The Best Zupas Wisconsin Cauliflower Soup Copycat Recipe (2024)

This soup is cheesy, creamy, and flavorful! I did a side-by-side taste test and this copycat recipe is right on for Cafe Zupas Wisconsin Cauliflower soup!

The Best Zupas Wisconsin Cauliflower Soup Copycat Recipe (1)

Try this Wisconsin Cauliflower Zupas copycat recipe!

One of my favorite soups at Cafe Zupas is the Wisconsin Cauliflower. Mmm. This soup is cheesy, creamy, and full of flavor! (Especially if you top it off with bacon, which I highly recommend. Yum.)

I’ve seen a few copycat recipes floating around, but I was determined to find the best one! This is actually quite easy to make, especially since you can choose stovetop or Instant Pot method. One pot either way!

The Best Zupas Wisconsin Cauliflower Soup Copycat Recipe (2)

If you want to use this for Weight Watchers, you can get5 points per serving if you use fat free half and half, light butter, and fat free cheese! Easy and still YUMMY!

The Best Zupas Wisconsin Cauliflower Soup Copycat Recipe (3)

How to Make Zupas Wisconsin Cauliflower Soup Copycat

I prefer making this Zupas Cauliflower Soup copycat in the Instant Pot, but instructions for both methods are included below.

First, sauté the onion in melted butter. Sometimes I pull out my handy food chopper to make quick work of chopping onions. Then whisk in flour, then chicken broth, and add the cauliflower florets.

The Best Zupas Wisconsin Cauliflower Soup Copycat Recipe (4)

How Much Cauliflower in Zupas Wisconsin Cauliflower Copycat

Usually two medium heads of cauliflower, or a large one and a small one, end up yielding about 2 pounds of florets. However, the easiest way is to do the cauliflower is to just buy a bag of fresh pre-cut, pre-washed, ready-to-go cauliflower florets. 😉

The Best Zupas Wisconsin Cauliflower Soup Copycat Recipe (5)

When making this Zupas copycat recipe in the Instant Pot, I add the half & half after the cooking time. Adding it beforehand is more messy when releasing the pressure. I also just go with straight chicken broth instead of a mixture of broth and water.

How to Blend the Zupas Copycat Wisconsin Cauliflower Soup

The easiest way to blend the soup is with an immersion blender right there in the pot! The cauliflower is so soft, especially in the Instant Pot, that it easily blends smooth with an immersion blender.

The Best Zupas Wisconsin Cauliflower Soup Copycat Recipe (6)

If you don’t have an immersion blender, you can use a regular blender. Blend the soup in three separate batches and let the blender run for 3o seconds to 1 minute each time. Remove the center of the blender lid to allow steam to escape.

Taste test when you are finished blending to make sure the soup is smooth!

The Best Zupas Wisconsin Cauliflower Soup Copycat Recipe (7)

Side by Side Taste Test for the Best Zupas Copycat!

Of course, it was necessary to make a trip over to Zupas in order to do a side-by-side comparison. 😉 I tasted the Wisconsin Cauliflower soup without toppings, made a few tweaks to my recipe, and ended up with what I believe to be an awesome copycat!

While I do enjoy the chocolate-covered strawberry and bread with soups from Zupas, I am super excited to be able to make this Wisconsin Cauliflower soup copycat at home! I love serving this with 1-hour rolls or breadsticks.

The Best Zupas Wisconsin Cauliflower Soup Copycat Recipe (8)

Here’s how to cook bacon in the microwave:

  1. Line a large microwave-safe plate with two paper towels.
  2. Lay bacon in a single layer on the paper towels. (May be able to fit up to 8 slices.)
  3. Cover with two more sheets of paper towel.
  4. Cook in the microwave for 4-6 minutes.

See more of our favorite Instant Pot recipes!

We’ve found a few other awesome copycat recipes from Zupas, Olive Garden, and more. Check out our favorite copycat recipes!

The Best Zupas Wisconsin Cauliflower Soup Copycat Recipe (9)

The Best Zupas Wisconsin Cauliflower Soup Copycat Recipe (10)

The Best Zupas Wisconsin Cauliflower Soup Copycat Recipe

This soup is cheesy, creamy, and flavorful! I did a side-by-side taste test and this copycat recipe is right on for Cafe Zupas Wisconsin Cauliflower soup!

4.60 / 5 ( 156 Reviews )

Print Rate

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes minutes

Serves: 8

Adjust Servings: 8

Equipment

  • Instant Pot

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 2 pounds cauliflower florets roughly chopped (5-6 cups)
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 pint half and half 2 cups
  • 1 ½ cups water omit for Instant Pot
  • 1 14.5 ounce can reduced sodium chicken broth (3 cups for Instant Pot)
  • 1 ¾ cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded
  • ¾ cup pepper jack cheese shredded
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt to taste
  • 1 ½ teaspoons Dijon mustard

Optional Toppings

Instructions

Stovetop

  • In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Whisk in the flour. Gradually stir in the half and half, water, and chicken broth.

  • Add the chopped cauliflower and heat to boiling, stirring occasionally. Then reduce heat to medium-low and cook until cauliflower is tender, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat.

