• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Bless this Mess
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
  • Sides
  • Desserts
  • Snacks
  • Holidays
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Start Here
  • All Recipes
  • Recipe Filter
  • Cookbooks!
  • Our Story
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Start Here
    • All Recipes
    • Recipe Filter
    • Cookbooks!
    • Our Story
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Bless This Mess > Recipes > Easy Dinners > Instant Pot

    The Best Instant Pot Broccoli and Cheese Soup

    Published: Feb 24, 2022 · Modified: Oct 27, 2022 by Melissa · 275 Comments

    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Mail
    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe
    pinterest pin with text that reads "instant pot broccoli cheese soup" - a bowl of the finished soup garnished with cheese
    pinterest pin with text that reads "instant pot broccoli cheese soup" - a bowl of the finished soup garnished with cheese and rolls in the background
    pinterest pin with text that reads "instant pot broccoli cheese soup" - the instant pot is shown as it cooks down the broccoli and veggies
    A bowl of broccoli cheddar soup topped with shredded cheese and a fabric napkin and spoon next to the bowl with the words "Instant Pot broccoli cheddar soup" written at the top
    A bowl of broccoli cheddar soup topped with shredded cheese and a fabric napkin and spoon next to the bowl with the words "Instant Pot broccoli cheddar soup" written at the top
    The top and bottom photos are of bowls of broccoli cheddar soup with grated cheese on top with the words "Instant Pot broccoli cheddar soup" written in the middle
    Top view of a bowl of broccoli cheddar soup with a spoon next to the bowl and the words "Instant Pot broccoli cheddar soup" written at the top
    Title Image for Instant Pot Broccoli and Cheese Soup with two white bowls of Broccoli and Cheese Soup topped with shredded cheese and served with squares of bread
    pinterest pin with text that reads "instant pot broccoli cheese soup" - 2 close up images, the top is the finished soup garnished with cheese - bottom is the instant pot as the veggies cook down

    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!

    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. I don't chop up the frozen broccoli, but it seems to cook up just great.

    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 I love bread to for dipping into broccoli and cheese soup. I highly recommend serving this soup with fresh baguettes, sourdough bread, my mom's easy French bread recipe, or this easy no-knead crusty loaf. You can also serve a fresh salad on the side to add more color and veggies to the meal!

    What is the best cheese for melting in soup?

    This recipe specifically calls for cheddar. I like to use a nice sharp cheddar for this recipe but we love sharp cheeses. Sometimes I'll toss a variety of cheeses like cheddar, parmesan, and pepper jack cheese! You can use what you like or have on hand and feel free to use a variety of cheeses if that's what you have.

    More soup recipes:

    • Chicken Tortellini Soup
    • Old Fashioned Chicken and Dumplings Soup
    • Classic Minestrone Soup 
    • Instant Pot Potato Soup
    • Hearty Lentil Soup Recipe

    If you’ve tried this Instant Pot Broccoli and Cheese recipe or any other recipe on Bless this Mess, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some pictures of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories AND add your photo to your comment so that other can see your creation.

    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    a marble table sets the scene for rustic white ceramic bowls of broccoli cheddar soup with rolls and raw broccoli around

    The Best Instant Pot Broccoli and Cheese Soup


    ★★★★★

    4.9 from 103 reviews

    • Author: Melissa Griffiths - Bless this Mess
    • Total Time: 40 min
    • Yield: Serves 4-6 1x
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    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

    Scale
    • 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
    • ¼ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
    • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
    • ¼ cup corn starch
    • ¼ cup cold water
    • 2 cups cream or half-and-half
    • 2 cups grated cheddar cheese

    Instructions

    1. Select browning/saute to preheat the pressure cooker. Add the butter and onion and saute until the onion is tender, about 3 minutes.
    2. Add the garlic and cook until the garlic is fragrant, about 30 seconds.
    3. Stir in the chicken stock, broccoli, carrots, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
    4. Lock the lid in place, make sure the vent is set to seal, and select high pressure and 1 minute cook time.
    5. When the cooking time ends, use the quick pressure release. When the valve drops, remove the lid carefully.
    6. In a small bowl whisk together the corn starch and cold water until smooth.
    7. 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.
    8. Turn off the pressure cooker. Slowly stir in the cream or half-and-half.
    9. Add the cheese a handful at a time and stir until it melts.
    10. Adjust salt and pepper to taste and serve hot.

    Notes

    • You can use frozen broccoli in place of the fresh, no need to change the cooking time. Sometimes I used the mixed broccoli and cauliflower that's frozen and it works great too.
    • Feel free to use whatever cheese you like or have on hand, I use extra sharp cheddar for this recipe.
    • Prep Time: 10 min
    • Cook Time: 30 min
    • 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

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @blessthismessblog on Instagram and hashtag it #blessthismess

    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.

    Complete this meal with these sides:

    • My favorite Easy Cornbread Recipe
    • The Best Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits
    • Parmesan Focaccia Bread

    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.

    « Instant Pot Spaghetti Sauce
    Quick and Easy Tortellini Soup with Spinach »
    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Mail
    Craving More

    Take the hassle out of meal planning with: Dinner Made Easy, a FREE 1 week meal plan with full shopping list, easy dinners, nutrition information, serving suggestions for each meal, and more!

    Subscribe Now
    about me

    About Melissa

    Melissa is dedicated to helping parents figure out the nightly questions, "What's for Dinner?!" with her no-fuss approach to cooking. Read more...

