Cauliflower Chowder
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A creamy, low carb, hearty and cozy soup, loaded with so many good-for-you veggies. Perfect for those chilly nights!
Featured Comment
I’ve been making this recipe since it was first published – I can’t believe it’s been 10 years! I also can’t believe that I haven’t reviewed it until now. Follow the recipe and it’s perfect. No one is ever disappointed, there are never leftovers, and I can feel moderately good about getting more vegetables
why i love cauliflower chowder
- Perfect for soup season, ski season, post-holiday season, and blustery winter season
- Oh-so-velvety with all the sneaked in vegetables that even the pickiest of toddlers will love
- Packed with cauliflower, a great source of antioxidants that’s high in fiber and low in calories
tips and tricks for success
- Grab pre-cut cauliflower. To cut down on prep time even more, use pre-cut cauliflower florets.
- Blend, baby, blend. With the help of an immersion blender or a countertop blender, the soup will yield an even creamier, smoother consistency.
- Add garnishes. Garnishes are always optional but a fresh sprinkle of thyme leaves, some crispy bacon or roasted cauliflower will certainly take your soup to the next level, adding more flavor, texture and contrast.
- Serve with crusty bread. Serve with all the homemade crusty bread for dipping, sopping and dunking!
- Mix it up. Add carrots, corn, russet potatoes (this will help thicken up the chowder even more!) or even your favorite blend of seafood.
what to serve with cauliflower chowder
Tools For This Recipe
Dutch oven
Cauliflower Chowder: Frequently Asked Questions
What if I don’t have an immersion blender?
A countertop blender (such as a Vitamix or Blendtec) or food processor should do the trick! When using a countertop blender, cool the soup slightly and blend in batches.
How can I make this vegetarian?
You can omit the bacon and substitute vegetable broth for the chicken broth.
How can I store leftovers?
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
Is this freezer-friendly?
We do not recommend freezing this as milk-based soups tend to separate when frozen.
Cauliflower Chowder
A creamy, low carb, hearty and cozy soup, loaded with so many good-for-you veggies. Perfect for those chilly nights!
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon, diced
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 celery ribs, diced
- 1 head cauliflower, roughly chopped
- 1 bay leaf
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup 2% milk
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
Equipment
Instructions
- Heat a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add bacon and cook until brown and crispy, about 6-8 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate, reserving 1 tablespoon excess fat in the stockpot.
- Melt butter in the stockpot. Add garlic, onion and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 3-4 minutes.
- Stir in cauliflower and bay leaf. Cook, stirring occasionally, until barely crisp-tender, about 4-5 minutes.
- Whisk in flour until lightly browned, about 1 minute.
- Stir in chicken broth and milk, and cook, stirring frequently, until slightly thickened, about 3-4 minutes.
- Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until cauliflower are tender, about 12-15 minutes; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Puree with an immersion blender until desired consistency is reached.
- Serve immediately, garnished with bacon and parsley, if desired.
Video
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I’ve had this bookmarked for awhile and finally made it tonight. I roasted the cauliflower at 425 for 20ish minutes sprinkled with salt and cumin and it added a nice depth. Thanks for the yummy “lighter” recipe!
This soup is delicious!
Just stumbled onto your website and so pleased with the few recipes I have tried, cannot wait to try more and just sent link to my mom and sisters. Thank you! 🙂
I just ate 2 bowls of this and mmm mmm! My boyfriend’s on his way home and I’m sure he will love it too! I added more celery and carrots to beef up the veggies, and I just had to add some bacon 😉 Other than that, this recipe was simple, straightforward, and yummy. Thanks!!!
I tried this chowder for the first time this evening and it was superb, My very fussy brother who doesn’t like vegetables other than potatoes (which I don’t really count bc its a starch) gobbled this down like nothing. I chopped all the cauliflower really tiny and he didn’t even notice till after I told him what was in it. Thank you for a wonderful hearty dish.
I’m so glad! Jason is the same way and he gobbled this up instantly too!
Just made this for dinner. Fabulous! I blended it a little with a hand blender right in the pot and added a pinch of cheddar and omitted the salt.
I also blended it a little and added a bit of cheese at the end. Today I plan to add some green onions, too. I kept the salt but omitted the parsley because I completely forgot about it. My husband and I really enjoyed it — and so did my toddler! We always love your recipes. I just made your chicken lettuce wraps to take to a friend who recently had a baby.
I just try it today!!! sooooo good!!! <3 <3 <3
I just made this tonight and it was SO YUMMY! Easy too! I’ll definitely hold on to this recipe! I’m hoping it makes good leftovers too. 🙂 Thanks!
You always make soup look so good! How do you do it :)? I’ve got to try this recipe I love cauliflower!
I made this chowder for my uncle who is recovering from a major surgery, and he said it was the best soup he’s ever had!
Ah, love this. Cauli is a great sub for carb load. And your photos amazing as always.
Love cauliflower soup.. turning it into a chowder is so smart, and adding bacon, well, is always a great idea 🙂
Mmmm. Be still my tongue. This looks so delightful. Dinner plans. Done. 🙂
This looks fabulous! And since it’s snowing in Colorado at the moment, I guess soup season is still with us. Can’t wait to try it!
First thing is first, I need to find some cauliflower around here, as laughable as that is, it’s sometimes hard to find in Tokyo, they either have them, or they don’t. I’ll skip the butter and bacon (I’m doing low fat at the moment) but I’m sure I can find some alternatives, Olive Oil? Maybe? Perhaps?
You can certainly substitute olive oil for the butter but it may diminish the creaminess in this soup.
I have a soup recipe that is very similar to this and you can achieve the creaminess without adding dairy. It is a bit more work though. What you can do is take out part of the soup and blend it. Then return it to the original batch and Voilà! A creamy, delicious soup that is satisfying and healthy at the same time. I also added sautéed kale to mine recipe. Totally delish!
I used an immersion blender to achieve the same effect.
Marie! Small world – I’m an expat making this recipe in Tokyo! I had to go to three grocery stores to find the cauliflower! Happy cooking 🙂
I keep seeing recipes substituting cauliflower for potatoes but I’ve yet to try it myself. I love the idea of this soup!
Amazing :)))
S nice you’re so good, can you suggest another dish that would go with this soup? Doing this tonight. I hope you reply before it.
Thanks
I recommend serving this alongside a light salad or crusty garlic bread.
I love this one. Cauliflower is a great way to great texture in a soup the skinny way!
I love cauliflower, this chowder looks like a bowl of comfort!
This soup was delish! Real comfort food.
I just made that salad with shrimp , turkey bacon,corn and eggs also made the cilantro vingerette it was also amazing . Thank you ! so much!!!