Melt the butter in a large pot or dutch oven on the stove over medium heat.
4 tablespoons Butter
Once melted, add the chopped onions and garlic, cooking until the onion has softened and turns translucent.
1 Small Onion, 3 Garlic Cloves
Stir the flour along with the salt, pepper, mustard powder, and smoked paprika in until it’s turned golden brown, about 2-3 minutes.
Salt, Black Pepper, ¼ cup All-Purpose Flour, ½ teaspoon Smoked Paprika, ½ teaspoon Mustard Powder
Slowly pour in milk while stirring. Let it thicken, then pour in the broth.
1 ½ cups Whole Milk, 2 ½ cups Chicken Stock
Let simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thick.
Add the chopped broccoli and carrot to the soup and stir everything together.
4 cups Broccoli, 1 Large Carrot
Bring the soup to a simmer, then turn the heat to medium-low and cook uncovered for 15-20 minutes.
While this simmers, cook your chicken. Season the chicken breast with salt and pepper. I prefer to pan fry chicken in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, 8 minutes on one side until browned, then flip it over and cook for another 8-10 minutes, or until completely cooked through. Set aside while you go back to your soup.
2 Chicken Breasts
If you want, now you can puree the soup using an immersion blender! Or if you prefer a chunkier soup, leave it as is.
Stir in the cheddar cheese until smooth. I recommend adding the cheese a bit at a time, stirring until melted, then adding more cheese.
8 oz Sharp Cheddar Cheese
Chop up your chicken and stir it in (or stir in shredded rotisserie chicken). Let the cook for a few minutes so the chicken is warm. Season to taste, you may want to add more salt or pepper.
Serve in bowls and top with extra shredded cheese if you wish!
Notes
Blending: when blending, let the soup cool before placing in the blender (or it might explode). You can always use an immersion blender in the pot. Seasonings: adjust the herbs and spices according to what you like! Croutons: I love serving this soup with homemade brioche croutons. Chicken: I prefer pan-frying my chicken, but you can also bake it in the oven or use a shredded rotisserie chicken.Storage: Store the cooled soup in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave or in a saucepan on the stove until warm.