Bacon Broccoli Cheddar Soup with Beer

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Bacon Broccoli Cheddar Soup with Beer is filled with veggies, cheese, and bacon in a delicious creamy beer based soup.

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Beer Broccoli Cheddar Potato Soup

What more could a person want in a soup? Bacon-check. Beer-check. Tons of veggies-check. Cheese-check.

I'm not a beer drinker, but I like the flavor beer gives to this cheesy soup.

Truthfully, I had a bunch of straggler ingredients in my fridge when I developed this recipe for you, and the result was certainly worth sharing with you.

I love soups and enjoy them year-round. This one will certainly be one I make when I have all that extra broccoli from the garden this Spring.

Top each bowl of soup with crumbled bacon, sliced green onions, and shredded cheddar cheese.

But don't throw out that bacon grease. Save it for making Bacon Infused Banana Bread, Bacon Grease Chocolate Chip Cookies or Cornbread Sticks.

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Ingredients for Bacon Broccoli Cheddar Soup with Beer

Bacon, chopped -- brings smokey, richness to the soup and a chewy garnish. I even use the bacon drippings to make the rue.
Potatoes, diced -- brings body to the soup.
Carrots, diced -- bring color and sweetness.
Celery, thinly sliced -- adds a layer of flavor. I like using the leaf tops for more texture in soups.
Onion and garlic, diced -- brings flavor to the soup.
Chicken breast, diced -- protein in the soup helps make it a filling main course.
Chicken bouillon -- amps up the chicken flavor.
Beer -- use a bottle or can of your favorite beer or even one you don't like for a light hint of beer in the finished soup.
Tony Chachere's Seasoning -- lots of flavors in one little shaker.
Salt & black pepper -- elevates and highlights the soup flavors. Be careful adding too much salt as the chicken bouillon is salty.
Broccoli -- adding it at the end keeps it from getting over cooked.
Heavy Whipping Cream -- adds a creamy richness to the soup. You can use milk or half and half.
Butter, room temperature -- the base for the thickener.
Flour -- to create a thickener.
Cheddar cheese -- I used white but yellow works fine, too.
Cream cheese -- brings an extra layer of richness.
Toppings -- bacon, cheddar cheese, and green onion make the soup even better.

See recipe card for quantities.

ingredients needed to make Bacon Broccoli Cheddar Soup with Beer.

Instructions

In a dutch oven or other large pot, cook chopped bacon until grease has rendered and bacon is cooked through. Drain bacon and set aside for garnish. Save bacon grease for another use.
Add potatoes, carrots, celery, onions, garlic, chicken, and chicken bouillon to the Dutch oven.
Pour in beer, if more liquid is need add a little water -- just enough to barely cover.
Season with Tony Chachere's and pepper. Cook until vegetables are nearly tender and chicken is cooked through. About 10 to 15 minutes.
Add broccoli and cook just until tender.
In a small bowl make a paste of the flour and butter. Add to the soup and bring to a gentle simmer to thicken the soup.
Add heavy whipping cream. If more liquid is needed to cover, add water.
Add the cream cheese and shredded cheese. Reserve some for garnishing each bowl.
Adjust the seasonings.
Top each bowl with chopped bacon, shredded cheese, and chopped green onion.

Hint: Stir gently so you don't smash up your cooked veggies.

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Substitutions & Variations

Lower fat and calories - instead of heavy whipping cream, you can use half and half or milk
Leave out the beer - add more chicken bouillon and water in place of the beer
Vegetarian Cheddar Beer Soup - leave out the chicken for a vegetarian soup

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Storing Bacon Broccoli Cheddar Soup with Beer

Allow leftover soup to cool slightly, then transfer it into a shallow container and refrigerate it for 3 to 5 days.

Top tip

Cook this soup on low to medium-low after you have added the dairy to prevent curdling.

FAQ

Why did my beer cheese soup curdle?

After adding any dairy products (cream cheese, cheese and cream) keep the heat on medium-low or low. Too much heat curdles soups and sauces with milk products. It is still safe to eat.

What does adding beer to soup do?

Beer flavors the soup. If you like a strong beer flavor, use a slightly darker, stronger beer. Just know it will make your finished soup a darker color.

What kind of beer should you cook with?

Typically speaking, a mild lager or pilsner beer works for most recipes. Try an easily found American beer like Budweiser.

What if my soup is too thick?

Simple add a splash of additional water until you are happy with the consistency.

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

Pairing

These are my favorite dishes to serve with Bacon Broccoli Cheddar Soup with Beer:

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Food safety

Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
Wash hands after touching raw meat
Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
Never leave cooking food unattended

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.