How to make Crock Pot broccoli cheese soup with Velveeta and frozen broccoli. This is a delicious recipe made with noodles that can be eaten as a meal or with a sandwich.
I live near a very small town. There is only one stop light in town, and that's just because there's a state route that runs through town. There aren't many businesses in town, but there is a touristy restaurant on the edge of town.
The Barn in Smithville, Ohio, is appropriately named because it's in an old barn. It's a large restaurant with two levels. One has a full menu and salad bar, and the other level has a buffet.
The Barn attracts visitors from several hours away. They are famous for their broccoli cheese soup and soup and salad bar. When we do go there, that's what I order.
A few years ago, my step mom gave me a recipe for The Barn broccoli cheese soup. I don't know anyone who works there, so I don't know if it's exactly how they make theirs, but it does taste close.
I'm pretty sure they don't use Velveeta, but I do and it tastes great.
I adapted mine for the Crock Pot because I'm a busy mom. I also make this on the stove sometimes, and it's delicious either way. I'll include directions both stovetop broccoli cheese soup and for Crock Pot broccoli cheese soup.
Crock Pot Broccoli Cheese Soup With Velveeta
This is a great dinner when you have some time to prepare dinner in the afternoon and you will be busy at dinner time. Yesterday, we had girl scouts right after school and cub scouts at 7. I needed something that would be ready to eat from the Crock Pot without any additional prep work.
This is the best broccoli cheese soup ever. My husband hates soup and hardly considers it a meal, but he loves this soup.
Velveeta Alternatives
Have you priced Velveeta lately? Yikes!
I'm super picky on a few products, and cheese (processed cheese included) is one of them. A friend convinced me to try the Aldi brand.
Yum!! The Aldi brand of Velveeta has a little bit different texture and taste. It doesn't melt quite as quickly, so compensate for that by cutting it into smaller pieces.
The Aldi brand tastes more like cheddar, and it makes this Crock Pot broccoli cheese soup taste amazing.
An aside, I originally posted this in 2013, but I think the photos are from 2015 or 2016. The Velveeta in my photo was $5.99. It's now almost $8 at Walmart. Aldi processed cheese is about $5.
Can You Freeze Broccoli Cheese Soup?
Yes, I always freeze a quart of this for later. It tastes just as good when you thaw it. For best results, let it thaw in the fridge overnight and don't try to use the microwave to thaw it.
Read more about what foods can be frozen.
What's Good With Broccoli Cheese Soup?
When we have Crock Pot broccoli cheese soup, we eat it with saltine crackers, oyster crackers, or croutons. Sometimes I also make homemade bread.
We either eat just soup for dinner or have sandwiches. I buy cold cuts and everyone can make their own sandwich.
Noodles
I prefer a thin egg noodle in my Crock Pot broccoli cheese soup recipe. It's what the Barn restaurant uses, so it's more authentic.
I use Inn Maid noodles. Incidentally, Inn Maid noodles also started in Smithville, Ohio. They owned and operated the Smithville Inn, another popular restaurant in Smithville. Sadly, the Inn closed last year.
Inn Maid noodles are still made in nearby Millersburg, Ohio. I'm not sure if they are available nationwide, but they are yummy. I recommend getting them if you can find them.
Chicken Broth
You can use a store bought chicken broth for this recipe, but I highly recommend making your own broth. It makes all the difference in this recipe. Learn how to make chicken broth in the Instant Pot.
You can also use Instant Pot vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
Crock Pot
I have several slow cookers. These photos were taken with my Hamilton Beach slow cooker. I love that thing. It's been a hard worker for about 10 years for me. The crock broke, but I found a spare at a thrift store for $2, so it's still going strong with the replacement.
I love it because the lid locks. It really helps food cook faster.
As much as I love that slow cooker, I now make this Crock Pot broccoli cheese soup with Velveeta in my Crock Pot 5-in-1 multi cooker. It has a saute function, so I can saute the celery and onion and then switch to slow cook to finish cooking.
I've had the multi cooker about four years. It's a great little cooking appliance, and I love it because it slow cooks, bakes, and roasts.
I'm going to start with the Crock Pot directions. The ingredients are the same, so just the directions change. The stove top directions are below the first set.
Broccoli Cheese Soup Ingredients
- 1 cup chopped celery
- 1 cup diced onion
- 1 tablespoon butter or margarine
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 16 ounces broccoli (fresh or frozen)
- 8 ounces thin Inn Maid noodles
- 2 pounds Velveeta cheese
- 6 cups of milk
- salt, pepper and garlic salt to taste
Crock Pot Broccoli Cheese Soup Directions
Step #1
Place broth and noodles in the Crock Pot and turn it on high.
Step #2
Meanwhile, cook celery and onion in butter over medium heat. I like to start the celery first to give it a few extra minutes. Cook until the celery is soft.
Step #3
Add cooked celery, onion, broccoli and cheese to slow cooker. Cut the cheese in to 1" cubes to help it melt faster. Stir a little bit.
Step #4
Let cook on high until cheese is fully melted. This took about an hour and a half for me. Just keep an eye on it and stir every half an hour or so.
Step #5
Add up to 6 cups of milk. I normally add 4 cups because we like a thicker soup. You can always add more just before serving.
Turn Crock Pot to low and let simmer at least two hours. Add salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste.
Add the egg noodles about 20 to 30 minutes before you plan to eat.
Stove Top Broccoli Cheddar Cheese Soup Directions
Step #1
In a Dutch oven or large pan, melt butter in a pan over medium heat. Saute celery and onion until soft.
Step #2
Add chicken broth and bring to a boil. Add broccoli and noodles. Cook 10 to 15 minutes until the noodles and broccoli are cooked.
Step #3
Cut cheese into 1 inch cubes. Add to the soup and stir frequently until fully melted.
Step #4
Add milk and stir. Add salt, pepper, and garlic salt to taste.
Simmer up to 2 hours.
Let me know if you make and and like it!
Broccoli Cheese Soup
ingredients:
- 1 cup chopped celery
- 1 cup diced onion
- 1 tablespoon butter or margarine
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 16 ounces broccoli (fresh or frozen)
- 8 ounces thin Inn Maid noodles
- 2 pounds Velveeta cheese
- 6 cups of milk
- salt, pepper and garlic salt to taste
instructions:
How to cook Broccoli Cheese Soup
- Place broth and noodles in the Crock Pot and turn it on high.
- Meanwhile, cook celery and onion in butter over medium heat. I like to start the celery first to give it a few extra minutes. Cook until the celery is soft.
- Add cooked celery, onion, broccoli and cheese to slow cooker. Cut the cheese in to 1" cubes to help it melt faster. Stir a little bit.
- Let cook on high until cheese is fully melted. This took about an hour and a half for me. Just keep an eye on it and stir every half an hour or so.
- Add up to 6 cups of milk. I normally add 4 cups because we like a thicker soup. You can always add more just before serving.
- Turn Crock Pot to low and let simmer at least two hours. Add salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste.
- Add the egg noodles about 20 to 30 minutes before you plan to eat.
- In a Dutch oven or large pan, melt butter in a pan over medium heat. Saute celery and onion until soft.
- Add chicken broth and bring to a boil. Add broccoli and noodles. Cook 10 to 15 minutes until the noodles and broccoli are cooked.
- Cut cheese into 1 inch cubes. Add to the soup and stir frequently until fully melted.
- Add milk and stir. Add salt, pepper, and garlic salt to taste.
361.67
20.60
13.05
25.14
2.10
23.04
8.48
19.77
1775.62
75.31
