.
- Blend the soup until smooth, then return to low heat and stir in heavy cream and shredded cheddar cheese until melted. Season with salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if desired.
- Stir in crumbled bacon, heat through for another 5 minutes, and serve garnished with extra cheese, bacon bits, and parsley.
Notes
- Don’t overcook the broccoli to maintain its color and texture.
- Taste and adjust seasoning before serving.
- Allow steam to escape when blending to prevent splattering.
- Garnishes enhance both flavor and presentation.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Keywords: broccoli cheese soup, loaded soup, comfort food, bacon soup