Wisconsin Cauliflower Soup is a Zupas copycat recipe. This naturally gluten free cauliflower soup is full of cheesy, creamy goodness!
There’s a local restaurant chain called Zupas that serves soup, salads, and sandwiches. One of my favorites things there is their Wisconsin Cauliflower Soup.
As good as that cheesy, creamy soup is, I wanted to create a lighter version. My version of this Wisconsin Cauliflower Soup keeps all of that creamy, cheesy goodness by using a couple of tricks.
Plus, this soup is really quick and easy to make. So, you can make a bowl of rich, delicious soup in less than 30 minutes!
How to make cauliflower soup
Step 1: Melt the butter in a large skillet. Add the onion and cook until softened.
Step 2: Stir in the garlic.
Step 3: Add the chicken broth.
Step 4: Stir in the cauliflower florets. Cover the pan and cook until fork-tender.
Step 5: Carefully add the soup mixture to a blender. Cover and pulse until smooth and well-blended.
Step 6: Pour in the half-and-half, and blend in. Add the shredded cheese and stir in to combine.
Step 7: Garnish with ground black pepper and additional shredded cheese, if desired.
Recipe Tips!
- Cauliflower: Feel free to use frozen steamable cauliflower in place of the fresh cauliflower florets. I just microwave the cauliflower in the steamer package according to the directions and then stir into the broth. There’s no need to further steam the cauliflower, so just continue with the recipe as written.
- Half-and-half: I use half-and-half to give it richness and creaminess without all of the fat of cream. I also used just enough cheese to give it some good flavor. I’ve received some negative feedback about the use of fat-free half-and-half in recipes because of some of the ingredients in it. Please always use your best judgment when making a recipe and feel free to use full-fat half-and-half, fat-free half-and-half or even cream depending on your dietary needs.
- Cheese: The pepper jack adds a bit of flavor to the soup. If you prefer, use a different type of cheese, such as parmesan or asiago instead.
- Blending: Be sure to blend the soup well if you like it really creamy.
Storage
Store any leftover Wisconsin cauliflower soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The soup should keep for about 3 days when properly stored in the fridge.
More soup recipes!
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Wisconsin Cauliflower Soup
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 medium sweet white or yellow onion finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 14.5 ounce reduced-sodium chicken broth
- 2 pounds cauliflower florets1
- 1 cup half-and-half2
- 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
Instructions
- In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat.
- Add onion, and cook until soft, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add garlic, and cook, stirring frequently, for about 30 seconds.
- Pour in chicken broth.
- Add cauliflower, and cover skillet (I just use a piece of foil).
- Let the cauliflower steam until fork-tender, about 10 minutes.
- Carefully add cauliflower and broth mixture to a blender.
- Add in fat-free half-and-half and dry mustard.
- Blend until smooth.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Stir in shredded cheese, and let melt.
- Garnish with a pinch of shredded cheddar or Parmesan cheese, if desired.
Notes
- Broth: You can use vegetable broth if you would like to make the soup vegetarian.
- Cauliflower: Feel free to use frozen steamable cauliflower in place of the fresh cauliflower florets. I just microwave the cauliflower in the steamer package according to the directions and then stir into the broth. There’s no need to further steam the cauliflower, so just continue with the recipe as written.
- Half-and-half: I use half-and-half to give it richness and creaminess without all of the fat of cream. I also used just enough cheese to give it some good flavor. I’ve received some negative feedback about the use of fat-free half-and-half in recipes because of some of the ingredients in it. Please always use your best judgment when making a recipe and feel free to use full-fat half-and-half, fat-free half-and-half or even cream depending on your dietary needs.
- Cheese: The pepper jack adds a bit of flavor to the soup. If you prefer, use a different type of cheese, such as parmesan or asiago instead.
- Blending: Be sure to blend the soup well if you like it really creamy.
- Nutrition values are estimates.Â
Nutrition
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Originally published 1/26/15.
Reader Interactions
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Comments & Reviews
Abg says
Getting mixed message on the half and half
Can you use fat free or is that a no-no
Kate says
You can. Some people have had issues with the fat-free version because of its ingredients, but it will work in this recipe.
Christine says
So yummy, so easy and healthy too! I used two bags of the micro steamer veg, since that is the frozen I found. I will also make with the fresh crown. I will make this soup often! Thank you, Kate.
Kate says
Thank you so much!! =)
Cynthia D says
This is my all-time FAVORITE SOUP at Cafe Zupas!! WOW!! I am so happy to have found your recipe!! I can barely wait to try it! It sounds super-easy, and just as TASTY as their version!! THANKS!
Kate says
Thank you! I hope you enjoy it as much as we do. =)
Maribel says
Hi! I was wondering what the serving size is?
Kate says
Hi! A serving is about 1 cup.
Tammy says
This soup is amazing good. Nice and smooth with just a little kick with pepper jack cheese. Well make it again! I use my hand blender with this. I also sprinkled crumbled bacon on it.
Kate says
Thank you! I just made a batch of this soup, and I think I’ll have to try it with the crumbled bacon because that sounds delicous. =)
Gillian Lucas says
I tried this tonight and it was amazing. I didn’t put my cauliflower and chicken stock in the blender, though. I just used an old-fashioned masher in the pot. I like a few little chunks. It is a thinner type of soup. If you want it thicker, I would use flour/blond roux before adding the cauliflower.
Kate says
Thank you! And thanks for your notes about using a potato masher. I’m glad to hear that that worked well for you. =)
Teresa says
This soup is soooooo good! I like Zupas as well but your version is delicious.
Kate says
Thank you!