Cauliflower Cheese Soup Recipe (2024)

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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 Bauer

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

Learn about Simply Recipes'Editorial Process

Updated September 29, 2023

21 Ratings

Cauliflower Cheese Soup Recipe (2)

16 Creamy Soup Recipes for Soup SeasonFEATURED IN:

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.

How a Clever Cook Thickens Soup (or Stew) and Makes It CreamyREAD MORE:

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

  • Broccoli Cheddar Soup
  • Carrot Ginger Soup
  • Baked Potato Soup
  • Quick and Easy Hamburger Soup
  • Roasted Sweet Potato Soup

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.

  • Creamy Soups
  • Vegetables
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? ›

How Do You Fix Bland Cauliflower Soup?
  • Season twice with salt and pepper: You'll start by seasoning the cauliflower florets with salt and pepper before roasting. Then, season again when the roasted florets are combined with broth on the stovetop. ...
  • Add lots of aromatics. ...
  • Finish with lemon.

How does Gordon Ramsay make cauliflower soup? ›

Directions
  1. Place the cauliflower florets, potato, and onion in a saucepan with the butter and oil. ...
  2. Add the stock and bring to a boil, then pour in the milk and return gently to a boil. ...
  3. Pour in half the cream, then puree in a food processor or blender, or blend in the pan with an immersion blender.

Why is my cauliflower cheese always watery? ›

Cauliflower cheese can go watery if the cauliflower is overcooked. Overcooked cauliflower releases water, which will seep into the rest of the dish. So even if your sauce was thick when it went in the oven, if its in there too long, the water from the cauliflower will cause it to go watery.

Can I add milk to soup to make it creamy? ›

Milk or Half-and-Half: This is the other magical ingredient that turns your homemade chicken noodle soup into the creamiest soup ever. Use 1 cup of whole milk or 1 cup of half-and-half.

What brings out the Flavour of cauliflower? ›

This is true of any vegetable — boiling it will give you a flavor closer to the raw flavor, which means more bitterness and more astringency. Caramelizing it will bring out its hidden sweetness. This light, vibrant roasted cauliflower salad is a recipe I developed for the fall menu at Duo.

How do I fix bland tasting 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.

Why do you soak cauliflower before cooking? ›

If you're planning to roast the cauliflower whole or slice it into steaks, slice off the thick stem at the base. Drop the whole cauliflower head upside-down into cool, salted water. Let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes to remove dirt, residue and bugs.

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 does my soup have no flavor? ›

Let the Broth Evaporate and Cook Longer

If your broth tastes thin and bland, you may want to cook and let it evaporate for longer. That helps concentrate its flavors and gives you a better-tasting soup broth. Be sure to remove the lid to let the steam escape.

How do you fix bland vegetable soup? ›

Perk up a Bland Soup With Simple Pantry Staples

Add a splash of vinegar (any kind!), or a squeeze of citrus. Chances are, you could use a little more salt. Go ahead—it's ok. Salt perks up flat flavors and helps balance out bitter-tasting ingredients.

Why doesn't my soup have flavor? ›

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? ›

When I think of vegetable soup, I think of a thin, flat-tasting soup with no fat — aka, no flavor! Here's how we fix that in this Vegetable Soup recipe: 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.

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