Easy Crock Pot Broccoli Cheese Soup

1.Chop the broccoli, celery, and onions into chunks and place in the crock pot, reserving 1/4 of the broccoli florets. Add the carrots and garlic, and the broth.

2.Cook on low for 4-6 hours, or high 3-4 hours. Once everything is tender, use a hand blender (immersion blender) to puree the vegetables in the broth.

3.Once smooth, slowly stir in the cream. Then add the cheddar cheese a little at a time mixing as you go until it is all combined. Season with the salt and pepper.

4.Add the remaining broccoli florets and chopped ham and allow to cook for an additional 20-30 minutes on low. This is optional to give you a chunkier soup. If you like the soup smooth, you can add all the broccoli in the first step.