Better than Zupas Creamy Cauliflower Soup

One bite of Zupas Wisconsin Cauliflower soup, and you’ll know you need more! After years of making it at home, I’ve fine tuned the recipe and now declare it is BETTER than Zupas Wisconsin Cauliflower Cheddar Soup! Please try this at home, folks 😉

Oh yes, it’s the time of year for all things soup. You are going to love this tried and true creamy cauliflower cheddar soup. It’s the perfect blend of creamy, spicy, and comfort food all at the same time. 

What is so amazing about this Wisconsin cauliflower cheddar soup?

Besides being a creamy bowl of cheesy goodness, it’s a tasty way to get some more veggies into your life. It’s really hard to say “no” to the kids who BEG for more vegetables, right? And my kids simply love this silky, creamy soup. 

 

The last time I made it, I heard, “Mom.  This is better than Zupas Cauliflower Soup!”.  And just like that, the title for this post was born – and I had officially picked a favorite child. 😉

So, if you are craving that creamy, cheesy Zupas copycat cauliflower soup, I have the perfect recipe for you. It’s been tweaked a bit to create the perfect consistency and calories for my happy place, and I know you are going to love it, too.

Zupas Cauliflower Soup Ingredients (my copycat version)

• Butter
• Onion
• Garlic
• Flour
• Salt
• Water
• Milk
• Chicken Broth
• Cauliflower
• Pepperjack cheese
• Cheddar cheese
• Dijon mustard
• Extra salt and pepper to taste

Making Your Wisconsin Cauliflower Cheddar Soup:

1. Melt the butter in a large pot. 
2. Add onions and garlic, and saute until tender.
3. Mix in the flour and scrape up the bits on the bottom to create your roux. 
4. Pour in the broth and water, and stir.
5. Stir in chopped cauliflower, cover and simmer. 
6. Remove from heat, add in milk and stir. 
7. Pour the contents into a blender and blend until smooth.
8. Return to the pot, and stir in the cheese and mustard, mixing until creamy smooth.
9. Serve with warm, crusty bread.  

And there you have it, the best Zupas Cafe copycat cauliflower soup ever. 

It is slide-down-your-throat, and warm-your-insides good and the perfect comfort recipe for a chilly evening.

Garnish it all pretty like for serving, or simply top with a little more cheese. If you are like me, you’ll gladly skip on the crushed up crackers because that might possibly ruin the effect.

You can find the printable recipe below, but I am so accustomed to creating step by step DIY tutorials, I have to do some of that as well. Be sure to read my tips for success below.

TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL CREAMY CAULIFLOWER SOUP

1 – Melt your butter (or oil if you choose) in a large stovetop pot. Add the onions and garlic and saute until they begin to brown. You can also put the lid on and let them sweat until more tender.

2 – Lower the heat and add the flour and stir. I like to scrape the bottom of the pan to release the flavor of the crispy onions into the soup.

3 – Add the water, broth and salt. Hold off on the milk, as it is easier to prevent burning the bottom of the pan and scorching the liquid without the milk.

Then you’ll add your chopped cauliflower florets and bring the mixture to a simmer. It helps to cover the pot.

Simmer until the cauliflower is fork tender, which should take about 15 minutes.

4 – Now you can remove the pot from the heat and add the milk.

5 – Transfer the contents into a blender, or if you have a REALLY good immersion blender, you may be able to get it creamy enough. I find the blender to be fool proof. I also add the pepper jack cheese at this point, because my kids don’t like to see the pepper flakes in their soup.

“Ewe. What’s that?!” I know – so lame.

I blend about half of the soup at a time, to prevent any mishaps with the blender.

6 – Put it all back in the pot and add the cheese and mustard and some pepper. Stir until it is all melted in and silky smooth.

That’s it! The best soup you will ever have . . . or is that going to far?

You might know if I am sharing a recipe around my home and DIY blog, then I am pretty passionate about it. You might enjoy seeing Instant Pot recipes over on my sister Marci’s side of TIDBITS.

While I happily make this on the stovetop, I am sure she could find a way to convert it to a Instant Pot recipe. Game on Marci!

For more delectable Fall soup recipes, be sure to hop around to my friends blogs to see what comfort food they cooked up – linked below.

Catch more of this Holiday series called “Tastes of the Season” in the posts I’ve shared previously, all with a different theme:

• Roasted Grapes on Baguette
• Healthy Pumpkin Smoothie Bowl
• Flavor Bomb Applesauce

Let me know which soup is calling your name!

Easy Slow Cooker White Bean and Ham Soup by Ella Claire & Co. | Creamy Cauliflower Soup by Tidbits | Butternut Squash Minestrone by Nest of Posies | Light Creamy Mushroom Soup by The Chronicles of Home | Corn Chowder by On Sutton Place

Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup by Live Laugh Rowe | Apple and Celeriac Soup by Inspired by Charm | Chicken Gnocchi Soup by Tidy Mom | Chicken and Dumplings by House 214 | French Onion Soup Bowls by Shabbyfufu

Sausage Tortellini Soup by My 100 Year Old Home | White Chicken Chili by Rooms For Rent | Roasted Pumpkin & Garlic Soup by Home Made Lovely | Healthy Halibut Chowder by Town and Country Living | Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup- Japanese Udon by Happy Happy Nester

Creamy Low-Carb Roasted Cauliflower Soup by Summer Adams | Dairy Free Cream of Broccoli Soup by Zevy Joy | Butternut Squash and Pear Soup by Nick + Alicia | Harvest Lentil Soup by French Country Cottage | Creamy Asparagus Soup with Bacon and Lime Creme Fraiche by My Sweet Savannah