America's Test Kitchen LogoCook's Country LogoCook's Illustrated LogoAmerica's Test Kitchen LogoCook's Country LogoCook's Illustrated Logo

Cheddar Soup

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on October 13, 2011

Time

40 minutes

Yield

Serves 4 to 6 (Makes 7 cups)

Cheddar Soup

Ingredients

3 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 medium onion, minced (about 1 cup)1 medium carrot, minced (about ⅓ cup)1 small rib celery, minced (about ¼ cup)1 medium clove garlic, minced2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour 2 ½ cups low-sodium chicken broth 2 ½ cups half-and-half 1 bay leaf Pinch cayenne pepper 3 tablespoons dry sherry 12 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (about 3 cups)1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme leaves

Before You Begin

This soup isn’t the best candidate for making in advance. Reheat the soup in a saucepan over low heat, whisking gently to prevent the soup from separating. Do not bring above a bare simmer.

Instructions

  1. Heat butter in large heavy-bottomed Dutch oven over medium heat until foaming; add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 4 minutes. Add carrot, celery, and garlic; cook until garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute. Add flour and cook, stirring to coat vegetables, until mixture begins to brown on bottom of pot, about 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in chicken broth and half-and-half and add bay leaf. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to boil; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until vegetables soften, about 10 minutes.
  2. Off heat, add cayenne and sherry; cool soup for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in cheese and thyme; season with salt and pepper and serve immediately.
Cheddar Soup

Cheddar Soup

Headshot of America's Test Kitchen
By America's Test Kitchen
Save

Time

40 minutes

Yield

Serves 4 to 6 (Makes 7 cups)

Ingredients

3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 medium onion, minced (about 1 cup)
1 medium carrot, minced (about ⅓ cup)
1 small rib celery, minced (about ¼ cup)
1 medium clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
2 ½ cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 ½ cups half-and-half
1 bay leaf
Pinch cayenne pepper
3 tablespoons dry sherry
12 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (about 3 cups)
1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme leaves

Ingredients

3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 medium onion, minced (about 1 cup)
1 medium carrot, minced (about ⅓ cup)
1 small rib celery, minced (about ¼ cup)
1 medium clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
2 ½ cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 ½ cups half-and-half
1 bay leaf
Pinch cayenne pepper
3 tablespoons dry sherry
12 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (about 3 cups)
1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme leaves

Ingredients

3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 medium onion, minced (about 1 cup)
1 medium carrot, minced (about ⅓ cup)
1 small rib celery, minced (about ¼ cup)
1 medium clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
2 ½ cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 ½ cups half-and-half
1 bay leaf
Pinch cayenne pepper
3 tablespoons dry sherry
12 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (about 3 cups)
1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme leaves

Why This Recipe Works

For cheddar soup recipe with deep flavor and velvety texture, we sautéed carrots, celery, and onion to create a flavor base. We used a roux (a mix of flour and butter) to thicken the soup and keep it from separating, and combined chicken stock and half-and-half (instead of milk) for richness that wasn’t over the top. Finally, we added plenty of sharp cheddar cheese for a soup that was undeniable cheesy.

Before You Begin

This soup isn’t the best candidate for making in advance. Reheat the soup in a saucepan over low heat, whisking gently to prevent the soup from separating. Do not bring above a bare simmer.

Instructions

  1. Heat butter in large heavy-bottomed Dutch oven over medium heat until foaming; add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 4 minutes. Add carrot, celery, and garlic; cook until garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute. Add flour and cook, stirring to coat vegetables, until mixture begins to brown on bottom of pot, about 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in chicken broth and half-and-half and add bay leaf. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to boil; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until vegetables soften, about 10 minutes.
  2. Off heat, add cayenne and sherry; cool soup for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in cheese and thyme; season with salt and pepper and serve immediately.

Gift This Recipe

Enjoyed this dish? Let others know by sharing it as a gift recipe.

This is a members' feature.