What to Serve with Broccoli Cheese Soup (23 Best Sides)

Figuring out what to serve with broccoli cheese soup can be challenging. 

When it comes to comfort food, few things rival the warmth and yumminess of broccoli cheese soup.

People love the soup’s creamy texture, distinct flavor, and unique blend of veggies and cheese.

Other than salads and bread, though, what pairs with it?

As it turns out, quite a bit! 

You just may have to think outside the box when pairing sides.

If you do, you could potentially find the perfect side item. 

And with it, you’ll ensure you get every bit of taste out of that cozy bowl of soup. 

1. Sweet Potato Fries

People always pair fries with burgers and sandwiches. For soup, however, fries are often overlooked.

But what better to dip in a thick, cheesy soup than crispy, tender-on-the-inside fries?

We dip them in everything else, so why not soup? 

You can even go the sweet potato fry route if you want something healthier.

This recipe yields some of the best you’ll ever try. 

2. Air Fryer Potato Wedges

Prefer russet potatoes to sweet? No problem!

Check out this recipe for air fryer potato wedges instead.

They have tender, melt-in-your-mouth insides, and crisp edges. 

Plus, the seasoning on them is outrageously delicious. 

3. Sourdough Bread

Okay, I know I talked about being more creative than bread and salads. But some bread is just too good to pass up.

And yes, I’m talking about homemade sourdough bread. 

I could eat this stuff by the truckload and never slow down.

And it’s especially good when you dip it into a thick, warm soup. 

If you’re not a big bread baker, don’t worry. This recipe is explicitly designed for beginners and newbie chefs.

It’s easy to follow and doesn’t even require you to knead anything! 

4. Garlic Bread

Garlic bread is another bread option that no one would call boring.

It features crisp, crunchy edges and a light, buttery center full of garlicky goodness. 

Its bold, earthy flavor perfectly complements the soup’s mild cheesiness. 

5. Grilled Caprese Panini

A soup and sandwich pairing is a pretty classic combo.

Of course, you still have to find the right sandwich to complement your soup. 

For broccoli cheese soup, it’s hard to beat a grilled Caprese panini.

The bright, fresh tomatoes and basil flavors are perfect for this soup. 

Add some fresh mozzarella and balsamic vinegar, and *chef’s kiss*. Your lunch will be the envy of everyone around the table. 

6. Crispy Onion Rings

You’ll never convince me that onion rings aren’t the perfect side item for everything.

You can enjoy them with soup, sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, or even by themselves! 

These onion rings feature the crispiest breading imaginable. The onions inside, however, remain juicy, tender, and wonderfully flavorful. 

Eat them with your soup, or dip them into it.

You can even chop them up and add them to the soup as a garnish! Either way, you won’t be disappointed. 

7. Turkey Panini

Here’s another phenomenal panini to help take your soup up a notch.

This turkey panini uses only five ingredients but packs an insane wallop of flavor. 

You’ll love the ooey-gooey melted cheese and the bold basil pesto.

I enjoy the dark rye bread in the recipe. However, you can change that up if you prefer. 

Either way, you can have this hot sandwich ready in about 15 minutes. It’s an excellent treat, with or without the soup.

8. Homemade Crackers

Crackers are a natural garnish or add-in for most soups. Broccoli cheese soup is no exception.

But why use boring old saltines when you can make crunchy homemade crackers instead?

That way, you can control your salt intake and add whatever seasonings you like best.

The recipe calls for Italian seasoning, garlic, and a few other things. 

You can also add a dash of cayenne or red pepper flakes for some heat. 

9. Paula Deen Potato Salad

Potato salad and soup?! I know how it sounds, but don’t knock it till you try it!

After all, there’s more to potato salad than just the potatoes. 

There’s also bacon, eggs, celery, dill, and more!

Together, the ingredients make a flavor palooza you won’t want to miss. 

10. Strawberry Spinach Salad

There’s nothing wrong with pairing your soup with salad.

But if you’re going to do that, make sure it’s a ridiculously good salad that really hits the spot. 

I recommend this strawberry spinach salad.

It’s a sweet, tangy mix of fruits, veggies, and nuts covered in a delightful poppy seed dressing. 

