Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Soup

The best Easy Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Soup – a good, hearty, creamy and broccoli cheese soup with tons of shredded chicken flavor that the whole family will love!

Naturally low carb cheesy chicken broccoli soup that is paleo and keto diet compatible.

At Avdaye, we add lots of tips in all of our recipes – because we are a home cook without any formal training, and we find we are more confident making dishes when we understand why it works, and what each ingredient means to the flavor of a recipe. Our goal is for even the most beginner home cook to feel empowered in the kitchen.

Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Soup

This cheesy broccoli soup is packed with good shredded chicken for a hearty, filling soup you won't be able to get enough of.

It's a take off our popular Creamy White Chicken Chili with broccoli -and it's packed with flavor.

This cheesy soup is naturally low carb, crazy comforting, and filling – and it fits into a keto diet.

If you're looking for a good keto chicken and broccoli soup, you're in the right place!

We could eat this decadent soup every night and never get bored – it is so easy and good, kind of like our keto broccoli pesto.

And if you want, you can toss all the ingredients in a slow cooker and heat for 4 hours on low, too! SO EASY! look for the slow cooker instructions below.

If you're looking for an easier, quicker broccoli and cheddar soup, check out our Instant Pot Keto Broccoli Cheddar Soup Recipe.

How To Make Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Soup

Use the best chicken for soup. This recipe uses our Best Boiled Chicken Recipe Ever as the chicken for this dish.

While the name isn't the tastiest, this easy boiled and shredded chicken is a knockout for flavor and SO versatile in recipes.

This is a recipe you'll want to bookmark for years to come – don't forget to check it out (and – you'll be shocked how easy and foolproof it is for solid, juicy shredded chicken with almost no cleanup!)

Get the Best Boiled Shredded Chicken Recipe Ever here.

For another knockout chicken soup, please try our homemade chicken noodle soupor this creamy white chicken chili.

Using Frozen Broccoli in Soup. If using frozen broccoli in this soup, let it thaw fully before adding. We personally love to use frozen riced broccoli along with some crowns – they cook faster since freezing helps to break down some of the vegetable's structure – and the broccoli the stores around us has had lately lacks the vibrant green we love!

Ps- if you want to try a different broccoli in your soup this 10 minute broccolini recipe is a knockout and would be great chopped up in a more artisan style soup!

Kitchen notes

Store it properly. If you're wanting to whip up a big batch of this soup, and freeze for later, you're in luck. This soup freezes fabulously – it is simple to toss in the freezer and reheat when you want a rich and comforting dinner. There are a couple tips to help freeze and reheat this soup for solid cheesy chicken and broccoli soup every time:

• Package soup in Ziploc bags closest to the amount you will use for one serving.
  The smaller the bag, the more evenly the soup will freeze and prevent ice crystals from forming, making your soup less than appetizing when you reheat.
  This also helps you reheat faster and more evenly.
• Let soup thaw naturally. It tastes best when you pop in a pan to jut heatt to boiling hot, rather than cooking from frozen.
• If cooking from frozen, we put the frozen soup in a pot with about 1/4 cup water and boil until hot – stir occasionally and make sure nothing burns.
  If heating this way, we find it is best to keep the lid on your pot.
• Don't save frozen leftovers for over three months.

Find the right cheese. To make this soup perfectly smooth and velvety, there is a bit of a process and a couple choices to make in what kind of cheese you use.

First and foremost, you need to pick a cheese that melts well – and isn't too dry or oily. For soups, we like to use cheddar, mozzarella, a creamy pepper jack, and – Velveeta. We know Velveeta isn't healthy or natural or low calorie – in any way – but it makes for solid melting and incorporating into soup.

With natural cheeses, you neeed to stir carefully and incorporate well so it doesn't clump or burn on the bottom of the pan – but velveeta mixes in magically with no effort. Of course, if you are watching your diet to only eat natural foods, go for the cheddar – but if you're looking for something easy, creamy, and cheesy – use the Velveeta.

Recipe FAQ's

Can we use rotisserie chicken in this soup?

Absolutely, You can use a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store – remove skin and shred.

Can we make this soup in the Instant Pot?

Yes, this soup is easy to make in the Instant Pot. Sautee vegetables and deglaze bottom of pan well so there are no stuck on bits.
Add all ingredients to soup but cheese and cook on high pressure for 5 minutes.
Quick release and stir in cheese until melted, serve immediately.

Can we use frozen broccoli crowns in the soup?

Using frozen broccoli works fine in this soup. If you have any problems scroll up to our tips for using frozen broccoli.

Can we make cheesy broccoli soup in the slow cooker?

To make this soup in a slow cooker, dump the ingredients in and cook on low for 3-4 hours, stirring occasionally to make sure its well mixed and not burning on the bottom of the cooker.
Stovetop tastes best, but your slow cooker will do fine. If you can brown vegetables before adding to the slow cooker, it will taste the best – browned vegetables = tons of flavor!

Serve it with

This cheesy chicken broccoli cheddar soup is incredibly good – especially with a dunkable bread or breadsticks alongside!

Whether you want some carby-goodness to soak up the cheesy broth, or some savory and good veggies to go along side, we have the best side dishes for this broccoli cheddar soup below:

• Easy No Knead Bread
• Easy Garlic Knots
• Jalapeno Cheese Bread
• Chicken Salad Stuffed Avocados
• Oven Roasted Asparagus

Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Soup Recipe

Avdaye Favorites

If you love this easy broccoli and cheese soup recipe, please check out some of our other favorites.

Many are low carb, all are quick, easy, and full of flavor!

[mv_create key=”1094″ type=”list” title=”Avdaye Favorite Recipes” thumbnail=” layout=”grid”]

Ingredients

• 3 cups cooked shredded chicken
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, diced
• 1 shallot, diced
• 1 tsp sea salt
• ½ tsp fresh cracked pepper
• 8 oz broccoli crowns, riced
• 1 stalk broccoli, diced
• 48 oz chicken stock
• 8 oz cheddar cheese or velveeta
• 4 oz heavy cream
• ¼ cup grated parmesan

Method

1. In a large pot, let butter melt on medium high until foamy.
2. Add onion and let brown and soften, about 6 minutes stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
3. Add garlic and shallot and cook until fragrant and soft, about 3 minutes.
4. Add in riced broccoli crowns and diced broccoli stock, toss and let cook until bright green and shiny – slightly soft – about 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Stir in stock and velveeta and bring to a rapid boil.
6. Reduce heat to simmer 10 minutes.
7. Turn heat off and stir in heavy cream, parmesan, salt, and pepper whisking as you add into the soup.
8. Return to medium heat and let simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings as you like.
9. Add the pre-cooked boiled chicken to the soup and stir to combine.
10. Serve immediately and enjoy!