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This hearty Loaded Cauliflower Soup is a creamy favorite of ours that just so happens to be low-carb AND keto-friendly to boot. Plus, it takes less than 30 minutes to whip up, which makes it an easy go-to for us during chilly weather weeknights!
By now you know we have somewhat of a love affair with anything “loaded”. You can take a basic recipe and elevate it to gourmet by simply topping it with a few go-to “loaded” additions. For us, this means ALL the bacon, ALL the cheese, sour cream, and chopped green onions! If you need proof of our obsession with loaded meals, look no further than our Instant Pot Loaded Potato Soup, Loaded Breakfast Fries, and my personal favorite, these Loaded Smashed Potatoes.
Not only is this soup packed with nutrients (I mean, cauliflower is the main ingredient!), but it’s also packed with a ton of flavor in the form of bacon, cheese, green onions, and sour cream, so while eating a warm bowl of this will most definitely give you a major nutritional boost, you’ll also feel super comforted and satisfied!
Loaded Cauliflower Soup
The secret to making this hidden-veggie soup absolutely delicious is to build flavor along the way. We’ll start with simmering the cauliflower florets in chicken broth (more flavorful than water), blend them to a creamy consistency, then add in ALL OF THE FLAVORFUL GOODS! If you’re a fan of loaded potato soup but looking to keep things low-carb, this soup is for you – truly, you won’t miss the potatoes at all…it’s *that* good.
Loaded Cauliflower Soup Ingredients
A handful of ingredients make up this delicious soup. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Cauliflower – to start, you’ll need 2 medium heads of cauliflower (feel free to buy pre-chopped florets to save time!), and…
- Chicken Broth – …4 cups of chicken broth. Do note that using 4 cups of chicken broth makes for a thick, mash-like texture (as pictured), so if you’re looking for a thinner soup, go ahead and add another cup or 2 of broth!
- Sour Cream – 1 cup of sour cream gives a real tanginess to the soup and also ensures an uber creamy texture. Feel free to substitute full-fat coconut milk if you’re dairy-free.
- Lemon Juice – just 1 tablespoon of lemon juice (the juice from about 1/2 a lemon) brightens this soup up just a tinge, while…
- Spices – a 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder, a 1/2 teaspoon of onion powder, and a 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt add some flavor!
- Bacon – 6 strips of cooked and crumbled bacon,…
- Cheddar Cheese – …1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese (omit for dairy-free), and…
- Green Onions – …as many sliced green onions as you’d like really take this soup over the top!
How to Make Loaded Cauliflower Soup Recipe
This recipe is super easy, making it absolutely ideal for busy weeknights! Here’s how you’ll pull it all together:
- Chop the Cauliflower into Florets + Boil – to start, cut the cauliflower heads into florets, removing the tough inner core. Then, place the cauliflower florets and 3 cups of the broth in a large pot with a matching lid over medium-high heat, bring to a boil, then place the lid on the pot and reduce the heat to low to cook for 15 minutes, until the cauliflower is tender.
- Blend the Cooked Cauliflower – remove the cooked and softened cauliflower from the pot and add it to a high powered blender, like a Vitamix, and blend for 1-2 minutes until smooth.
- Add the Spices, Sour Cream, and Lemon Juice – add the garlic powder, onion powder, salt, sour cream, and lemon juice to the blender, and blend again on high for an additional 30 seconds until fully combined. Then, pour in additional broth to your desired consistency.
- Garnish + Serve – pour the soup into bowls and top each with bacon, cheese, and green onions. Enjoy!
How to Get Fluffy Cauliflower Mash?
To get the fluffiest blended cauliflower, be sure to get rid of the tough inner core of the cauliflower head before boiling. Using a high-powered blender also makes a huge difference when making this soup, as it ensures a smooth, creamy texture (as opposed to a grainy, lumpy texture).
What goes well with cauliflower?
This loaded soup is definitely a meal all on its own, but if you’d like to add a side, a really simple salad (like this Lemon Sea Salt Arugula Salad) would be great here.
Tell me, are you Team Cauliflower Everything? If you’ve never tried this little cruciferous hero, we hope that our Loaded Cauliflower Soup is the perfect introduction to this power packed veggie!
