Recipe: Super Simple Broccoli Cheese Soup

Folks, I’ve always said that cooking delicious food doesn’t have to be complicated or difficult. Some of my favorite recipes are the ones that are super simple and call for only a few ingredients. The disadvantage to that is by using only a few ingredients, you might miss out on opportunities to add flavor. When that’s the case, you want to pick the most flavorful ingredients to make the dish even better.

That’s why I absolutely loved using Zoup! Good, Really Good Chicken Broth in this recipe. While other broths just kind of smell like, well … broth, this chicken broth smells like savory roasted chicken. It is so rich and flavorful that it’s perfect for just warming and sipping straight from the jar.

Sometimes recipes like Broccoli Cheese Soup can seem overwhelming with lots of steps, but this one is straightforward and to the point. It even calls for frozen broccoli, so there’s no need to wash and chop fresh broccoli – and you won’t even know the difference when it comes to flavor. I’ll admit, I normally shy away from frozen broccoli, but it works perfectly here.

Even better is you’ll have the whole thing put together in less than 45 minutes. It’s rich, cheesy and creamy. Y’all are going to love it.

Super Simple Broccoli Cheese Soup

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 35 minutes

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Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1 yellow onion, finely diced
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 (32-ounce) jar (4 cups) Zoup! Good, Really Good Chicken Broth
• 2 cups half-and-half
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 (20- to 22-ounce) package frozen broccoli florets, thawed
• 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Instructions

1. In a heavy-bottomed stock pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter, then cook the onions over medium-low heat until tender — 8 to 10 minutes.
2. Sprinkle the flour over and stir well. Cook for about 3 minutes.
3. Gradually add the broth and stir to combine after each addition.
4. Add the half-and-half, salt and garlic powder and stir well.
5. Bring to a gentle boil, stirring very frequently, being cautious not to scorch.
6. Add the thawed broccoli and stir well. Cook over medium low until the broccoli is tender.
7. If you prefer a smoother soup, feel free to use an immersion blender to puree some of the soup to a smoother consistency.
8. Add the cheese and stir until it has melted.
9. Add salt and pepper to taste.

This recipe originally appeared on SouthernBite.com. For more great recipes, visit the website or check out ”The Southern Bite Cookbook.”