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe rating ★ 5 Stars ☆ ★ 4 Stars ☆ ★ 3 Stars ☆ ★ 2 Stars ☆ ★ 1 Star ☆
      Recipe Rating




    1. Lee Ann

      February 23, 2021 at 4:22 pm

      I usually don’t like soups that have corn starch, so I didn’t have super high expectations for this recipe, but I am so glad I tried it. So quick and so delicious. Definitely will be making this regularly. Thanks for sharing your recipes.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    2. Karen Brucia

      February 20, 2021 at 11:17 am

      I would love to make this today but I do not have cream or half-and-half. Can I substitute it with milk?

      Reply
      • Melissa

        February 22, 2021 at 10:39 am

        You can use canned coconut milk or canned evaporated milk!

    3. Jessica

      February 20, 2021 at 9:09 am

      I absolutely loved this! And it was so easy! Lasagna soup was at the top of my favs list and this just passed that up!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    4. Stephanie

      February 02, 2021 at 2:16 pm

      I love this recipe! We had leftover soup and decided to use it as sauce for baked mac and cheese the next day. Let me tell you, it was AMAZING!! Definitely making it again and so excited about leftovers.

      Reply
      • Melissa

        February 02, 2021 at 9:15 pm

        It's super good on baked potatoes too!

    5. Cassie Lukens

      January 19, 2021 at 7:34 pm

      Just got my instapot for Christmas and this is the first thing I've made in it! It is just delicious!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    6. Jennie

      January 16, 2021 at 9:16 pm

      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!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    7. Becky

      January 16, 2021 at 5:02 pm

      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!!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    8. Jenn

      January 14, 2021 at 12:16 am

      This was delicious! Thank you so much for the recipe!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    9. Leanne

      January 10, 2021 at 10:06 pm

      Watery, too buttery and not cheesy enough. We were very disappointed and I followed the recipe.

      ★★

      Reply
      • Melissa

        January 11, 2021 at 10:22 am

        Weird, it sounds like some measurements must have been off on your end...

    10. Sharon

      January 10, 2021 at 3:43 pm

      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.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    11. Susan

      January 07, 2021 at 11:55 am

      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!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Melissa

        January 08, 2021 at 2:16 pm

        Thank you for letting us know what worked, sounds amazing!

    12. Rebecca Ivkovich

      January 01, 2021 at 8:58 pm

      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.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    13. Jennifer

      December 26, 2020 at 3:36 pm

      Turned out great! I substituted almond flour for the corn starch to bring the carb count down. It worked perfectly.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    14. Sylvia

      December 20, 2020 at 8:27 pm

      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!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    15. Julie Anne Olson

      December 08, 2020 at 1:56 am

      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!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    16. Jode Bottos

      November 21, 2020 at 1:33 pm

      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!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    17. Justine

      November 16, 2020 at 5:40 pm

      I made this and it was so amazing! The only thing I did differently was add a 1/2c more cheese and a teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice. Definitely keeping in my go to recipes!

      Reply
      • Melissa

        November 16, 2020 at 7:44 pm

        Ohhh the pumpkin pie spice if a fun addition! Thank you for sharing.

      • Julie Anne Olson

        December 08, 2020 at 1:59 am

        Thank you for your suggestion about using sour cream and crumbled bacon! I loved it!

        ★★★★★

    18. Nikki Howser

      November 03, 2020 at 10:53 pm

      Also, just wanted to say I used pre shredded cheese and had no problems!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    19. Nikki Howser

      November 03, 2020 at 10:52 pm

      Delicious!! Made this tonight! I didn't change a dang thing and it came out perfectly. 🙌🏻

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    20. Melissa

      October 25, 2020 at 6:47 am

      Mine came out super watery, and not very cheesy. I can't figure out why 😣 I grated my own cheese, and even added extra. It didn't really melt for some reason??!! Aside from being liberal with the spices, I followed the recipe. Any ideas?

      Reply
      • Melissa

        October 26, 2020 at 7:59 am

        Did you add the cornstarch? Something is off...

      • Becky

        October 26, 2020 at 11:24 pm

        Mine came out very water, too. Did you use frozen broccoli? I did, and was wondering if it released too much water?

    « Older Comments
    Newer Comments »

    Primary Sidebar

    I’M MELISSA, AND I WANT TO HELP YOU FEED YOUR FAMILY WHOLESOME FOOD.

    As a hobby farmer and mom of five, I’m all about keeping it simple in the kitchen. I want healthy meals that feed my family well, and then I want to get back to my (messy) life. Let’s work together to find something yummy for your dinner table.

    More about me →

    Popular

    • 2 bowls of frog eye salad
      Frog Eye Salad
    • crockpot breakfast casserole with orange juice in the background
      Crockpot Breakfast Casserole
    • Fluffy cream cheese frosting in a bowl
      Cream Cheese Frosting
    • top view of a white bowl of creamy chicken noodle soup
      Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup
    Dinner Made Easy

    Get Recipes & More for Free!

    Get my FREE Dinner Made Easy meal plan, exclusive recipes, giveaways, and behind-the-scenes updates! Get my newsletter or a new recipe every day! Unsubscribe if you aren’t into it.

    Subscribe Now

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    SEEN ON

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Tools.
    • Terms Of Service.
    • Accessibility.
    • Bylaws.

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • About Us
    • Cookbook FAQ
    • Find A Recipe!

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 blessthismessplease.com. All rights reserved.

    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter