This Vegan Broccoli Cheddar Soup is creamy and cheesy, even without the dairy! It’s made with simple ingredients and ready in only 30 minutes.

If you enjoy the broccoli cheddar combination as much as I do, make sure to check out my “Chicken” Broccoli Rice Vegan Casserole and these Vegan Cheesy Broccoli Twice Baked Potatoes.

scooping up vegan broccoli cheddar soup with a wooden spoon.

Easy and cheesy vegan broccoli cheese soup

This Vegan Broccoli Cheddar Soup is my go-to comfort food. Each spoonful is so thick and cheesy. It’s hard to believe that it isn’t made with dairy!

All you need are a few simple ingredients, a large pot, and a blender to put a batch of vegetarian broccoli cheddar soup together. It starts with a luscious, pureed cheese sauce base, then is elevated with fresh broccoli and vegan cheese shreds. In the end, your bowl is filled with a golden batch of cheesy, broccoli goodness!

Not only is it a sneaky veggie-packed meal, but it’s comforting too! Enjoy your creamy soup as-is or pair it with artisan bread and kale Caesar salad for a simple and cozy meal both adults and kids will love.

a spoon taking a scoop of broccoli cheddar soup out of a white bowl.

Ingredients needed (with substitutions)

  • Olive oil – Or use vegetable broth if you want to saute the vegetables without oil.
  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Potatoes – The creamy, cheesy base of the soup is made from potatoes, carrots, cashews, and nutritional yeast. Russet potatoes or Yukon Gold are best but you can use any variety you already have at home.
  • Carrots – Just like this vegan cheese sauce, carrots give the soup a yellow color and slight sweetness.
  • Raw cashews – Blended cashews thicken the soup like a dream. If you don’t have cashews on hand, use macadamia nuts, blanched almonds, or sunflower seeds instead. A little coconut cream works for a nut and seed free option.
  • Vegetable broth
  • Nutritional yeast – A must for vegan cheesy soup.
  • Smoked paprika – Or use regular paprika.
  • Salt
  • Water
  • Broccoli – Chop the broccoli yourself or save a little time by using frozen broccoli or pre-chopped broccoli. You could even add more vegetables for more substance and texture, like peas, cauliflower, black beans, or celery.
  • Shredded vegan cheese – Optional, but delicious! The cheese melts into the soup, making every bite super cheesy. 

How to make vegan broccoli cheddar soup

Find the complete recipe with measurements in the recipe card below.

Start by sauteing the onion and garlic in a large oiled soup pot until they’re soft and fragrant.

sauteeing chopped onion and garlic in a large black pot.

Next, add in the potatoes, carrots, cashews, broth, nutritional yeast, smoked paprika, and salt. Bring it to a boil, lower the heat, and let it simmer until the vegetables are fork tender.

We boil the cashews right in the pot to get them super soft for blending!

cooking broccoli cheddar soup in a large black pot.

Carefully transfer the soup to a blender and puree until smooth or use an immersion blender in the pot instead. Pour the blended soup back into the pot and thin it out with a little water if needed. Finish by stirring in the broccoli and vegan cheese.

broccoli florets and shredded vegan cheese on top of a pot of broccoli cheddar soup in a large black pot.

Bring the broccoli soup back up to a boil, then lower the heat and let it simmer to cook the broccoli. Serve in individual bowls with more cheese on top, then enjoy!

a large black pot filled with vegan broccoli cheddar soup.

Tips and variations

  • Blending the broccoli – If you’re a fan of extra creamy soups, feel free to add in half of the broccoli florets when you add the potatoes. Blend until smooth, then add the rest of the broccoli. This way, the soup will have less texture and a smoother consistency.
  • Nut free – The soup won’t be as thick and creamy without the cashews, but they can be left out if you need it to be nut free. Use a little coconut cream instead.
  • Toppings – Top each bowl of soup with roasted broccoli florets, shredded vegan cheese, croutons, fresh parsley, or red chili flakes.

Frequently asked questions

  1. Can you make it in the Instant Pot? I haven’t tested this recipe in the Instant Pot. If you do try it, I recommend cooking and blending the soup without the broccoli and cheese first, then stirring them in and cooking at high pressure for a few more minutes. 
  2. Do you have to soak the cashews ahead of time? Nope! Just throw them in the pot and the nuts will soften in the hot soup broth before blending.
  3. How long does vegan broccoli soup last? The leftovers will last for up to 3-4 days when kept in an airtight container in the fridge.
  4. Can you freeze it? Yes, the soup freezes quite well.
a white bowl filled with vegan broccoli cheddar soup and a spoon.

Want more creamy and comforting soups?

close up on a wooden spoon scooping vegan broccoli cheddar soup out of a pot.
5 stars (90 ratings)

Vegan Broccoli Cheddar Soup

This Vegan Broccoli Cheddar Soup is creamy and cheesy, even without the dairy! It’s made with simple ingredients and ready in only 30 minutes.
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients 
 

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 small sweet onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 medium russet potato, peeled and chopped
  • 3 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
  • 1/2 cup raw cashews
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • 1/2 cup nutritional yeast
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • 1-2 cups water, as needed (see instructions)
  • 4 cups broccoli, finely chopped
  • 2 cups shredded vegan cheddar cheese I used Violife, optional

Instructions 

  • In a large soup pot, saute the onion and garlic in the olive oil for 2-3 minutes over medium heat, stirring frequently.
  • To the pot, add the potato, carrots, cashews, vegetable broth, nutritional yeast, smoked paprika and salt. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for about 15 minutes, until fork tender.
  • Working in batches if needed, transfer the soup carefully to a blender and blend until very smooth.
  • Return the mixture back to the pot. If your soup is too thick, add water until a desired consistency is reached (I used 1 cup of water). Add in the bite sized broccoli florets and cheese, if using, and stir into the soup. 
  • Bring the soup to a boil, then lower the heat to simmer for 10 minutes, until the broccoli is soft and cooked. The cheese should also be melted into the soup.
  • Serve, topping with more vegan cheddar cheese shreds, if desired. Enjoy! Leftovers will keep for 3-4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It can also be frozen.

