Copycat Kelly’s Cheese Soup

Kelly’s cheese soup is loaded with broccoli, noodles and more. It is smooth, creamy, comforting and of course cheesy. It is hearty enough to eat like a meal and is sure to become a new favorite soup.

cast iron dutch oven full of Kelly's cheese soup with veggies and pasta.

This cheese soup is the ultimate in comfort food.  It is super creamy and really delicious. Plus it is loaded with cauliflower, broccoli and carrots.

The pasta makes for a really nice addition, it is almost like macaroni and cheese in a full meal soup kind of form.  Let me tell you, it is a favorite around here.

My town has a group of restaurants that are some of the most popular in town.  They are all owned by a local family and have some of the best food around.

In fact, my husband worked at one for a good part of his twenties. It serves pizza and Mexican food.

I know it sounds like a strange combo, but it really works.  Add in pitchers of margaritas, and you are really in business.

Kelly’s is the Irish pub version of the four hot spots.  They serve great burgers, salads, sandwiches, chicken fingers and all of the things you would expect at a family pub.

They also have a salad bar with everything you would expect plus big fluffy cinnamon rolls and their famous cheese soup.

In fact, a lot of people visit just for the salad bar and wouldn’t be the least bit ashamed just getting the cheese soup and cinnamon rolls.  Hey, if it’s good, it’s good!

My grandma has been making this copycat version of the cheese soup for as long as I can remember and it is every bit as good.  In fact, I pulled this recipe from the family cookbook she and my aunt put together when I was still a relatively young kid. 

There is so much yummy goodness in this soup.  There are plenty of veggies, potatoes, noodles and of course a creamy cheesy delicious base.  It is like a big old comforting hug on a cold day.

Plus it comes together super quickly.  It is a great soup to make in a large slow cooker as well.  

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Just be careful to watch it once it is all melted as the edges can scorch a bit if you aren’t careful.

This cheese soup has graced many a get together in my family.  In fact it has graced grandma’s table on Christmas as well as been a hit at many a “souper bowl” party.

It is good enough to be served to company and easy enough to make on a random cold Monday night.  So please, please, try this soup.  It is like taking a taste of my hometown home with you.

What makes this soup so good?

There is just something about a bowl of cheesy broccoli soup with noodles. But this soup has so much more than that. The potatoes, cauliflower, carrots and mushrooms add a lot of texture and flavor to the soup. It eats like a meal and is really comforting and filling.

Carlee’s Tips and Tricks

One of the fabulous parts about soup recipes is they are very easy to customize and make your own. They are very forgiving and hard to mess up too bad as long as you don’t scorch the cheese!

You could very easily make this recipe a vegetarian soup if you would like. Just use cream of mushroom or cream of celery soup in place of the chicken version.

Then use water or vegetable broth in place of the chicken stock. You’ll be enjoying a tasty meat free meal that is perfect for vegetarians or a great option for Lent. 

This soup is thick and gets thicker as it cools. To thin it out some, just add in a little more water or broth.

If you don’t like the California mix of veggies, use all broccoli. Then you would have a super chunky delicious version of broccoli cheese soup!

I usually use either wide egg noodles or elbow macaroni in this recipe. You can really use any shape that will fit well on your spoon. 

Just let your taste buds and common sense be your guide. If you come up with a fabulous variation, please let me know about it.  I love to try your suggestions!

cast iron dutch oven full of Kelly's cheese soup with veggies and pasta.
4.89 from 51 ratings

Copycat Kelly’s Cheese Soup

Author: Carlee
Servings: 12 Servings
This creamy and comforting cheese soup really has it all. There are noodles, vegetables, and potatoes inside so it fills you up as it warms you up. It is one of our absolute favorite soup recipes.
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 30 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 6 cups chicken stock
  • cups diced potatoes
  • 1 small onion diced
  • 2 10.5 oz. cans cream of chicken soup
  • 12 oz. bag frozen California mix vegetables
  • 4 oz. can sliced mushrooms
  • 6 oz macaroni noodles cooked and drained
  • 2 lb. Velveeta cubed

Instructions 

  • In a large soup pot, bring 6 cups chicken stock, 2½ cups diced potatoes and 1 small onion to a boil. Boil for about 15 minutes.
  • Add the 12 oz. bag frozen California mix vegetables, 4 oz. can sliced mushrooms and 2 10.5 oz. cans cream of chicken soup and continue to cook until vegetables are tender.
  • Stir in cooked 6 oz macaroni noodles and cubes of 2 lb. Velveeta. Stir until cheese is melted and soup is creamy.

Video

YouTube video

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Nutrition Information

Serving: 1Serving | Calories: 313kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 1425mg | Potassium: 718mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 924IU | Vitamin C: 35mg | Calcium: 462mg | Iron: 1mg
“Cooking With Carlee” is not a dietitian or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

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4.89 from 51 votes (50 ratings without comment)

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58 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Thank you for this recipe! I moved away from there 30 years ago so I haven’t had their cheese soup in years and I’ve been craving it! When we knew someone was coming to visit us we would call ahead and order the huge bucket of it and have our friends bring it over for us. One thing I always loved was how it was a little different each time. I don’t know if they still do it this way but they used to add whatever they had in the kitchen that day so it was always a surprise to see what was in it! Thank you again and I will definitely be making it this weekend!

  2. My grandma’s version is just a little different. No noodles, but we add diced ham or hot dogs (I like hot dogs better).

  3. My hometown too! I learned this recipe back in high school during foods and nutrition class! Haven’t made it in a couple years so went to grab my recipe to make sure I don’t miss anything and it was gone! So glad you’ve posted it!!

    1. Yay! There is nothing like a bowl of cheese soup. I am glad I could help.

    2. @Carlee
      I have eaten at Kelly’s many times and their salad bar is good especially the cheese soup and the gigantic cinnamon rolls.
      Thanks for the copycat soup recipe.

  4. Just so you know the real story. Grandma may have shared it with you. I originally got the recipe from Nancy Dietrich and really enjoy it. Grandma asked for the recipe when you were a little girl. You wrote it up. I gave grandma the card I had it on and I kept the one in your sweet writing. I still have that.
    I’m making this soup today. Yum

    1. Ah. I didn't know that! Thanks for setting the record straight.

  5. Oh my this does sound good. I love soup this time of year! And I could go for a bowl of soup and a delicious cinnamon roll. I could totally eat at one of your local restaurants if I were there. But since I'm not, I guess that I will have to make my own! Thank you for sharing the recipe.

    1. You are welcome to visit any time! In the meantime at least making the soup at home is easy!

  6. This sounds delicious! I need to visit your town!

    1. I would love that so much!

  7. Andrea Nine says:

    I love a cheese soup! I love that there are some noodles in this too. Great for all these cool nights we are having!

    1. This is the perfect combo of creamy with plenty of flavorful add ins It is definitely a hit around here!

  8. My hometown also! We have alot of great restaurants in this town, but Kelly's and Lagondola Spaghetti House are THE best ones in town! I've been looking for this recipe forever it seems like and am so excited to find this one! Thank you so much Carlee for sharing this amazing recipe!

    1. I haven't had Lagondola in ages, yum! I hope you enjoy the soup, we love it! <3