14 Broccoli Cheddar Soups, Ranked Worst To Best (According To Customer Reviews)

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What makes the best broccoli cheddar (or broccoli cheese) soup? For this writer, the ideal concoction relies on highlighting those two ingredients to the best of their abilities. The broccoli, first, should be fresh and plentiful. Sad, wilting florets or a plethora of stalks are not the preferred choice. Secondly, the cheese should be rich, smooth, and creamy. Salty, yes, but not overwhelmingly so, and perhaps a bit nuanced, helped along by proper seasonings and maybe an added cheese. The texture should be velvety, not gelatinous or gloppy, and thin enough to qualify as a soup but not so thin as to be considered a broth.

This unicorn of a broccoli cheese soup could probably only truly be achieved by making it from scratch, but who has time for that? That's what a grocery store is for. Stocked on the shelves and tucked away in refrigerated units, these broccoli cheese soups stepped up to be ranked. From condensed versions to dried to canned to deli creations, there was plenty to choose from. We opted to let our subjective taste buds take a back seat and instead relied on the opinions of the masses, which is how we ranked these products — from worst to best.

Receiving the dubious distinction of being the worst-rated soup on this list comes from none other than soup superstars Campbell's. This isn't their last entry on this list, but it is unfortunately the worst showing from the more-than-150-year-old company.

This broccoli cheddar version is from the brand's new Homestyle line of soups, which purports to be comfort in a bowl. Alas, if reviews are to be believed, this flavor misses the mark.This broccoli cheddar soup fares okay as far as soups go, but low when it comes to the reputation bestowed upon it by Campbell's. The nutrition isn't great, either. While many canned soups can be pretty high in sodium levels, this Homestyle Broccoli Cheddar Soup also contains 9 grams of saturated fat and a paltry 5 grams of protein in the entire can. If you're looking for a better broccoli cheese soup, keep reading.

Yes, Campbell's shows up again on the bottom section of this list, and this time we've moved from canned pantry staple to microwaveable, ready-to-eat container. Campbell's Slow Kettle Style Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Bisque sounds decadent — rich, luxurious, and a little bit more sophisticated, thanks to the "bisque" in the name. Some reviewers enjoy the texture of the soup, describing it as velvety and creamy, but the flavor is where this Campbell's product makes a misstep.

As we already mentioned, canned soups tend to contain a lot of sodium, in part to work as a preservative. This Campbell's soup contains 1,420 milligrams in the entire container — 62% of your recommended daily amount. However, multiple customers claimed that not only was this soup not salty, it was downright bland. "It was slightly bitter with no other flavor or seasoning," complained one reviewer. Another said that there was zero cheddar flavor to be found, and that the overall effect was more like a bowl of cream with bits of broccoli thrown in. Not what we're looking for when we're in the market for a broccoli and cheese soup.

The first refrigerated broccoli cheddar soup on our list (but we promise not the last) comes from Walmart's Marketside brand. Marketside was created to lend more of an artisan feel to certain Walmart products, and is typically reserved for fresher items, like those found in their Bakery or Deli departments.

Unfortunately, like the Marketside Chicken Noodle Soup, this Broccoli Cheddar offering didn't fare so well among consumers, either. Walmart describes this soup as being made with cheddar cheese, broccoli, sautéed onions, cream, melted butter, and Parmesan cheese. It certainly sounds homemade and the ingredient list itself isn't too bad, all things considered. The combination of cheeses — cheddar, processed cheddar, and Parmesan — means there's no shortage of cheesy flavor, which plenty of customers rave about. It also doesn't have that stinky sulfuric broccoli smell when it's heated up, which is a definite plus. So why did it rank so low on our list? It's all about texture. Unhappy customers complained of a graininess or grittiness to the soup and a chalky feel — not what you're looking for in a creamy soup. The gloppy thickness was also a turnoff for some, firmly keeping this Marketside option in the bottom half.

Another refrigerated deli soup and another store brand all rolled into one, we have Kroger's Private Selection. Like Walmart's Marketside, Private Selection is Kroger's more artisanal, higher end in-house brand. The Broccoli & Cheddar Soup is a new product from the label and promises that it's kettle-cooked with premium ingredients, like cheese and cream (which doesn't feel premium to us, and more like an obvious choice for a creamy cheese soup, but we digress). Additionally, the ingredients list labels the cheddar cheese used as "pasteurized process cheddar cheese food," which feels a little more lab-created than we'd like, but how does this new product actually taste?

As a new item to the supermarket chain, there's less info to work with. Only two written reviews appear. One states that the soup is nice, if a little spicy (which could be due to the presence of the Creole seasoning, although it's one of the last ingredients listed), while another said it tastes just like Subway's soups. Whether that's a ringing endorsement for you or not is up to you to decide.

