Cauliflower Cheese Soup Recipe (2024)

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

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Updated September 29, 2023

Cauliflower Cheese Soup Recipe (2)

22 ratings

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.

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

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.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
289Calories
13g Fat
31g Carbs
14g Protein

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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? ›

She said: "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 it's in there too long, the water from the cauliflower will cause it to go watery."

How many calories in a bowl of cauliflower cheese soup? ›

Cauliflower cheese soup
NutrientUnit
kcal188
fat10g
saturates5g
carbs13g
4 more rows

How do I fix bland tasting 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.

How to make soup really flavorful? ›

"Ground paprika, turmeric, nutmeg, ground ginger, and other powdered spices add a touch of color and spiciness to broths," she says. As a general rule, use fresh herbs at or near the end of cooking and dried herbs and spices early on. This helps you get the flavors you're looking for in the right balance.

How do you thicken cauliflower soup? ›

How to thicken cauliflower soup: Nobody wants an overly-thin soup. We thicken our cauliflower soup by blending the entire soup in batches using a blender or immersion blender once cooked. This (in addition to our heavy cream) helps thicken our soup up nicely to a hearty texture.

Why do you soak cauliflower before cooking? ›

The separated florets have to be washed properly under a tap. This removes dirt and large parasites such as worms. The next step is cleaning the cauliflower in mildly warm water in which a little salt was dissolved. This process – which should last 10-20 minutes - destroys several microbes and large parasites.

Why do you boil cauliflower before cooking? ›

Why do you boil cauliflower before cooking? Boiling the cauliflower before roasting it whole ensures that the final dish is tender all the way through. Since a whole cauliflower has less surface area than cut florets, adding sel gris to the water means that the cauliflower gets seasoned from the inside out.

Why can't you reheat cauliflower cheese? ›

Can you reheat cauliflower cheese? Yes you can, and it will taste fine… But just be aware that it will dry out a little and the cauliflower will be a little bit softer… not a deal breaker, but definitely not as good as fresh! Simply place any leftover cauliflower in a lidded container and refrigerate.

Why does cauliflower cheese upset my stomach? ›

The culprit behind the stomachaches is cauliflower's fiber content, which becomes most troublesome when you increase your fiber intake too rapidly without giving your body time to adjust. Stomachaches join other side effects of overloading on fiber.

How long to boil cauliflower? ›

Cooked cauliflower florets keep their shape best when steamed (5-10 mins) – remember to place them upright in the steamer. It can also be boiled (takes 5-10 mins for florets; around 10 mins for a whole cauliflower). For both cooking methods, test regularly with the tip of a knife to make sure they don't overcook.

What are the benefits of cauliflower soup? ›

The fiber found in cauliflower helps keep you feeling full and satisfied, maintains healthy digestion, supports gut health, and helps regulate blood sugar levels. At over 2 grams per cup, cauliflower is a good source of fiber, especially insoluble fiber, which helps keep things moving in your digestive system.

How many calories are in 2 cups of cauliflower soup? ›

There are 392 calories in 2 cups of Cream of Cauliflower Soup (Prepared with Milk).

What are the ingredients in Blount cauliflower cheddar soup? ›

INGREDIENTS: Vegetable Stock (Water, Mirepoix Base [Carrots, Onions, Celery, Salt, Sugar, Corn Oil, Potato Flour, Carrot Powder]), Cauliflower, Light Cream, White Cheddar Cheese (Pasteurized Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes), Onions, Corn Starch, Contains 2% or less of: Uncured Bacon With No Nitrites or Nitrates ...

How can I add flavor to tasteless soup? ›

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. Our Lemony Chicken Soup will make your mouth water.

What gives vegetable soup that depth of flavor? ›

A squeeze of citrus, a dollop of yogurt or a drizzle of cream, a dusting of cheese or a good chile powder, a sprinkling of some herbs or croutons — all can take a perfectly fine soup into the realm of the delectable. Even a spiral of good olive oil to finish and some coarse sea salt can do wonders.

What to add to flavorless vegetable soup? ›

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. Look for parmesan cheese rinds at the cheese counter in your grocery store.

Is cauliflower flavorless? ›

Raw cauliflower has a subtly sweet, slightly nutty flavor. It is delicate and mild with a hint of pepperiness. Cauliflower's crisp texture yields a pleasing crunch when included in salads or used as a vessel for dips.

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