This creamy cauliflower bacon soup is hearty and flavorful without being overly rich.
Creamy Cauliflower Bacon Soup
I’ve been on a major cauliflower kick recently. Maybe I’m weird but I love simply eating it raw dipped in a bit of white bean hummus or even some sweet chili sauce. It has such a great snappy texture and neutral flavor. It also makes some of the best soup. Every time I made cauliflower soup I declare it one of my favorites. The texture is thick, creamy and silky and it absorbs other flavors so well. It really is the perfect ingredient for making a “cream” soup without the cream.
You would never know that this soup has no cream. I did add some 2% milk at the end to thin it out but the recipe can easily be made dairy free by using soy or almond milk. The bacon fat adds a smoky richness that compliments the cauliflower perfectly. Garnishing the soup with more bacon adds that salty meaty flavor that really does make everything better.
Recipe Tip
Creamy Cauliflower Bacon Soup
Ingredients
- 4 strips bacon
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, smashed
- 4 ribs celery, chopped
- 1 head cauliflower, chopped
- 3 cups chicken stock, preferably homemade
- 3 sprigs thyme
- 1 cup 2% milk
- kosher salt and ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large dutch oven, render the fat from the bacon over low heat. Once there's a good amount of fat in the pan, turn the heat up slightly and cook the bacon until crisp. Remove it to drain on paper towels. Discard all but approximately 2-3 tablespoons of the bacon fat.
- Add the chopped onion, garlic and celery to the pan with a pinch of salt and sweat the vegetables for several minutes on medium-low heat. Once they're soft, add the cauliflower and turn up the heat to medium. Cook the vegetables for a few more minutes, stirring periodically, until the cauliflower has softened up. Add the chicken stock and thyme. Bring the mixture to a simmer, cover the pot and lower the heat. Allow the soup to simmer on low heat for 45 minutes.
- Remove the thyme stems and carefully ladle the soup into a blender. Puree until silky. Return the soup to the pot and add the milk. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Reheat the reserved bacon briefly, dice finely and use it to garnish each bowl of soup.
Please read my full post for additional recipe notes, tips, and serving suggestions!
Nutrition
Recipe Troubleshooting
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I seem to buy a cauliflower every week during the winter months. Why have I never made cauliflower soup?
No time like now to start!
Yum! I love cauliflower soup and yours looks so amazing!!! I never had it with bacon, I can only imagine how wonderful that must taste!
I’ve been on a cauliflower kick lately, too! I saw on the news the other day that cauliflower and broccoli were about to get expensive because of weird weather and I was like, “Nooooooooo!” Anyway- this soup needs to happen for lunch today. Oh yes it does.
Nooooooo to expensive cauliflower!
I got some for .99 cents just for this soup today, soooo good! The whole family scarfed it down, two toddlers included!
You’re doing a good job of selling the cauliflower today. I’m personally so-so on it, but I really think this soup would change my mind big time!
Soup is definitely the best way to enjoy it!
I’m getting tempted to go buy some cauliflower–this looks delicious. And, as my spouse is fond of saying, everything is better with bacon.
Thanks, Jen!
This looks fabulous-thanks for the dinner menu tonight! Yum!
Let me know what you think if you make it!
Such beautiful pictures… and the recipe sounds divine!
Thanks Amanda, I’ve been working on them!
You are the 2nd person in the last week who’s mentioned the idea of using cauliflower to create cream, without the cream! I need to try this trick ASAP. Also, your mugs are so cute!
Thanks! I have a ton of leftover cauliflower so I think this weekend I’m going to try using it in an alfredo sauce.
Love cauliflower! This soup sounds delicious, not to mention the gorgeous photos!! Lovely, Jen!
Thank you, Carol!
So I’m not much of a cauliflower person but that really needs to change! I’m sure once I have a spoonful of this soup, I’ll be transformed!
Just think of it as bacon soup.
Jen this cream of cauliflower looks delicious. I am thinking of preparing some this weekend. The photos are awesome!
Thank you so much, Mari! I hope you like it :)
This soup looks wonderful. I love adding bacon into it! Perfect for the snow storm we are about to get.
Everyone is getting snow today! DC somehow remains unscathed.
Can I face plant this bowl of soup? Because I kinda sorta need it in my life.
I want to face plant into all of your desserts so we are even!
This looks SO warm and comforting. It’s super cold today and I want this NOW! :)
Oh my GOD this looks good. I’ve been on a soup kick lately, even though it’s really not all that cold here. This looks amazing, and I love those plates, beautiful photos.
Thanks! I found an amazing antique alley near me recently and I’ve been going overboard on props!