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Slow Cooker Broccoli Cheese Soup

Kitchen Ready Betty
This velvety smooth, Slow Cooker Broccoli Cheese Soup is so easy to prepare. Super cheesy, nutritious, and comforting, it will have everyone scraping the bowl!
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 5 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 5 hours 50 minutes
Course Main Dishes, Soups
Cuisine American
Servings 8

Equipment

  • 6 quart slow cooker (lined or greased)
  • cutting board
  • chef's knife
  • julienne peeler (if not using "matchstick" carrots)
  • garlic press
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • 2 small bowls
  • 2 whisks
  • cheese grater
  • stirring spoon
  • ladle

Ingredients
  

  • 5 cups fresh broccoli florets chopped into bite sized pieces
  • 1 cup celery sliced thin
  • 1 cup julienned carrots use "matchsticks" carrots to save time
  • 3 cloves fresh garlic minced
  • 1 cup white onion diced thin
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 tablespoon butter cubed
  • 1 quart (4 cups) low sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth
  • ¼ cup cornstarch
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 8 oz extra sharp white cheddar cheese freshly grated

Instructions
 

  • Add chopped broccoli, celery, carrots, onion and garlic to greased crockpot.
  • Mix seasonings (nutmeg, salt, and pepper) together and sprinkle on top of chopped vegetables; add cubed butter.
  • In a small bowl, whisk broth and cornstarch together; then pour into crockpot.
  • Cover and cook on LOW for 5 hours.
  • Uncover; remove ¼ cup warm broth and place in small bowl. Pour in cream and gently whisk to incorporate.
  • Add the broth/cream mixture to the crockpot, followed by the cheddar cheese.
  • Cover and cook on HIGH for 30 minutes. Keep warm until ready to serve.

Notes

It's important to remove some of the warm broth to mix with the cream in order to prevent curdling and white flecks. By introducing some of the soup's warmth to the cream before it's added, it takes the temperature shock away and ensures a smoother texture.
Grate the cheese from a block rather than using pre-shredded, which has a preservative coating that gets grainy when it melts.
Store Slow Cooker Broccoli Cheese Soup in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 5 days. It's helpful to have some extra broth on hand when reheating to thin the soup, since it thickens in the fridge.
Keyword broccoli, broccoli cheddar soup, broccoli cheese soup, broccoli florets, cheddar, cheddar cheese, cream soup, crockpot broccoli cheese soup, crockpot soup, Panera, slow cooker broccoli cheese soup, slow cooker soup, white cheddar
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