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October 18, 2022

Roasted Garlic Cheddar Cauliflower Soup

Creamy roasted cauliflower soup packed with flavor from a whole head of roasted garlic. There’s no cream or flour involved in this easy cauliflower soup recipe, just blended cauliflower and savory melted cheddar cheese! Serve with croutons or toasted sourdough for the most comforting meal.

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dipping bread into roasted cauliflower soup

Today I’m bringing you a truly luscious soup to warm your soul. Soup season might just be my favorite season. You can enjoy an herb-filled chicken soup one day (hint: it’s #1 on the internet), a hearty stew the next, and a unique, ultra-creamy one like this roasted cauliflower soup after that.

I was inspired to make this super flavorful roasted garlic cauliflower soup after about my 100th time making my cheddar cauliflower broccoli soup, which is a true AK reader favorite. Why not simplify it, add a FULL head of delicious roasted garlic, and of course, keep that silky cheddar cheese?

The result is UNREAL. Perfectly thick and creamy with wonderful savory flavor from both roasted garlic and cauliflower, and salty, cheesy goodness from the cheddar. The key to the thickness? We’re skipping the heavy cream and even the flour and instead blending up all of those veggies!

Serve it up with your fav croutons, crackers, or crusty sourdough bread. Any way you do it, it’s guaranteed to be incredible.

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roasted cauliflower soup in three bowls

Roasted cauliflower soup lightened up to perfection

You’re going to LOVE the indulgent flavor and texture of this cauliflower soup. Many traditional cauliflower soup recipes are filled with heavy cream and even flour to help thicken them up, but we’re simply blending up our roasted veggies and stirring in some cheese to get the same thickness! It’s SO easy and completely veggie-forward.

roasted cauliflower and garlic on a sheet pan

Ingredients in this roasted cauliflower soup

This delicious, easy roasted cauliflower soup is made with super simple ingredients and the result is a true hug-in-a-bowl filled with flavor. Here’s what you’ll need to make it:

  • Veggies: you’ll need cauliflower, a full head of garlic, and onion in this soup, plus some olive oil for cooking them.
  • Broth: we’re using vegetable broth to keep the recipe veggie-friendly, but feel free to use chicken broth if you’d like.
  • Cheese: get that savory, indulgent flavor from sharp cheddar cheese!
  • Seasonings: don’t forget plenty of salt and pepper throughout the recipe.
  • For serving: I like to top my bowl with sliced green onion, a little extra shredded cheddar, and croutons or toasted sourdough bread. YUM. You could also top with fresh parsley, chives, or fresh thyme if you’d like!

top-down view of unblended roasted garlic cauliflower soup in a blender

Customize your cauliflower soup

Because the ingredients are so simple, this beautiful roasted garlic cauliflower soup is easy to customize with your fav add-ins! Here’s what I can recommend:

  • Boost the veggies: feel free to cook down some carrots and/or celery with the onion, or even stir in some spinach or kale while simmering the soup. You could also try my Lightened Up Cheddar Cauliflower Broccoli Soup.
  • Get extra savory: if you’re not vegetarian I think some cooked, chopped bacon would be amazing on top of the soup.
  • Add a kick of heat: it may sound odd, but this soup is actually delicious with a little hot sauce or red pepper flakes on top of your bowl!

Can I make it vegan?

Sure! Simply stir in your favorite shredded dairy free cheddar cheese to keep it both vegan and dairy free.

easy roasted cauliflower soup in a blender

Looking for a richer or thicker soup?

  • For a richer soup: feel free to sub 1 cup of milk for 1 cup of broth for a little extra creaminess. You could also make the soup richer by adding 1/2 cup of half-and-half or heavy cream in place of 1/2 cup of the broth.
  • For a thicker soup: start with 3 cups of broth instead of 4.

creamy roasted cauliflower soup in bowls next to bread

How to roast a whole head of garlic

The roasted garlic! It’s the key to the wonderful flavor in this soup. I know a whole head of garlic sounds like a lot, but when roasted it created a lovely, deep, sweet and savory flavor (you can even spread it on toast!) To roast it:

  1. Peel off the outer papery layers of the garlic head, leaving the skins on the individual cloves.
  2. Cut 1/4 inch off the top of the cloves so that you can see the individual cloves.
  3. Place the head in some tinfoil, drizzle the top with olive oil, and wrap it loosely in the foil.
  4. Then roast it up in your oven right along with the cauliflower!