We are back in the hallowed halls of Walmart with this next soup — and the first of the condensed variety. Unlike ready-to-eat soups, condensed soups require the addition of milk or water (or both) in order to loosen them up and make them edible. The viscosity of condensed soups also means that they have a multitude of other uses, from casseroles to pasta sauces.

This Great Value soup is definitely a budget buy, and it fares pretty okay according to customer reviews. Made by just adding water, it's not egregious when it comes to sodium and has a nice little pop of funky flavor thanks to the addition of blue cheese. Its versatility is part of what earns it points with customers, who say that they've used it in recipes or doctored it up into something a little fancier and more filling with the help of extra cheese and croutons. Mostly, customers seem to think the price is right, especially when compared to competitors like Campbell's, which is what earns this Great Value version a secure spot in the middle of our list.

No, your eyes don't deceive you — Great Value's previous soup and this version here are almost identical. However, there are differences. First, this soup is part of the brand's "Hearty" line. Second, it contains potatoes. Thirdly, it's about 60 calories more per serving, although that depends on if you choose to add milk versus water, and how much of it. This soup is also of the heat-and-eat variety, versus the condensed version.

Great Value's Hearty Broccoli and Cheese with Potato Soup also contains carrots as well as white cheddar, giving it a leg up in both the nutrition and flavor departments. Plenty of customers enjoyed the soup, praising its heartiness (how's that for truth in advertising?) as well as the overall flavor. Those who were less than enthusiastic, however, complained that there were inconsistencies in the texture from one can to the next, with some finding one can creamy and rich and the next disappointingly watery. For a budget-friendly price of $1.50 a can, we say that's an experiment worth conducting.

From ready-to-eat soups to condensed to fresh prepared, we have now arrived at a dry soup mix taking our next spot. If we're being honest, we had never heard of this brand before (not that we're frequently purchasing dry soup mixes, which is what the company trades in). However, it does promise that it's "Ridiculously Delicious" right on the logo, so I had high hopes for its ranking. It also claims to have fewer calories, carbs, and less sodium than other soup companies.

Like condensed soup, Cugino's Cheddar Broccoli Soup Mix requires customers to add milk or water before heating and eating. This particular soup is flavored with salt, onion powder, garlic powder, citric acid, and white pepper.

Customers overall seem happy with this dry soup mix, even if they did end up adding fresh broccoli and more cheese to the mix. While we feel this sort of takes the convenience out of a product that bills itself as an easy meal, we can't deny the appeal of customization to suit individual taste buds.

In an entry that should surprise no one (as one of the biggest canned soup companies in existence), Campbell's shows up again, although this time the brand does much better than its previous entries. Unlike other condensed soups, however, this one is advertised as ready-to-eat, according to the Walmart website we found it on.

Made with cheddar and Parmesan cheeses, this creamy soup could either be a rich main course or an ingredient in casseroles, stews, and more. In fact, that versatility is again what earned it high marks among customers, who declared that this Cream of Broccoli and Cheese Condensed Soup can be used in a variety of ways, making it a great help in the kitchen. In fact, it can even make a great substitute for cream of mushroom soup when you want to add some veggie-based depth (and some cheesy flavor to boot).

Unlike a lot of other soups on this list, which are suitable for vegetarians as well as carnivores, Progresso's Traditional Broccoli Cheese Soup makes no such concessions. In addition to being made with chicken stock (as opposed to water, which is the base for most of these soups), this can also contains chicken fat. Perhaps these additions allow for a more well-rounded depth of flavor, considering that this Progresso soup comes in on spot No. 5 of 14.

Those additions also likely contribute to the staggering sodium content, however. A single can of this soup clocks in at 73% of your daily recommended intake, as well as 8 grams of saturated fat (or 42%). So, while this may be a cozy can to slurp up on chilly days, it's definitely no health food, no matter how much broccoli is in it. That being said, plenty of customers were happy with the overall cheesy flavor of Progresso's Traditional Broccoli Cheese Soup, describing it as almost like homemade. One suggestion to up the protein content and make this soup more of a meal was the addition of grilled chicken breast. Hey, since the flavor is already there, why not bump it up a little?

The second dry soup mix on our list comes from Augason Farms. The Utah-based company has dealt exclusively in shelf-stable, freeze-dried foods for over 50 years and, in addition to soups, also offers more unique products like butter powder, black bean burger mix, and more.

For this list, we looked at the Cheesy Broccoli Soup Mix, which comes in a supersized 54-ounce container and boasts 38 servings. Similar to a condensed soup, Augason Farms' product requires customers to just add water to enjoy a creamy, hearty bowl of the good stuff. And, as it turns out, it actually is pretty good stuff.

