Broccoli Cheddar Soup Toasts Recipe (35 Minutes, Meal Prep)

Name: These Broccoli Cheddar Soup Toasts Are So Cozy, No Spoons Required
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 1 large loaf French table bread, cut into 10 slices, 1/2 to 1-inch thick; 10 tablespoons olive oil; 3/4 plus 1/3 cup water, divided; 2 large broccoli crowns (1 3/4 pounds), cut into small florets and 1/4 to 1/2-inch chunks of stems (about 8 cups); 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste; 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste; 4 tablespoons unsalted butter; 1 (1-ounce) packet Lipton Onion Recipe Soup & Dip Mix; 10 deli slices cheddar cheese

These easy broccoli cheddar toasts deliver classic soup flavors in an easy, handheld form.
You can prep these toasts ahead, making them ideal for quick weekday lunches.
The broccoli-cheddar mixture uses both broccoli stems and florets, cutting food waste.

Broccoli cheddar soup is a classic: It’s thick, creamy, and simple to pull together on a weeknight. If you’re not in the mood for soup but still love the flavor combo, these broccoli cheddar toasts are equally easy, saving your spoons in favor of a handheld version.

I love these toasts for a super-quick meal, and occasionally make them ahead for weekday lunches since they store so well. They’re also a fantastic way to use up a lot of broccoli at once.

For the toasted bread base, I love using a French table bread here. This is a larger, rounder loaf, not a long baguette. They are often more round than loaf-shaped, so you may end up with some large slices that are better cut in half. If French bread isn’t ideal or available, you could swap in sourdough or an Italian loaf instead, with equally delightful results.

Regardless of the size or type of bread you use, the goal is to have enough slices to fill a half-sheet pan (the normal sized baking sheet in most households). Each piece will get toasted in rich olive oil, then topped with a deliciously cheesy broccoli cheddar soup-inspired mixture.

Broccoli cheddar toasts on a baking sheet a spatula lifting one — Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

Tips for Making Broccoli Cheddar Toasts

This may seem like a LOT of broccoli, but have faith. Much like spinach, when it’s cooked, broccoli reduces notably in volume. Also note that this dish uses both the broccoli florets and stems. Don’t worry about cutting the stems to a uniform size; if the chunks are between 1/4 and 1/2-inch, they’ll work.
If you’re using a different bread, you will want to adjust the cooking time and the amount of olive oil. More absorbent or porous breads will use up to 13 tablespoons of oil, whereas denser-crumb breads will use less. For toasting, most breads will take 8 to 12 minutes on the first side, and 4 to 6 minutes more after flipping.
These toasts are (of course) less creamy than the soup inspiring them. However, if you want a bit more creaminess, when you stir in the soup packet at the end, replace the 1/3 cup of water with heavy cream.
Like things extra cheesy? Grab a second pack of cheese, double up your layers, and add one minute to the broiling process at the end.
If you’re slicing these toasts before serving, wait a few minutes for the cheese to set up again and slice with a serrated knife for a lovely cross-section.

Broccoli cheddar toasts arranged on a ceramic plate — Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

More Easy Toasts for Your Lunch Rotation

Broccoli Cheddar Soup Toasts

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Total Time 35 mins

Servings 5 to 10 servings

Yield 10 toasts

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1 large loaf French table bread, cut into 10 slices, 1/2 to 1-inch thick
10 tablespoons olive oil
3/4 plus 1/3 cup water, divided
2 large broccoli crowns (1 3/4 pounds), cut into small florets and 1/4 to 1/2-inch chunks of stems (about 8 cups)
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 (1-ounce) packet Lipton Onion Recipe Soup & Dip Mix
10 deli slices cheddar cheese

Preheat the oven to 400°F.

Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil.
Toast the bread:

Brush 1 tablespoon of the olive oil evenly and generously onto each slice of bread, covering both sides. Lay the slices in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.

Bake the bread until golden brown on one side, 10 to 12 minutes. Flip the slices and continue to bake until golden brown on the second side, 4 to 6 minutes. The bread should be crispy and toasted but not overly browned. Remove from the oven and leave the toasts on the pan to cool. (Don't turn off the oven.)
Meanwhile, make the topping:

While the bread toasts, heat 3/4 cup water in a large (6-quart) saucepan or Dutch Oven over high heat. Add the broccoli, pepper, and salt and cook, stirring frequently, until the broccoli is tender and reduced in volume and the water is mostly evaporated, about 8 minutes. There should be about a teaspoon of water left in the bottom of the pot.

Add the butter and stir until melted, about 1 minute. Add the soup packet and the remaining 1/3 cup water, stirring continuously until the dry ingredients are incorporated and the mixture sticks together, about 1 minute. Remove the pot from the heat. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper as needed.
Top the toasts:

Portion the broccoli mixture evenly over each piece of toast, about 1/3 cup per slice. Top each toast with a slice of cheddar, breaking it into pieces as needed to cover as much of the topping as possible.
Broil and serve:

Set the oven to broil. Return the toasts on the baking sheet to the oven and broil until the cheese is melty, browned and bubbling, 3 to 5 minutes. Serve immediately.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, warm in an oven set to 350°F for 10 to 15 minutes. Toasts can be frozen for up to 1 month.

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Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
374	Calories
29g	Fat
20g	Carbs
11g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 5 to 10
Amount per serving
Calories	374
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 29g	37%
Saturated Fat 10g	51%
Cholesterol 40mg	13%
Sodium 748mg	33%
Total Carbohydrate 20g	7%
Dietary Fiber 3g	10%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 11g
Vitamin C 74mg	371%
Calcium 282mg	22%
Iron 2mg	10%
Potassium 345mg	7%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.