It’s colorful, fresh, and full of things that are good for your body. It’s hard to go wrong with that! 

11. Caesar Salad 

A Caesar salad may not look as pretty as the one above.

Even so, it’s always a great complement to any soup you have. 

It’s even better when you make homemade croutons and dressing. Then, all you’ll need is the lettuce and cheese.

You can also add grilled chicken strips for a heartier salad. 

12. Club Sandwich

This easy-to-make club sandwich uses eight ingredients and requires no cooking whatsoever.

If you can slice tomatoes and layer ingredients, you’re all set. 

It’s a quick and convenient way to turn your bowl of soup into a complete meal.  

13. Oven-Roasted Vegetables

You can never go wrong with adding oven-roasted veggies to any meal.

With this recipe, you can ensure they’re as crispy and tasty as possible. 

The colorful mix of vegetables is a good medley.

Still, you can add or remove ingredients to better suit your tastes. 

14. Jiffy Cornbread Muffins

These are old-school Jiffy cornbread muffins made with sour cream.

They’re quick, easy, and have a hint of sweetness in every bite. Don’t want to eat them dry on the side?

Try crumbling them up into your soup instead. 

Or, you could smear them with butter while they’re still warm.

Mmmm… Just thinking about that makes my mouth water.

15. Air Fryer Biscuits

Want something even simpler than cornbread muffins?

Grab a can of refrigerated biscuits and toss them in the air fryer.

They’ll be ready in about 10 minutes with practically no clean-up.

16. Easy Homemade Breadsticks

Homemade breadsticks, on the other hand, take a bit more work.

They’re 155% worth it, though. They’re buttery, light, and totally addictive. 

I sometimes add garlic powder to mine to make them even yummier. 

17. Arugula Salad

Arugula salad is another super simple salad that tastes incredible with soup.

Pulling it together is almost effortless. 

All you need is arugula, almonds, dried cranberries, and parmesan.

Then, you combine olive oil, lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper for the dressing. 

You can have the whole salad ready in about 15 minutes or less. 

18. Cauliflower Rice

Cauliflower rice is another potentially “strange” option for pairing with broccoli cheese soup. However, it’s also an awesome one. 

It’s a mild, unassuming dish you’ll jazz up with garlic and scallions.

The earthy, umami flavors taste great with the salty cheesiness of the soup. 

Occasionally, I even pour the soup over the rice. Most of the time, I enjoy them separately, though. 

19. Perfect Baked Potato

Baked potatoes are similar to rolls and onion rings in that they go with anything.

No matter what the main dish is, baked potatoes are a tasty addition. 

And this recipe will help you make the perfect baked potato.

You can add any toppings you like once it’s ready. For the potato itself, though, you won’t need much. 

A little salt, some olive oil spray, and your potato.

That’s all it takes to make potatoes with crispy skin and soft, fluffy insides. You can’t really go wrong. 

20. Texas Roadhouse Rolls

Quick! Which restaurant has the best rolls?

I might have to check your sanity if you said anything besides Texas Roadhouse. Because theirs are delish! 

With this recipe, you can make copycat Texas Roadhouse rolls.

And you can do it with fewer than ten ingredients. They’re buttery, pillowy soft, and impossibly scrumptious. 

You might not even need the soup once you dig into these.

It’s really easy to overdo it before you ever get to the main course. 

21. Ina Garten’s Roast Chicken

Broccoli cheese soup is more than just a comforting meal on a cool night. It’s also a great starter dish.

If you want to serve a meal with a few courses, start with the soup. 

Then, jump into this juicy, succulent roast chicken for the main course.

The skin is crisp and perfectly seasoned, and the meat is tender and mouth-wateringly good. 

22. Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Know what goes well with a super cheesy soup? More cheese! No, really, I’m serious.

The next time you have a bowl of broccoli cheese soup, whip up a classic grilled cheese.

All that yummy cheesiness just might make you weak in the knees. 

23. Simple Kale Salad

Finally, let’s end with one last simple salad. This one combines kale, parmesan, almonds, and cranberries.

It tops everything off with a sweet and tangy lemon-Dijon dressing. 

It’s light, summery, and ideal for pairing with any soup.