20 Minute Cauliflower Cheese Soup Recipe – A Quick Family Dinner

Cauliflower Cheese Soup

This easy cauliflower cheese soup recipe is such an easy dinner recipe, and it’s ready in just 20 minutes! It’s so rich and creamy, and all you need to make it is an onion, cauliflower, olive oil, broth, and cheese.

Does the craziness of the season interfere with your routines?

I’m not the most organized person to begin with, so adding shopping, holiday programs, Christmas events, decorating, and everything else has a history of throwing pretty much everything totally out of whack.

There are two areas where the holidays really turn my life upside down: the state of my house and our weeknight family dinners.

I have to say, at least the supper part of my challenges is getting a bit easier. I’ve added family favorites like this crescent roll dinner recipe, a quick crockpot chicken, a Kitchenaid pizza dough and a vegan lentil soup that I make all the time. Still, I’m always looking for more help!

At the same time, I’ll save my struggles with cleaning and organizing for another time – today is all about food.

Since, you already know this article is about Cauliflower Cheese Soup, and most of you know I have two kids, I’m guessing a lot of you are saying, “will your kids actually eat cauliflower soup?”

It’s true, cauliflower isn’t known as the most kid-friendly vegetable, but I think that mostly applies to cauliflower in its whole form.

I’m pretty sure my daughter considers raw, steamed or boiled cauliflower a modern, special form of torture. (Honestly, I don’t totally disagree. I would also prefer to avoid plain cauliflower).

But you’ve probably heard about the magic that happens to cauliflower when it’s prepared in different ways.

It has the ability to imitate mashed potatoes. It can be made into pizza crust and breadsticks. It’s been used as a chicken substitute when covered in buffalo sauce or Asian glazes. In short, cauliflower is a miracle vegetable!

So, this Cauliflower Cheese Soup recipe is one of those miraculous things that can be done to cauliflower to take it far, far away from its most boring, sometimes bitter origins, and turn it into a smooth, savory dinner that the whole family will love.

The soup on its own is perfectly tasty. It has a rich, velvety texture and a rich cheesy flavor. But I added some homemade croutons and my very favorite cilantro pesto.

If you love creamy vegetable soups, try this cream of spinach soup!

The combination brought the soup to a level of deliciousness that had me dipping my extra croutons into the soup pot after I was done eating!

Cauliflower Cheese Soup Recipe

My husband was so surprised when this Cauliflower Cheese Soup was done and on the table less than 30 minutes after I started cooking. We’re used to soups taking a few hours, especially since there’s almost always simmering involved.

But not this soup! You only need the time it takes to:

1. Cook chopped onion
2. Cook the cauliflower until tender
3. Blend it all together until smooth

Of course, you’ll need a few extra minutes to chop the veggies and shred the cheese. Even if you choose to make the cilantro pesto (that recipe can be found below the soup recipe) you’re still going to have everything done in under 25 minutes, I promise!

Cauliflower Cheese Soup ingredients

• 3 tablespoons butter or olive oil
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 1 full head of cauliflower
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella, provolone, muenster or other melting cheese
• Cilantro pesto (optional, recipe below)

Cauliflower Cheese Soup instructions

1. Heat the butter in a big sauce pan or soup pot over medium heat. Add the onions and cook for until translucent, then turn the heat down to medium-low and let them cook for another 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Chop the cauliflower into florets and throw away the biggest parts of the stems. Add the cauliflower, water and bouillon and turn the heat up to medium-high. Cook until the cauliflower can easily be pierced with a a fork, about 10 minutes.
3. Transfer the soup to a blender or food processor or use an immersion blender to puree until smooth. Add the cheese and give it another spin in the blender to help incorporate it.
4. Return the soup to the pot and heat it if the cheese still needs to melt. top with optional cilantro pesto and/or croutons to serve.

How to make Cilantro Pesto for Cauliflower Cheese Soup

If you love cilantro, I have a feeling you’re going to want to marry me after you make this cilantro pesto. It’s that good. It’s also crazy easy and takes just a few minutes to make.

Cilantro Pesto ingredients

• 1 bunch of cilantro from the grocery store (I’m sorry, I don’t actually know how much cilantro comes in a bundle, but it always seems to be about the same quantity. No worries, this recipe will work without an exact measurement)
• 1 garlic clove
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1-2 teaspoons lime juice
• 1/2 cup slivered almonds

Cilantro Pesto Instructions

1. Hold the bunch of cilantro by the leaves and chop off the exposed stems in one swoop. You can leave the rest of the stems attached to the leaves. Toss this in your food processor.
2. Add the garlic, olive oil, salt and lime juice and pulse until mostly smooth. Add the almonds and pulse a few more times.

Now you have everything you need to make the most delicious Cauliflower Cheese Soup dinner for your family…in 20 minutes!

With the craziness of the holidays sneaking up, you’ll be extra happy you found this recipe!