Notes

  1. Broccoli – I prefer the chop the broccoli mostly super small for the soup. You can even use a food processor to chop it super small, but I usually do this by hand with a knife.
  2. Nut free – If you have a nut allergy, you may make this without the cashews, it just won’t be quite as creamy and rich. Stir in a little coconut cream at the end if desired for creaminess. 
  3. Blend it – If desired, you may use an immersion blender once the broccoli is cooked to create a creamier broccoli cheese soup without chunks of broccoli florets. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 324kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Sodium: 1439mg | Potassium: 661mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 5972IU | Vitamin C: 61mg | Calcium: 90mg | Iron: 3mg
Course: Soup
Cuisine: American
Author: Nora Taylor
Did you make this recipe?Mention @nora_cooks_vegan_ or tag #noracooks!

This recipe was first posted in September 2018 and has been republished with new photos and the addition of vegan cheddar cheese shreds. Otherwise the recipe is unchanged.

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Comments

  1. One of my favorites! I love all your recipes, Nora! Has anyone tried using frozen broccoli? I’m thinking of giving that a try next time I make this.

  2. If you have a nut allergy like me. You might not beable to use coconut either. After all both cashews and coconuts are tree nuts.

  3. Another winner! I don’t feel this needs the cheese, I usually do without. But tonight I used a half container of vegan heavy whip from Trader Joe’s, it was a nice creaminess.

  4. This was so creamy and cheesy tasting! Very comforting. Had it with some garlic bread on the side. Loved it and so did my non vegan boyfriend. Will make again for sure.

    1. Hi Irene! Thanks for checking out my recipes! I’m glad you loved the soup! I appreciate your wonderful review and feedback!

    1. I’m so glad to see your comment because I was wondering about using sweet potatoes instead! Thank you🙌🏾

    2. The soup was amazing! I ended up blending half the Broccoli first which I quite liked! Thanks for the amazing recipes!
      My mom is vegan so I’ve been trying to be vegan at home so when she visits I can cook for her and your recipes are such a big help!

  5. I love this! i made with coconut cream instead of cashews and added in some lemon juice and pepper – delicious and so healthy!

  6. I’ve never had broccoli cheddar soup before, even before I went vegan, so this was my first time! This was DELICIOUS! Definitely going to save this recipe for the future.

    1. Isn’t it wonderful!? Thank you for your fabulous review and feedback! I’m thrilled you loved the soup!

    1. I agree, a perfect winter soup! I’m glad you loved it! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!

  7. Absolutely love this recipe. It’s easy to make, and I think it tastes better than non-vegan broccoli cheddar soup.

    Thank you for posting and sharing with the world!

    1. Your kind words mean so much! Thank YOU, Kaylee, for your fabulous review and feedback! I’m thrilled you loved the soup!

  8. Amazing recipe! This came out delicious and was easy to make. Will be adding to my winter meal rotation. *I added a can of white beans at the end to add protein and make it more filling!

  9. So easy to make. Just prep n measure beforehand. The taste is incredible. Love n will make again n again. Can easily double this recipe cuz I could eat for days

  10. Really yummy and easy to make. I subbed slivered almonds and added the broccoli to the pot with everything else, then blended it all smooth. My 3 year old and 1 year old both ate small servings 2 nights in a row, though it wasn’t their favourite – so that’s a win in my books (got to expand that palate somehow). I thought it was great. Served with fresh bread.

    1. I’m thrilled you enjoyed it, Rochelle! And I’m glad your kids gave it a try haha. Thank you for your wonderful review!

    2. Nora, you’ve done it again! This recipe is soo good! I didn’t add vegan cheese shreds and it was still “cheddar” cheesy & creamy deliciousness! Thank you for all your hard work making plant-based options for classic recipes!

  11. Made this soup today. It is DeeeLish! Best one I’ve made yet. I used almond cheese and did not peel the organic carrots or potatoes. Will be on my favorite soups for Fall. Thank you. You are a talented gal.

    1. Why thank you, Judith! I appreciate your encouraging feedback and review! Wishing you happy cooking!

      1. The soup was amazing! I ended up blending half the Broccoli first which I quite liked! Thanks for the amazing recipes!
        My mom is vegan so I’ve been trying to be vegan at home so when she visits I can cook for her and your recipes are such a big help!

        1. Hi Vienne. I am thrilled that you are loving my recipes! Thank you for sharing your encouraging feedback! Wishing you lots of happy cooking!

    1. I’ve never made it in a slow cooker so I’m not exactly sure how I would go about that. I think it would still need to be done in steps (the potato broth mixture cooked first, then later add the broccoli and stuff). I’m sure it could be done. Or you could make it normally, then transfer to a slow cooker to keep it warm until ready to serve.

    1. Hi Julie. This soup will freeze well, and lasts about 2 months in the freezer in a well sealed container. Hope this helps!

    1. This is the 2nd time I’ve made this soup. The first time I used Violife shreds. And it was delicious. This time, I had I was going to add some Vevan shreds, but they were not usable. Still absolutely delicious.

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