This Light Cream of Broccoli Soup is the creamy comfort you crave without the heavy fats in traditional recipes. We swap the fatty butter, heavy cream, cheese, and flour with olive oil, reduced-fat milk, and protein-packed greek yogurt. This way, we keep the velvety texture without compromising our health! The secret to our creamy consistency lies in gold potatoes, not butter! Enjoy this Light Cream of Broccoli Soup, guilt-free creamy, craving, comfort!

Light Broccoli Bliss!

Forget the butter! Forget the heavy cream! Forget the cheese!

I'm obsessed with classic cheddar broccoli soup and traditional cream of broccoli soup, but making them at home? I can’t! It is easier to grab them at Panera where I can live in blissful ignorance about how much butter and cream they're loaded with! But since I've been focusing on a healthier lifestyle lately, those Panera days had to come to an end.

That's when I decided to get experimental in my kitchen. I wanted to create something that captures all the creamy, comforting goodness of Panera's Cheddar Broccoli Soup without the fat overload. After some trial and error, I discovered this Light Cream of Broccoli Soup! The secret was swapping heavy cream for Greek yogurt and using gold potatoes as a natural thickener.

The best part is how versatile this recipe is. Want that classic cheddar flavor? Just add some cheese. Vegetarian? Swap the chicken broth and add vegetable broth. Want it thicker or thinner? Adjust the potatoes. It's completely customizable, and honestly, I think it tastes even better than the original!

What are the health benefits?

This soup is high in protein, reduced in fat, gut friendly with probiotics, high in potassium, fiber, vitamin C, and low in calories! It is for everyone, including vegetarians (swap chicken for vegetable broth), and those who are gluten-free. It is perfect for picky eaters who won’t compromise taste for health!

Nutrition Facts per 1 cup serving:

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only, and is not to be taken as medical information or advice. The nutritional values of your preparation of this recipe are impacted by several factors, including, but not limited to, the ingredient brands you use, any substitutions or measurement changes you make, and measuring accuracy.

Broccoli

Broccoli is packed with more vitamin C than an orange, plus vitamin K, folate, and fiber that keeps your digestive system happy. The antioxidants from broccoli can fight inflammation and support heart health. Broccoli is a powerhouse superfood, perfect for health nuts!

Gold Potatoes

These golden beauties are way more nutritious than people think - they've got more potassium than bananas, which is great for your heart and blood pressure. They're also packed with vitamin C for your immune system and B6 for brain health, all while giving you steady energy that won't crash later. Here's the thing about gold potatoes versus those big russet baking potatoes - golds have a naturally creamier texture and don't fall apart as much when you cook them, which is exactly what you want in a soup.

Greek Yogurt

This stuff is basically a protein bomb in creamy form - it has double the protein of regular yogurt, so it keeps you full way longer. The probiotics are doing good things for your gut health and immune system, plus you're getting a solid dose of calcium for your bones. What makes Greek yogurt so thick and rich is that they strain out all the watery whey, leaving you with concentrated goodness.

1% Milk

Using milk gives you all the good stuff - quality protein, calcium, and B vitamins - without drowning in fat like heavy cream would. The protein helps keep you satisfied, and if you buy fortified milk, you're getting vitamin D too, which most of us don't get enough of. It's got natural sugars that give you quick energy, but nothing that'll make you feel heavy or sluggish afterward.

What you will need

6-7.5 quart pot
Measuring Spoons
Large Capacity Blender (around 8 cups)
Two 48 oz Storage Containers

How to Make it Step by Step

1. Gather Ingredients

You will need broccoli, gold potatoes and onions for this soup! If you want a thicker soup, add more potatoes. If you want it creamier, you can add more yogurt or milk. It is your land, Queens!

2. Cook the onions

Cook the onions, garlic, salt and pepper over medium heat until onions are golden, approximately 5 minutes. For a sweeter and toastier soup, you can caramelize the onions.

3. Put it all together

Add sliced potatoes, chicken bone broth, and broccoli to the pot along with. Bring to a boil and simmer covered on low heat until potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork, around 20-30 minutes.

*Remember: Don’t add the dairy here! This will cause curdling and will change the texture of the soup.

4. Add the Dairy

Remove from heat, and let cool for 10-15 minutes, then add milk and greek yogurt. Stir well, but do not worry about any chunks that will be blended next.

5. Blend It Up

Transfer to a blender in batches and blend until smooth, or use an immersion blender. If you want a slightly chunkier soup, just scoop out some broccoli florets before blending and set aside to return to the bowl after blending.

6. Serve!

Dish out 1-cup servings and enjoy delicious soup that is low in calories (120 cal/cup)!

This soup serves well with toasted whole grain bread or some crunchy homemade croutons for added texture. For a splurge (since you have gone light with this recipe), serve it with a grilled cheese sandwich made with whole grain bread and reduced-fat cheese!

Storage (Because You’ll Want Leftovers)

This soup stores well, which makes it practical for meal prep. After cooling completely, it keeps in the fridge for up to 4 days. The flavors develop and improve overnight.

For longer storage, it freezes well for up to 3 months. I portion it into individual containers so I can thaw single servings as needed. Just thaw overnight in the fridge, then gently reheat on the stovetop with a stir to restore the smooth texture. It reheats nicely and maintains its quality.

Light Cream of Broccoli Soup

Light Broccoli Bliss!

Forget the butter! Forget the heavy cream! Forget the cheese!