This Instant Pot broccoli and cheese soup recipe has a ONE MINUTE cook time. It’s an easy Instant Pot soup that’s thick, creamy and healthy. Enjoy this gluten free and vegetarian soup for any meal!
The Best Instant Pot Broccoli and Cheese Soup
I’ve been on the Instant Pot train for a while now, and I won’t be getting off anytime soon. While the slow cooker is the “set it and forget it” miracle dinner maker in the kitchen, consider the IP as your “oops, I forgot it” meal helper when you need a hot meal fast. Soups made in the Instant Pot are one of my favorite things pretty much ever, but it also does well with shredded pork and hard boiled eggs. What I’m saying is, the options are truly limitless when it comes to the fast and low-maintenance power of IPs!
And this broccoli and cheese soup recipe? It’ll knock your socks off. It *may* just be my favorite soup I’ve made in the Instant Pot (and that’s saying a lot because I’m a big IP soup maker!). It comes out impeccably rich, thick, and creamy with the most perfectly cooked veggies and a delicious texture. I’d say the best part is that the cook time is literally only one minute. Yep, you read that right. This one-pot meal will be a huge hit with your family, and I can’t wait for you to try it out!
This recipe comes from a cookbook of a friend, Barbara, The Electric Pressure Cooker Cookbook: 200 Fast and Foolproof Recipes for Every Brand of Electric Pressure Cooker is one you want on your shelf.
Can I use frozen broccoli instead?
Yep! You can use whatever you have on hand. Frozen and fresh will both work the same in this recipe, and no need to change the cooking time. Score! And sometimes I use the frozen broccoli and cauliflower mix and it works just great too.
Can I make this soup if I don’t have an Instant Pot?
I know not everyone has an Instant Pot (but y’all MUST add it to your wish list!), so this recipe can easily be made on the stovetop, too. Follow the recipe as directed, but instead of pressure cooking the veggies, just let them simmer in the broth until tender, about 20 minutes. Then, move on with adding the cornstarch, cream, and cheese as directed.
What can I pair with broccoli and cheese soup?
I love a toasty bun or crusty piece of bread for dipping into broccoli and cheese soup. You can also serve a fresh salad on the side to add more color and veggies to the meal!
The Best Instant Pot Broccoli and Cheese Soup
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 30 min
- Total Time: 40 min
- Yield: Serves 4-6 1x
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This Instant Pot broccoli and cheese soup recipe takes only ONE minute to make. It’s an easy Instant Pot soup that’s thick, creamy and healthy. Enjoy this gluten free and vegetarian soup for any meal!
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup diced onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 4 cups vegetable broth (or chicken stock if not vegetarian)
- 4 cups bite-sized broccoli florets
- 1 cup matchstick or grated carrots
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup corn starch
- 1/4 cup cold water
- 2 cups cream or half-and-half
- 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Select browning/saute to preheat the pressure cooker. Add the butter and onion and saute until the onion is tender, about 3 minutes.
- Add the garlic and cook until the garlic is fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Stir in the chicken stock, broccoli, carrots, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
- Lock the lid in place, make sure the vent is set to seal, and select high pressure and 1 minute cook time.
- When the cooking time ends, use the quick pressure release. When the valve drops, remove the lid carefully.
- In a small bowl whisk together the corn starch and cold water until smooth.
- Set the pressure cook to saute/browning and slowly add the corn starch mixture to the pot. Stir constantly until the soup comes to a boil and thickens.
- Turn off the pressure cooker. Slowly stir in the cream or half-and-half.
- Add the cheese a handful at a time and stir until it melts.
- Adjust salt and pepper to taste and serve hot.
Notes
- Recipe from my friend Barbara Schieving’s fabulous cookbook The Electric Pressure Cooker Cookbook. It’s full of tried-and-true family-favorite recipes and I use it often.
- You can use frozen broccoli in place of the fresh, no need to change the cooking time.
- Category: Soup
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: Soup
Keywords: Instant pot soup recipe, Instant pot soup, easy soup recipe, vegetarian soup, gluten free soup, quick soup recipe
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Check out these other yummy soup recipes:
- Simple Cream of Tomato Soup
- Chunky Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe
- Instant Pot Loaded Baked Potato Soup
- Classic Ham and Bean Soup (Instant Pot or Slow Cooker recipe)
- Quick, Easy, and Healthy White Chicken Enchilada Soup
- Homemade Butternut Squash Soup
- Healthy 30 Minute Alphabet Soup
- Instant Pot Split Pea Soup
- Healthy Cauliflower Sausage and Kale Soup
- Slow Cooker Vegetable Beef Soup
- Tortellini Vegetable Soup
- Healthy Slow Cooker Bean and Sausage Soup with Spinach
I know you are going to fall in love with this Instant Pot broccoli and cheese soup just as much as we have, and you’ll love how easy it is to make and how rich it tastes!
About Melissa
Melissa is deticated to helping parents figure out the nightly questions, "What's for Dinner?!" with her no-fuss approach to cooking. Read more...
Instant Pot Vegetarian Chili
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Just got my instapot for Christmas and this is the first thing I’ve made in it! It is just delicious!
★★★★★
I just got my IP for Christmas! This recipe was absolutely delicious! I did add double the cheese( Wisconsinite here). My son said it’s better than Panera!
★★★★★
This is a very good recipe. I made this for my family and they really enjoyed the soup. I followed the recipe except I added 2 extra cups of chicken stock and 1 extra cup of heavy cream. I also increased the corn starch and water by 2 Tbs. I shredded my carrots and my cheese. Thank you for sharing this recipe!!!
★★★★★
This was delicious! Thank you so much for the recipe!
★★★★★
Watery, too buttery and not cheesy enough. We were very disappointed and I followed the recipe.
★★
Weird, it sounds like some measurements must have been off on your end…
I have never had Panera Broccoli Cheese soup but I will be having this soup from my kitchen often. I did take a suggestion from one of the comments to add Nutmeg. Easy, Peazy and so quick to make in Instant Pot or Ninja Foodi.
★★★★★
This was outstanding! I am sensitive to dairy (aged cheddar still works though!) so I substituted a can of coconut cream for the 2 cups of cream, and omitted the corn starch because I’m lazy. I also used vegetable better than bouillon. It was super easy and very very good – thank you for the recipe!
★★★★★
Thank you for letting us know what worked, sounds amazing!
Delicious and easy! I don’t use my Instapot as much as I’d like, but my daughter and I were both sick with colds and wanted some easy but homemade soup. This hit the spot.
★★★★★
Turned out great! I substituted almond flour for the corn starch to bring the carb count down. It worked perfectly.
★★★★★
Wow! Definitely the best IP broccoli cheddar soup recipe I’ve tried! I used Better than Bouillon Chicken base to make the broth, and closer to 3 cups of freshly grated Tillamook medium cheddar from Costco. I added a pinch of nutmeg and pumpkin pie spice and the flavor was amazing! My picky 13 year old liked it but asked me to make it a little thicker next time, so I’ll up the corn starch. I’m so happy I stumbled upon this recipe!
★★★★★
Thank you for such a wonderful recipe! I found your website searching Google because I wasn’t liking the other recipes I wasn’t finding. My roommates loved it too! I didn’t change anything and I bought a food processor today or else I would have definitely used frozen broccoli. I read another review and she recommended shredding the cheese yourself so I took her advice!
★★★★★
OMG this recipe is SO delicious! Super flavourful and couldn’t be easier. Also, inexpensive which I appreciated. I added 1/4c bacon crumble and topped with a dollop of sour cream and green onions. A huge hit for my large family. Thank you!
★★★★★