Looking for a comforting and low-carb soup option for dinner? This keto broccoli cauliflower cheese soup is a delightful and healthy alternative to traditional creamy soups. It's keto-friendly, with just 5 grams of net carbs per serving, and can be easily customized to suit your taste. You’ve never tasted a broccoli cauliflower cheese soup quite like this!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
This soup is a fantastic way to enjoy a creamy, cheesy soup without the guilt. The cauliflower and broccoli provide a healthy dose of vegetables, while the cheese and cream create a rich and satisfying flavor. It’s also a great way to sneak in extra veggies for picky eaters. This recipe is also freezer-friendly, so you can save some for later.
Ingredients Needed
- Broccoli florets
- Cauliflower florets
- Chicken broth (or bone broth)
- Heavy cream
- Cheddar cheese (yellow and/or white)
- Onion
- Butter (or olive oil for dairy-free)
- Bacon (optional, for garnish)
- Spices: Salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, mustard seed, marjoram, thyme
- Optional additions: Cooked sausage (kielbasa or Mexican soy chorizo for vegetarian), cooked shredded chicken, sour cream
How to Make Keto Broccoli Cauliflower Cheese Soup
This recipe is surprisingly simple and can be made in one pot. Here's a step-by-step guide:
- Prep the vegetables: Wash and prepare the broccoli and cauliflower by cutting the florets off the main stem. The pieces should be roughly the same size so they cook uniformly. Cut up any pieces of tender stem to also add to the soup. Dice the onion and mince the garlic.
- Cook the bacon (optional): Preheat your oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lay the bacon out side by side. Bake the bacon until it's nice and crispy. Don’t forget to check on your bacon! Remove it from the oven and drain the cooked bacon on paper towels. When the bacon is cool roughly chop it and set it aside.
- Sauté the aromatics: In a large soup pot melt the butter over medium heat. Add the butter and minced garlic to the pot. Dice the onion and add it to the butter. Sauté the onion, stirring occasionally until it's translucent and tender, about 4-5 minutes.
- Build the soup base: Add the chicken stock to the onions and bring it to a boil. In a saucepan, pour chicken broth then cover and bring to a boil. Add cauliflower and broccoli. Season with a dash of salt and ground black pepper. Simmer for 4 to 5 minutes. Set aside.
- Cook the vegetables: Add the broccoli and cauliflower to the pot and cook them until they are tender. Simmer until the cauliflower is very tender, such that it can be mashed easily with a fork. You can break it up a little while it’s cooking to help speed the process along.
- Puree the soup: Once the vegetables are cooked remove the soup from the heat and use a handheld blender to puree it until it’s smooth. You’ll then take about 3 cups of your soup and blend it in a blender until it’s nice and creamy. Be very careful while you blend the soup. If you don't have an immersion blender, transfer the mixture to a blender and puree until smooth and creamy.
- Add the cheese and cream: Reduce the heat to low and stir in the cheese a little at a time. Add the cream and puree the soup again. In the same saucepan with low heat, pour cream and water. Add butter and stir until butter is melted. Add cheese and stir slowly until melted.
- Season and serve: Add the salt 1 teaspoon at a time, tasting as you go. Add cooked sausages and season with half of mixed spices and herbs. Toss in cooked broccoli, cauliflower, and broth. Add the remaining mixed spices and herbs. Season with salt and ground black pepper to taste. Combine well. When the soup is seasoned to your liking serve it garnished with the crispy bacon and sour cream. You can add bacon on top if you want to add a little something extra.
Tips for Making the Best Low Carb Broccoli and Cheese Soup
- Use high-quality cheese: This will ensure the best flavor and melting consistency. I bet that this would be excellent with Gruyere or Monterey Jack too!
- Don't overheat the cheese: Add the cheese at the very end, after the soup is pureed, and the broccoli is cooked to the desired doneness. Then, reduce the heat to low and add the cheese a little at a time. Stir and allow each addition to melt completely and become fully distributed and smooth before adding any more.
- Adjust the thickness: If you want a creamier soup that doesn't have as many chunks in it, use double the amount of broth, cream, and water. If you want a thinner soup, add additional broth, cream, milk, or water to desired consistency.
- Prep the veggies ahead of time: This will save you time during the cooking process.
- Make it vegetarian: You can easily swap out the sausage and bacon for a plant-based option. I bet this would taste delicious with Mexican soy chorizo!
- Spice it up: Feel free to experiment with different spices to customize the flavor.
What to Serve with Keto Cauliflower Cheese Soup
This soup is delicious on its own, but it also pairs well with:
- A side salad
- Keto-friendly bread or crackers
- Grilled cheese sandwich (keto bread)
- Roasted vegetables
Frequently Asked Questions
How many carbs are in this broccoli cauliflower soup?
Nutrition will always vary based on the exact ingredients you use. For me, I split this recipe into 10 servings, with each serving coming out to 6 total carbs and 1 gram of fiber, or 5 net carbs. Most of the carbs in this cauliflower broccoli soup recipe come from the vegetables. I keep the serving to a cup size to keep the number of carbs manageable. Because this soup is packed with so many hearty ingredients, the 1-cup serving size is usually plenty!
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
Can I use frozen veggies?
Yes, you can definitely use frozen broccoli and cauliflower in this soup. Just make sure they are thawed and drained before adding them to the soup. If you are using frozen broccoli, you only need to cook until the broccoli is thawed and heated through.
What are some good spices to use in the soup?
When I prepare this recipe, I like to mix together:
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Mustard seed
- Marjoram
- Thyme
If you haven’t heard of marjoram, this spice is a cousin of the oregano family. In Germany, it’s popular to use along with thyme in sausage recipes. Since this soup features sausage as a prominent ingredient, marjoram is a great fit with these flavors.
If you don’t have marjoram, you can substitute it with sage, thyme, summer savory, or basil.
Another spice not everyone has on hand is mustard seed. Mustard is made by mixing ground mustard seed with water and vinegar, so if necessary, you can substitute regular mustard in this recipe!
Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide
How do I store this soup recipe for later?
Make sure the soup is chilled before you store it. You can keep cauliflower broccoli cheese soup in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Can you freeze broccoli cauliflower soup?
Yes and no. Part of this soup recipe is safe to freeze, while others (like the dairy products) should be left out till you are ready to eat.
You can prep the veggies and sausage in advance to make a freezer kit. When you are ready to cook it, dump the freezer kit bag into a pot and follow the rest of the instructions to make the creamy broth. Just be aware that the veggies may get a little mushy during the freezing and thawing process. As long as that doesn’t bother you, then you can certainly store this soup for longer periods of time.
If you choose to freeze the broccoli cauliflower soup, it should last for several months. To freeze & reheat: this soup should freeze well! Allow it to cool completely and place it in freezer safe containers in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. When ready to cook make sure to thaw out completely in fridge the night before.
Variations and Additions
- Keto Creamy Chicken Broccoli Soup: Add cooked chopped chicken to the broth and mix well.
- Dairy-Free Option: Substitute nutritional yeast for the parmesan cheese and olive oil for the butter.
- Extra Creamy: Use a cauliflower cream to thicken it instead of flour or heavy cream.
- Spicy: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes for a little heat. The red pepper adds just a tiny bit of kick, it’s not enough to be too spicy!
Read also: Magnesium Supplements for Keto
tags: #keto #broccoli #cauliflower #soup #recipe