dipping bread into a bowl of cauliflower soup

Creamy roasted cauliflower soup in 5 steps

  1. Roast your veggies. Add your cauliflower florets to a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Toss with olive oil, salt & pepper, and add the prepared garlic head to the baking sheet, then roast it all up at 400 degrees F until the cauliflower is nice and tender.
  2. Cook the onion. In a large pot, cook down the diced onion in olive oil.
  3. Blend the soup. Add the cooked onion to a blender with the roasted cauliflower, and squeeze the garlic cloves in as well. Add the broth, salt and black pepper and blend it until it’s nice and smooth. Then add it back to your pot over medium heat. You could also use an immersion blender to blend the soup right in your pot.
  4. Simmer & cheese it up. Bring the soup to a light simmer, then stir in the cheese and simmer for 10-15 minutes.
  5. Garnish & serve. Pour the soup into bowls and garnish with green onion & extra cheddar if you’d like! Enjoy as is or serve with croutons or your fav crusty bread.

spooning up roasted cauliflower soup from a bowl

Storing & freezing tips

  • To store: let the roasted cauliflower soup cool completely and place any leftovers in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Simply reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop until heated through.
  • To freeze: this soup should freeze well! Allow it to cool completely and place it in freezer safe containers in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. To reheat, thaw the soup completely before reheating it in the microwave or on the stovetop.

More soup recipes you’ll love

Get all of my soup recipes here!

I hope you love this roasted cauliflower soup recipe! If you make it be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know how you liked it. Enjoy, xo!

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Roasted Garlic Cheddar Cauliflower Soup

4.97 from 32 votes
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dipping bread into roasted cauliflower soup
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Serves4 servings
Creamy roasted cauliflower soup packed with flavor from a whole head of roasted garlic. There's no cream involved in this easy cauliflower soup recipe, just blended cauliflower and savory melted cheddar cheese! Serve with croutons or toasted sourdough for the most comforting meal.

Ingredients

  • 1 large head cauliflower, cut into florets (about 4-5 cups cauliflower florets)
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • Freshly ground salt and pepper
  • 1 head garlic
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 4 cups vegetable broth (or sub chicken broth if not vegetarian)*
  • ½ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 heaping cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • To garnish:
  • Sliced green onion & extra cheddar on top
  • Croutons or toasted sourdough bread/bread of choice for dipping/serving

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Cook the veggies: Add cauliflower florets to the pan, drizzle with 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper; toss to combine. For the garlic: peel and discard the outer papery layers of the whole garlic head. Leave the skins intact of the individual cloves. Using a sharp knife, cut ¼ inch off from the top of the cloves so that the individual cloves of garlic are exposed. Place garlic in a medium piece of foil and drizzle the top of the garlic with olive oil then loosely wrap in the foil and place on the pan with the cauliflower. Roast cauliflower and garlic for 30-35 minutes, flipping halfway through, until cauliflower is nice and golden and caramelized.
  • Cook the onion: While the cauliflower is cooking, add 1 tablespoon olive oil to a pot and place over medium heat. Once oil is hot, add in diced onion and saute for 5-8 minutes until onion is translucent.
  • Blend the soup: In a large blender add the onion, roasted cauliflower, roasted garlic, broth, salt and pepper. Blend until smooth, about 1 minute, then add back to the pot and place over medium heat. Tip for the garlic: allow it to cool enough to touch then simply squeeze out the roasted garlic from the skin.
  • Finish it off: Bring soup to a light simmer, then stir in the cheddar cheese. Simmer for 10-15 minutes, taste and adjust seasonings as necessary. Garnish with green onion and extra grated sharp cheddar cheese. Serve with crusty toasted sourdough or your favorite bread of choice. Serves 4.

Recipe Notes

If you want a creamier soup, feel free to sub 1 cup milk for 1 cup broth. Alternatively, if you want a bit of a richer soup, feel free to add ½ cup half and half or heavy cream in place of ½ cup of the broth.
If you prefer a thicker soup, start with 3 cups of broth.
See the full post for tips, tricks and ways to customize this soup!

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 268calCarbohydrates: 13.2gProtein: 9.8gFat: 20.6gSaturated Fat: 7gFiber: 2.8gSugar: 3.5g

Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by: Eat Love Eats

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dipping bread into roasted cauliflower soup

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