Video
Ingredients
- 2 medium heads cauliflower
- 4 cups chicken broth*
- 1 cup sour cream substitute full-fat coconut milk for dairy-free/Whole 30
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice about 1/2 lemon
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 6 slices cooked and crumbled bacon for garnish
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese for garnish (omit for dairy-free/Whole 30)
- Sliced green onions for garnish
Instructions
Stovetop
- Cut the cauliflower heads into florets, removing the tough inner core. Place the cauliflower florets and 3 cups of the broth in a large pot with matching lid over medium high heat. Bring to a boil, then place the lid on the pot and reduce the heat to low to cook for 15 minutes, until the cauliflower is tender.
- Remove the cauliflower from the pot and add to a high powered blender, like a Vitamix, and blend for 1-2 minutes until smooth.
- Add the garlic powder, onion powder, salt, sour cream, and lemon juice, then blend again on high for an additional 30 seconds until fully combined. Pour in additional broth to your desired consistency.
- Pour the soup into bowls and top each with bacon, cheese, and green onions. Enjoy!
Instant Pot
- Add the cauliflower florets and broth to the Instant Pot, then place the lid on the pot, ensure it is sealed, and set to cook for 5 minutes.
- Remove the cauliflower from the pot and add to a high powered blender, like a Vitamix, and blend for 1-2 minutes until smooth.
- Add the garlic powder, onion powder, salt, sour cream, and lemon juice, then blend again on high for an additional 30 seconds until fully combined. Pour in additional broth to your desired consistency.
- Pour the soup into bowls and top each with bacon, cheese, and green onions. Enjoy!
Carrie Boyd says
I am so incredibly excited to try this soup! I’ve been looking for a recipe that could replace my potato soup obsession, even just occasionally. 🙂 I have a feeling this one will be the winner.
Lauren Perry says
Any chance there’s a substitute you could recommend for the sour cream? None of my kids can do dairy and I’d love to see if I can get them to eat some!
Amber Goulden says
Yes, you can use full-fat coconut milk!
Maria Mueller says
It’s a perfect soup day here so I will be making this tonight! So excited!
Amber Goulden says
Hope you enjoy it Maria!
Katie says
I’ve been looking for soup that I could eat for breakfast on chilly mornings that wouldn’t be totally weird (#teamsavorybreakfast) and this perfectly fit the bill! I cooked the cauliflower and the broth in my instant pot for 10 min on the soup function, and then blended everything but the toppings with an immersion blender. This is SO yummy and easy!! The sour cream adds a really nice texture and flavor. I will definitely be repeating this!
Amber Goulden says
So glad you enjoyed it Katie! We will definitely have to try it in the Instant Pot too!
McKenzie says
Oh man. Made this recipe recently and it is the BOMB! It’s so creamy and good! I loved this recipe and more importantly, my hubby did too! I may even add some ground sausage on top if I make it in the future. I used the coconut milk, not sour cream, and you can’t really taste the coconut flavor. Perfect fall meal!
Amber Goulden says
So glad you liked it McKenzie, and LOVE the idea of sausage on top!
Cara says
Just made this soup for dinner and we loved it! Are you able to freeze it?
Amber Goulden says
Absolutely! It will keep for up to 5 months in the freezer.
Mae says
This soup is delicious!!! It was cheap, easy to make, and my husband and I had it for lunch all week. So I bought the book. Can’t wait to try it.
Pam T Heil says
I would like to use frozen cauliflower, how many bags or ounces should I sub in? Really looking forward to making this as it is cold outside and a nice comforting hot soup sounds great.
Brandi Schilhab says
2 16-ounce bags should do the trick! Enjoy!
Natalie says
Wonderful and so easy! My whole family enjoyed it!
Melissa Guevara says
Love to hear that! Thank you for taking the time to share with us! ~Melissa
jules says
are y’all no longer posting the nutrition facts?
Melissa Guevara says
Hi Jules, our highest viewed posts and all of our new articles will have the nutrition information. We’re sorry for any inconvenience it may cause that not all of our recipes contain the information. Nutrifox is a great resource to enter in the ingredients from recipes to get the nutritional information, and they offer a free trial. -Team F&F