  • Use an immersion blender in the pot and blend until smooth. Or use a regular blender, with the center of the lid removed to allow steam to escape, and blend the soup in batches until smooth. Return it to the pot. Heat soup over medium heat and stir in the Dijon, salt, and cheese; stir until combined and melted. Serve warm with optional toppings.

Instant Pot

  • On sauté setting, melt butter. Add the onion and cook until translucent, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the flour. Gradually stir in 3 cups chicken broth (instead of water & broth above, and don't add half & half yet).

  • Add chopped cauliflower. Cook on manual high pressure for 4 minutes. (It will take about 15 minutes to come to pressure first.) Natural pressure release for 10 minutes, then quick release.

  • Keep on "keep warm" setting. Pour half & half into pot. Use an immersion blender in the pot and blend until smooth. Stir in the Dijon, salt, and cheese; stir until combined and melted. Add more salt, if needed. Serve warm with optional toppings.

Recipe Notes

Weight Watchers Freestyle Points - 5 with the following modifications: use fat free half and half, light butter, and fat free cheese!

Nutrition

Calories: 268kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 19g | Sodium: 724mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g

Recipe Adapted From: The Recipe Critic

The Best Zupas Wisconsin Cauliflower Soup Copycat Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my cauliflower soup tasteless? ›

How Do You Fix Bland Cauliflower Soup?
  • Season twice with salt and pepper: You'll start by seasoning the cauliflower florets with salt and pepper before roasting. Then, season again when the roasted florets are combined with broth on the stovetop. ...
  • Add lots of aromatics. ...
  • Finish with lemon.

How many carbs are in zupas wisconsin cauliflower soup? ›

Zupas Wisconsin Cauliflower Cheese Soup (1 cup) contains 47g total carbs, 42g net carbs, 22g fat, 23g protein, and 480 calories.

Which soup is usually made of cauliflower in French cuisine? ›

Called Crème du Barry in France, its name lies in history, like many good French recipes. This easy, rich and creamy soup was named after Madame Jeanne Bécu, comtesse du Barry, a famous French beauty who was the last official mistress of the ill-fated king, Louis XV.

How do I increase the depth of flavor in soup? ›

Add acidic ingredients.

Foods that have a great deal of acidity, like lemon juice, vinegar, white wine, and tomato puree, can help liven up the flavor of bland-tasting bone and other broths. "The acidity of these ingredients works to complement and enhance the broth's flavors, not mask it.

How do you get depth of flavor in soup? ›

Garlic and roasted onions add depth. Simmering mushrooms down concentrates flavors for mushroom soup. Simmering most vegetables down also adds more concentrated flavors and reduces the water in them. Herbs, salt and pepper also help.

How many calories are in Zupas Wisconsin cauliflower soup? ›

There are 430 calories in 1/2 bowl of Cafe Zupas Wisconsin Cauliflower Soup.

How many calories in a cup of cauliflower soup? ›

Cream of cauliflower soup (1 cup) contains 20.2g total carbs, 16.8g net carbs, 3.6g fat, 4.1g protein, and 124 calories.

How many carbs are in Zuppa Toscana soup at Olive Garden? ›

Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana (1 serving) contains 15g total carbs, 13g net carbs, 15g fat, 7g protein, and 220 calories.

What are the benefits of cauliflower soup? ›

The fiber found in cauliflower helps keep you feeling full and satisfied, maintains healthy digestion, supports gut health, and helps regulate blood sugar levels. At over 2 grams per cup, cauliflower is a good source of fiber, especially insoluble fiber, which helps keep things moving in your digestive system.

What is the cauliflower version of broccolini? ›

The company describes caulilini as “baby cauliflower,” though it's not really a young version. It, like broccolini, has a long, narrow, and tender stem, and looser, smaller florets.

How do you thicken soup with cauliflower? ›

But how can you achieve an indulgent, thick texture using only vegetables? Frugal Cooking recommends adding cauliflower, which provides a silky texture without all the fat found in cream. Just blend cooked cauliflower with your broth and add the mixture to your soup.

Why does my soup taste flavorless? ›

If a soup is tasting bland in the bowl, consider adding acid rather than salt. A squeeze of lemon or lime, or a dash of yogurt or sour cream can add brightness to the bowl. Start with the basics. Ensure you've added enough salt and black pepper.

What to add to flavorless vegetable soup? ›

Adding a parmesan cheese rind to the simmering soup infuses it with salty, umami flavor. This is SUCH an easy way to add tons of flavor to soup. Look for parmesan cheese rinds at the cheese counter in your grocery store.

Is cauliflower flavorless? ›

Raw cauliflower has a subtly sweet, slightly nutty flavor. It is delicate and mild with a hint of pepperiness. Cauliflower's crisp texture yields a pleasing crunch when included in salads or used as a vessel for dips.

Is cauliflower tasteless? ›

While it looks like a white broccoli, the flavor is very different. When eaten raw, cauliflower is crunchy, and it has a mild, fresh flavor. This makes it very easy to season or flavor any way you like! It is also a well of nutritional benefits.

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