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.
Nutrition
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Originally published 1/26/15.
Reader Interactions
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Comments & Reviews
Ceelie says
Does this have cauliflower chunks in it? Just curious because I don’t remember the zupas one having any chunks. If so, is there a way to make it all smooth and dissolved?
Kate says
Yep! The Zupas soup is smooth. No, this soup doesn’t have chunks of cauliflower in it. =) You’ll blend the soup before serving (step 9), and it should be smooth and creamy at that point. If you have any other questions, plese let me know!
Janet Brown says
This soup is so delicious! I added asiago cheese instead of pepper jack and I’d serve this to anyone! So nice to have such and easy yet delicious recipe!
Kate says
Thank you! I bet the asiago was delicious in this soup. =) Glad you enjoyed it, and thank you for coming back to comment!
Donna says
Any idea what a serving size is for this recipe? It can’t be 1g as stated. It is, however, an amazing recipe!!
Kate says
Thank you! No, I’ve fixed that. A serving is about 1 1/4 cups. Hope that helps! =)
Rachel says
so easy and so yummy! I might even get my kids to eat it :) Thank you!
Kate says
Thank you! I’m so glad! Getting kids to eat can be a tough battle. =) Thanks for commenting!
Emily says
I made this for my family, everyone asked for seconds even my picky eaters. Thanks!
Kate says
I’m glad that your family liked it! Thank you for coming back to comment! =)
Yvonne says
My kids love it and so do I! I made it with a side of crispy vegetables (zucchini, carrots, garbanzo beans, onions, etc) and it was a perfect dinner. Thank You!
Kate says
Sounds like a delicious side! Glad you and your family like the soup! Thank you for taking the time to come back and comment.
Claudia Abbott says
Looks Delicious! How many carbs?
Kate says
Thanks!
Matthew says
Hi im from australia and have no idea what fat free half and half is thanks
Kate says
Half and half is a milk product that has a fat content that falls in between whole milk and cream. Fat-free half and half is the no-fat version. Half and half or fat-free half and half will both work in this recipe.
Scott says
This cauliflower soup recipe was a godsend when my son was sick and needed help recovering from the flu. Thanks for sharing this awesome recipe with us.
Kate says
What a nice comment! I hope your son is feeling better! Thanks for taking the time to come back and leave a comment.
Christina Stone says
This was really good, I hordes all the left overs to myself, and will make it again.
Kate says
Thanks! I take it as a big compliment that you are looking forward to the leftovers. =) Thanks for taking the time to come back and leave a comment!
Anna says
Thanks Kate. I was trying to find more ideas for cauliflower and saw this recipe in a GF recipe roundup.
Kate says
Yay!! Glad you saw it. =)
Lisa says
Yay! I can’t wait to try this out. Where on earth did you find those cute wooden bowls?
Kate says
I hope you enjoy it as much as we do! I got them at Crate and Barrel. Here is the link. I have them in a couple sizes, and I’ve been really happy with them. =)
Roberta says
Great soup! Made it and my whole family loved it! Had to make again the next day! I was wondering if you knew the calorie intake on this recipe. Thanks
Kate says
Thanks! I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed it!! I don’t, but this is a site that I’ve used before to calculate nutrition for recipes. Hope that helps! =)
Sarah Ruth Bailiff says
Making this tonight!! So glad I found a creamy cauliflower soup…. This will hit the spot!!
Kate says
Awesome! Hope you enjoy it as much as we do! =)
Lana says
Can you substitute potato for cauliflower?
Kate says
I’ve never tried this recipe with potato, so I can’t say how it would work out. Good luck! =)
Doug says
Thanks for the recipe! If I use fat free half and half I’m going to have to use full fat cheese though!
Kate says
You’re welcome! I did that as well. =)
Danielle says
This looks and sounds amazing. Pinned!
Kate says
Thank you!
I actually made your chicken, quinoa, and asparagus bake this weekend, and we all loved it. So, thank you for that, too! =)
Shelby @ Go Eat and Repeat says
This sounds great on a cold day! May need to make this soon
Kate says
Thank you! I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
Jen and Emily @ Layers of Happiness says
I love this soup from Zupas and I’m so glad I have found a lighten up version! Yum!! :)
Kate says
Thanks! Hope you enjoy it!
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
What a cozy and comforting bowl of soup this is! I have to try the recipe out.. it looks utterly delicious.
Kate says
Thank you so much!