Full of rich creamy, cheesy flavour, and loaded with broccoli, this gluten-free Broccoli White Cheddar Soup cooks quickly in an Instant Pot. This easy Instant Pot broccoli cheese soup recipe is a family favourite!

Instant Pot Broccoli White Cheddar Soup is on the menu today! Is there anything NOT to love about a warm bowl of broccoli cheese soup?
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❤️ Why this recipe works
- This broccoli cheese soup is thick and rich and full of chunky texture from loads of broccoli and carrots.
- Not only does it taste delicious, but you can also make this a meal-prep dish by doubling the recipe and freezing half for another day!
- Lately, I've appreciated how convenient it is to use my Instant Pot. Quick, easy-to-make meals like this broccoli soup are essential, and who can go wrong with cancer-fighting cruciferous vegetables like broccoli?
- With a low glycemic index and rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber, broccoli is a powerhouse of nutrients.
- Not only does an Instant Pot cook things quickly, it intensifies the flavour of the food you add to it. Moreover, nothing is lost because it's not overcooked.
- Broccoli keeps its nutrients, flavour, and even much of its colour in this instant pot soup recipe. No gaseous veggies here!
🛒 Ingredients
Check this list and gather your ingredients to make this wholesome broccoli cheese soup!
- veggies: onion, carrots, broccoli (fresh or frozen)
- seasonings: garlic, paprika, Dijon mustard, salt and pepper
- dairy: cheddar cheese and milk (or light cream), butter
- chicken broth: or chicken bone broth
- gluten-free flour: to thicken the soup
- olive oil: to sauté the onion and carrots
🔪 Instructions
You'll find complete directions in the recipe card below. Here's a quick overview of what you'll do to make this broccoli white cheddar soup.
- You'll start by sautéing onions and carrots in the Instant Pot. Once they're softened, add the garlic, the gluten-free flour blend, and the chicken broth.
- Next, add the broccoli, close the lid, seal and set your Instant Pot for 8 minutes. When time is up, release the pressure with the Quick Release function.
- Remove the lid, add paprika, Dijon mustard, and stir in the grated cheddar, milk (or cream.) Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve!
🍳Equipment
👍🏼 Helpful tips
- Use a julienne peeler, a food processor, or the coarse shredding side of a box grater to grate the carrots.
- Use a quality cheese and grate it yourself. I prefer an aged white cheddar as it adds so much flavour to this soup. Just like wine, a cheese soup will only be as good as the cheese you add to it.
- While the bags of pre-grated cheese may be convenient, the cheese in them doesn't melt as well. The bags contain additives designed to prevent the cheese from clumping together, but these agents tend to cause the cheese to resist melting.
- When you add the broccoli to the Instant Pot, lay it on top of the soup instead of stirring it in. In this way, it will keep its shape a little better and add some chunky texture to the soup.
- Keep this broccoli cheese soup gluten-free by using a gluten-free flour blend to thicken it.
🍽 Serving suggestions
This broccoli cheddar soup is loaded with cheese, so you won't need to garnish it with more. I sprinkled a little freshly chopped parsley on top, but fresh thyme would be delicious too.
I like to serve this soup with these Super Seed Snack Crackers. They're packed full of nutritious seeds like pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, chia and poppy seeds. With lots of crunch in every bite, they're a perfect accompaniment to this creamy cheese soup.
Or try it with this skillet-baked Gluten-Free Cheesy Herb Cornbread or Herbed Gluten-Free Baking Powder Biscuits. We sometimes have it with these Easy Low-Carb Keto Mini Buns, too.
🥶 Storage and Freezing Instructions
This pressure cooker soup freezes beautifully. Portion it into freezer containers in the size you'll need for your family. Cover tightly, label and freeze. This soup will stay fresh for at least 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator then reheat it over low to medium heat on your stovetop.
Enjoy a warm, nutritious bowl of soup with your family this week!
🗒 More healthy Instant Pot recipes
If you love the incredible convenience of your Instant Pot, find more Instant Pot Soup recipe ideas here: 5 Clean-Eating Instant Pot Soup Recipes to keep you healthy.
📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Broccoli White Cheddar Soup
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, extra virgin
- ½ cup onion, finely diced
- 2 cups carrots, julienne cut or grated
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup gluten-free flour blend
- 3 cups chicken broth, or vegetable broth or chicken bone broth
- 6 cups broccoli florets, fresh or frozen
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 3 cups sharp white cheddar cheese
- ½ cup whole milk, or half and half
- sea salt and pepper
Instructions
- Press Sauté button and add butter and oil to the Instant Pot. Once melted, add the onion and carrots and sauté until onions are translucent and carrots have softened, about 3 - 4 minutes.
- Add garlic and cook for 1 minute, then stir in flour until well combined. Add broth and stir until smooth.
- Add the broccoli and leave on top of the soup. Place the lid on the Instant Pot. Press the Cancel button to turn it off, then press the Manual button and set for 8 minutes.
- After 8 minutes, use the Quick Release and allow the steam to escape. Open the lid and turn off the Instant Pot.
- Stir in the paprika and Dijon mustard. Add the cheese and stir until combined. Stir in the milk or half and half. Taste and season as needed with salt and pepper. Garnish with fresh parsley or fresh thyme leaves and serve.
Nutrition
This post has been updated with new photos and helpful tips.
Lori
Absolutely delicious! And my family is getting all that broccoli! Great recipe.
Elaine
Thanks Lori, It's a warm and cozy soup for a chilly day!
Mariah
Simply the best! Kids love it so that makes me happy!
Elaine
That's great news! Happy to hear your kids like it, too.
Dee
Just thought I'd let you know that I make this ALL the time. Always turns out and my kids love it too.
Flavour & Savour
That's great to hear. So glad you like it too. Thanks for the 5 stars!
Diana
I've made this 3 times now, and my kids love it. Sometimes I make it with orange cheddar for the extra colour! Thanks for a great recipe.
Laurie
Hi Elaine- would lower carb thickeners work in this recipe?
Flavour & Savour
Hi Laurie, You could try using finely ground almond flour. A quarter cup contain six grams of carbs and three grams of net carbs. Let me know if you try it!