Customers rave about the convenience of the soup and how easy it is to make. Plus, it has plenty of uses beyond just soup. One customer recommends adding more veggies and rice to it for a thicker stew, using it in casseroles, and putting it on baked potatoes. As a base ingredient, there's plenty of opportunity for creative cooks to use it as a source of culinary inspiration in the kitchen.

Who would've thought that a dried soup mix would make it into the top four? Not us, that's for sure. But that's why these lists are always so fun; it's good to be surprised and learn something new. Our fourth-place ribbon goes to Bear Creek Country Kitchens for the dried Cheddar Broccoli Soup Mix.

Like the other dried and condensed soups, Bear Creek Country Kitchen's soup requires customers to just add water and claim that their product is ready to enjoy in a mere 10 minutes. The most unusual ingredient addition on this list is Worcestershire sauce — a savory, umami-laden ingredient that can provide your dishes with some much-needed pizzazz. That might have been the secret to the sauce, as this dried soup mix ranked highly among customers on the Walmart, Kroger, and Albertsons websites we looked at for the purpose of this article. For added creaminess, many customers recommend making the soup with milk instead of water. Others suggest bulking it up with the addition of fresh veggies, croutons, and proteins like diced chicken or bacon. Whether enjoying as-is or as a base for something more elaborate, this pantry staple is a pretty economical must-buy for many.

Don't call it a comeback — they've been here for years (since 1869, in fact). Finally, Campbell's has reclaimed its rightful spot to earn the bronze medal in this soup-off. Sure, it's no championship title, but third place isn't bad, especially for a condensed soup.

This spot goes to Campbell's Condensed Broccoli Cheese Soup. Rich, creamy, and convenient, it's been a staple for many for years. Multiple customers referred to this product as "comfort in a can" and, unlike other soups, this one actually has a lovely texture and noticeable pieces of broccoli. An item that Campbell's bills as "great for cooking," reviewers state that it's also a great base for sauces, dips, casseroles, or over rice for something quick and hearty. Is it fancy? No, but what condensed soup is? For a taste of something that's been reliably delicious for decades (as well as easy on your wallet — it was under $2 everywhere we looked), this is the winner.

Number two on our list is a well-deserving silver medal winner that comes from the refrigerated section of stores like Albertsons, Safeway, and Vons. Signature Select is the high-quality in-store brand of these stores, on par with Walmart's Marketside or Kroger's Private Selection (neither of which, you'll recall, did quite so well).

This Signature Select Broccoli Cheddar Soup is much more highly rated — and decadent. A single serving of it contains a staggering 14 grams of saturated fat, likely owing to the use of cheddar cheese, cream, and salted butter. But if you're really in the market for something rich and hearty of the stick-to-your-ribs variety, this may be the way to go. The soup, despite not containing any chicken and thus being suitable for vegetarians, also boasts a not-unimpressive 11 grams of protein, which is higher than most of the others on this list.

Plenty of customers praised how creamy the soup is — not surprising when milk and light cream are two of the first three ingredients — and also how many pieces of real broccoli are in it. Despite the positive reviews, however, there was just one other soup that customers said was a smidge better.

Yes, as you might have guessed, it was Panera Bread's Broccoli Cheddar Soup that came out on top to nab the crown. Despite the fact that the soups are not made fresh in-store, this store-bought version ticks all the necessary boxes to be the highest rated soup we looked at. Found in the refrigerated section of your grocery store, it's prepared with a richer, creamier base of milk and chicken stock — no water. Carrots, onions, Dijon mustard, and hot pepper sauce also join the party to add a little extra oomph to a soup that can be borderline stodgy, thanks to its richness. A single one-cup serving of this soup nets you 14 grams of fat (nine saturated) and 990 grams of sodium.

Cheesy, comforting, and fresh, this soup wins among Panera fans and non-Panera regulars alike. For a truly Panera-like experience, we (and other customers) recommend really upping the homey, comforting levels and serving it up in a bread bowl. Perfect for when temperatures start to dip, this is the soup you'll want to have in your fridge when cravings strike.

In the absence of a taste test, we sought to determine the best broccoli cheese soup by looking at the reviews posted by multiple customers. We focused our attention on four large supermarket chains: Walmart, Target, Kroger, and Albertsons.

In addition to ratings, we also looked at the written reviews of each product to determine their overall ranking. We did not discriminate condensed or dried soup, although we did try to keep add-ins to a minimum. For example, Great Value got a can with potatoes included in this ranking, but Progresso's version with added bacon did not make the cut. Overall, determining the best broccoli cheddar soup amounted to relying on the taste buds of multiple people rather than our own subjective palates to crown one supreme.