Creamy & Comforting Vegetable Cheese Soup: Easy Homemade Recipe

Vegetable cheese soup is a symphony of flavors and textures, a comforting hug in a bowl. It’s a delightful way to sneak in those extra vegetables, making it a hit with both kids and adults. This recipe creates a rich, creamy, and satisfying soup that’s perfect for a chilly evening or a cozy lunch. We’ll walk you through each step, providing tips and variations to customize it to your taste. Get ready to enjoy a bowl of pure deliciousness!

Why You’ll Love This Vegetable Cheese Soup

* **Comforting and Flavorful:** The combination of tender vegetables, creamy cheese, and savory broth creates a truly satisfying and comforting experience.
* **Versatile and Customizable:** Easily adapt the recipe to use your favorite vegetables or cheeses. It’s a great way to use up leftover veggies in your fridge.
* **Easy to Make:** This recipe is straightforward and doesn’t require any fancy techniques. It’s perfect for beginners.
* **Kid-Friendly:** The cheesy flavor makes it a hit with kids, even the ones who aren’t huge vegetable fans.
* **Budget-Friendly:** Made with affordable ingredients, this soup is a great way to feed a family on a budget.
* **Freezable:** Make a big batch and freeze it for easy weeknight meals.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Before we dive into the recipe, let’s gather our ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:

* **Vegetables:**
* 2 tablespoons olive oil (or butter)
* 1 medium onion, chopped
* 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
* 2 celery stalks, chopped
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 4 cups vegetable broth (or chicken broth)
* 1 (10-ounce) package frozen mixed vegetables (or use fresh, chopped vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, green beans, peas, etc.)
* 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
* 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
* 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
* 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)
* **Cheese Sauce:**
* 1/4 cup butter
* 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
* 2 cups milk (whole or 2%)
* 8 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded (or a blend of your favorite cheeses like Gruyere, Monterey Jack, or Colby)
* **Optional Toppings:**
* Chopped fresh parsley
* Shredded cheese
* Croutons
* Sour cream or Greek yogurt
* Hot sauce

Step-by-Step Instructions: Making the Perfect Vegetable Cheese Soup

Now, let’s get cooking! Follow these simple steps to create a delicious and comforting vegetable cheese soup.

**Step 1: Sauté the Aromatics**

1. In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil (or butter) over medium heat.
2. Add the chopped onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5-7 minutes, or until the vegetables are softened and the onion is translucent. This step helps to build a flavorful base for the soup.
3. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute, until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic, as it can become bitter.

**Step 2: Add Broth and Vegetables**

1. Pour in the vegetable broth (or chicken broth). Stir to combine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. These browned bits add extra flavor to the soup.
2. Add the frozen mixed vegetables (or fresh vegetables), diced tomatoes (undrained), Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
3. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.

**Step 3: Make the Cheese Sauce**

1. While the soup is simmering, prepare the cheese sauce. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
2. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly. This creates a roux, which will thicken the cheese sauce.
3. Gradually whisk in the milk, making sure to break up any lumps. Continue whisking until the sauce is smooth and starts to thicken.
4. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thickened to your liking. The sauce should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
5. Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the shredded cheddar cheese (or your cheese blend) until it is completely melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy. Be careful not to overheat the cheese, as it can become stringy.

**Step 4: Combine and Serve**

1. Pour the cheese sauce into the pot of soup and stir until everything is well combined. The soup should now be creamy and cheesy.
2. Taste and adjust the seasonings as needed. You may want to add more salt, pepper, or Italian seasoning to your liking.
3. Serve the vegetable cheese soup hot, garnished with your favorite toppings, such as chopped fresh parsley, shredded cheese, croutons, sour cream, or hot sauce.

Tips for the Best Vegetable Cheese Soup

* **Use Fresh Vegetables:** While frozen vegetables are convenient, using fresh vegetables will result in a more flavorful soup. Feel free to use any combination of vegetables you like, such as broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, green beans, peas, corn, potatoes, or sweet potatoes. Just make sure to chop them into bite-sized pieces.
* **Don’t Overcook the Vegetables:** Overcooked vegetables can become mushy and lose their flavor. Cook the soup until the vegetables are tender but still have a slight bite.
* **Use High-Quality Cheese:** The quality of the cheese will greatly impact the flavor of the soup. Use a good quality cheddar cheese or a blend of your favorite cheeses for the best results.
* **Shred the Cheese Yourself:** Pre-shredded cheese often contains cellulose, which can prevent it from melting smoothly. Shredding the cheese yourself will ensure a creamier sauce.
* **Don’t Boil the Cheese Sauce:** Boiling the cheese sauce can cause it to separate and become grainy. Keep the heat low and stir constantly to prevent this from happening.
* **Adjust the Consistency:** If the soup is too thick, add more broth or milk to thin it out. If it’s too thin, simmer it for a few more minutes, uncovered, to allow some of the liquid to evaporate.
* **Add a Touch of Spice:** If you like a little heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce to the soup.
* **Blend for a Smoother Texture:** If you prefer a smoother soup, you can use an immersion blender to partially or fully blend the soup before adding the cheese sauce. Be careful when blending hot liquids, as they can splatter.

