Instant Pot Cauliflower Soup

This Instant Pot Cauliflower Soup is QUICK, EASY, and hands-off thanks to the Instant Pot. Make it in under 30 minutes! Naturally gluten free.

Course Gluten Free Dinner Recipes

Keyword gluten free, instant pot cauliflower soup, vegetarian, wisconsin cauliflower soup, wisconsin cheese soup

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 20

Total Time 30

Servings -8 servings

Calories 396kcal

Author Celeste Noland | Life After Wheat

3 T butter
1 medium onion roughly cut
1 2.5-3 lb head of cauliflower, washed and broken apart. You should have about 2 lbs of cauliflower once core and leaves have been removed.
3 cups chicken broth - DIVIDED I use low salt and add more salt to taste later.
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 cup whipping cream
3 cups shredded cheese - SEE NOTES

Press saute button on your Instant Pot.
Add butter and onions, and saute for a minute or two.
Add cauliflower and 1 cup broth.
Close lid and seal vent. Pressure cook for 2 minutes, then quick release.
When pressure is released, pour contents into a blender and blend on medium-low just until smooth.
Pour back into Instant pot and add another 2 cups broth and the cream.
Press Saute button again add cheese a handful at a time, stirring until it is completely melted before adding more.
As soon as cheese is melted, turn off Instant Pot and serve. This soup is great with a loaf of homemade gluten free bread or some gluten free dinner rolls!

When chopping the onions and cauliflower...

There is no need to finely chop here, you'll be adding all ingredients to a blender later, so just chop the onions enough that you can saute, and break the cauliflower apart with your hands into manageable pieces.

Cheese options:

We have made this recipe half a dozen times already, and honestly it tastes pretty darn good with just about any cheese. BUT our favorite combination is ½ cup Gruyere, ½ cup pepper jack, and 2 cups sharp cheddar.
Feel free to just use 3 cups sharp or medium cheddar if you don't have the others on hand...but the pepper jack definitely gives this soup more flavor!
DO NOT use pre-grated cheese. These products are tossed in starch and won't melt as well, and the texture will be off. Grate your own cheese.
Using mild cheddar will result in a soup that might taste bland, we don't recommend it..