Variations and Add-Ins

One of the best things about vegetable cheese soup is that it’s so versatile. Here are some variations and add-ins to try:

* **Spicy Vegetable Cheese Soup:** Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce to the soup for a little kick.
* **Broccoli Cheese Soup:** Omit the mixed vegetables and use only broccoli florets.
* **Cauliflower Cheese Soup:** Omit the mixed vegetables and use only cauliflower florets.
* **Potato Cheese Soup:** Add diced potatoes to the soup.
* **Sweet Potato Cheese Soup:** Add diced sweet potatoes to the soup.
* **Corn and Cheese Soup:** Add corn kernels to the soup.
* **Ham and Cheese Soup:** Add diced ham to the soup for a heartier meal.
* **Chicken and Cheese Soup:** Add shredded cooked chicken to the soup for a protein boost.
* **Bacon and Cheese Soup:** Crumble cooked bacon on top of the soup for a smoky flavor.
* **Add Greens:** Stir in some spinach or kale at the end of cooking for added nutrients.
* **Different Cheeses:** Experiment with different cheeses like Gruyere, Monterey Jack, Colby, or pepper jack for a unique flavor profile.

Serving Suggestions

Vegetable cheese soup is a complete meal on its own, but here are some serving suggestions to make it even more enjoyable:

* **Serve with Crusty Bread:** A slice of crusty bread is perfect for dipping into the soup.
* **Serve with a Salad:** A simple green salad complements the richness of the soup.
* **Serve with Grilled Cheese:** A grilled cheese sandwich is a classic pairing with tomato soup, but it’s also delicious with vegetable cheese soup.
* **Top with Croutons:** Croutons add a nice crunch to the soup.
* **Top with Fresh Herbs:** Chopped fresh parsley, chives, or dill add a pop of freshness.
* **Serve in Bread Bowls:** For a fun and festive presentation, serve the soup in bread bowls.

Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions

* **Make-Ahead:** You can make the vegetable cheese soup ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The flavors will actually meld together and improve over time. However, it is recommended to make the cheese sauce right before serving, as it can become grainy when reheated. If you do make the cheese sauce ahead of time, reheat it gently over low heat, stirring constantly, until smooth.
* **Storage:** Store leftover vegetable cheese soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave.
* **Freezing:** Vegetable cheese soup can be frozen, but the texture may change slightly when thawed. The cheese sauce may become grainy. To minimize this, cool the soup completely before freezing. Store in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating. You may need to add a little milk or broth when reheating to restore the creamy texture.

Recipe Card

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**Yields:** 6-8 servings
**Prep time:** 15 minutes
**Cook time:** 35 minutes

**Ingredients:**

* 2 tablespoons olive oil (or butter)
* 1 medium onion, chopped
* 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
* 2 celery stalks, chopped
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 4 cups vegetable broth (or chicken broth)
* 1 (10-ounce) package frozen mixed vegetables (or use fresh, chopped vegetables)
* 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
* 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
* 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
* 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)
* 1/4 cup butter
* 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
* 2 cups milk (whole or 2%)
* 8 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded

**Instructions:**

1. Heat olive oil (or butter) in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery; sauté until softened. Add garlic; cook until fragrant.
2. Pour in broth. Add mixed vegetables, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until vegetables are tender.
3. While soup simmers, make the cheese sauce. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1-2 minutes. Gradually whisk in milk until smooth and thickened. Reduce heat and simmer for 2-3 minutes.
4. Remove from heat; stir in shredded cheese until melted and smooth.
5. Pour cheese sauce into soup; stir until combined. Taste and adjust seasonings.
6. Serve hot, garnished with parsley, cheese, croutons, or sour cream.

Enjoy Your Homemade Vegetable Cheese Soup!

This vegetable cheese soup recipe is a testament to how simple ingredients can come together to create something truly special. With its creamy texture, comforting flavors, and customizable nature, it’s sure to become a family favorite. Whether you’re looking for a quick weeknight meal, a cozy lunch, or a way to sneak in some extra vegetables, this soup is the perfect choice. So, gather your ingredients, follow the steps, and get ready to enjoy a bowl of pure deliciousness! Don’t forget to share your creations with us in the comments below! We love seeing your variations and hearing your feedback.