Epcot's Canadian Cheese Soup Recipe From Le Cellier (2024)

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Here’s my favorite Disney copycat recipe – the delicious Canadian cheese soup from Le Cellier in Epcot!

Epcot's Canadian Cheese Soup Recipe From Le Cellier (1)
I finally got around to photographing my version of Epcot’s beloved Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup today!

I’ve made this recipe MANY times over the years at but never got around to writing it down and taking pics for the blog.

This soup is one of our annual must-haves at Epcot Food & Wine Festival.I think my husband would make the trip to Florida just to eat this soup.

Epcot's Canadian Cheese Soup Recipe From Le Cellier (2)

Here he is getting ready to dive in.

If you’ve never had this soup, it’s made with cheese, bacon, and a splash of beer (Canadian lager when you’re in Epcot).

Epcot's Canadian Cheese Soup Recipe From Le Cellier (3)

It’s got incredible flavor and is a cult favorite at Food & Wine. It’s usually served with a pretzel roll as pictured above. I try to do the same at home but couldn’t find them this go around.

And you’ll be surprised at the very non-Canadian secret ingredient! I’ve made it without and I swear it is critical to making it taste right.

Here’s how to recreate this Disney copycat recipe at home.

How to Make Canadian Cheese Soup

Epcot's Canadian Cheese Soup Recipe From Le Cellier (4)

The ingredients are pretty easy to find at your local grocery store.

The only challenge is finding a Canadian lager (think Molson), but that’s not critical to the recipe. Any lager will do.

Epcot's Canadian Cheese Soup Recipe From Le Cellier (5)

The first step is to cut up the bacon in 1/4 inch pieces. The recipe calls for 6 oz of bacon, which when I measured was 6 slices of regular cut bacon.

Epcot's Canadian Cheese Soup Recipe From Le Cellier (6)

The next step is to cook the bacon. I make the soup in my Dutch oven, but any large pot will do.

Epcot's Canadian Cheese Soup Recipe From Le Cellier (7)

While the bacon is cooking, diced up the celery and onion.

You’ll add them next along with some butter.

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After you make a roux with the bacon, veggies, butter, and flour, you’ll add in the liquids (chicken stock and milk).

It’s important not to bring the soup to a full boil again after this due to the milk. It will simmer with the lid off for about 30 minutes.

While you are waiting get that box grater out and grate the cheese. Any brand of sharp white cheddar cheese will work – I use our local store brand.

Epcot's Canadian Cheese Soup Recipe From Le Cellier (9)

The last ingredients you add are the cheese, beer, Worcestershire sauce, and the secret ingredient – Tabasco!

Like I said it is definitely NOT Canadian, but it pulls all of the flavors together. Add salt and pepper to taste and you are ready to serve!

This recipe makes four cup-sized servings of soup. You can easily double it for larger servings or more people.

Any questions about making Canadian cheese soup? Please leave a comment below or joint the discussion in The Budget Mouse private Facebook group!

Here are a few other Disney copycat recipes you might like:

Yield: 4 servings

Epcot's Canadian Cheese Soup Recipe From Le Cellier (10)

Canadian cheddar cheese soup with bacon and beer inspired by the famous Le Cellier restaurant in Epcot's Canada pavilion!

Prep Time10 minutes

Cook Time30 minutes

Total Time40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 6 oz bacon (6 slices of regular cut bacon)
  • 1/2 medium onion, diced (about 1/2 up)
  • 1 large celery rib, diced (about 1/2 cup)
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups chicken stock
  • 1 1/2 cups milk (2% or whole recommended)
  • 8 oz. sharp white cheddar cheese
  • 1 teaspoon Tabasco
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 cup room temp lager beer
  • salt & fresh ground pepper to taste
  • chopped chives (or scallions) for garnish if desired

Instructions

    1. Cut bacon into 1/4 inch pieces. This is much easier if the bacon is very cold or even a bit frozen.

2. Cook bacon is a pot or Dutch oven over medium heat until lightly browned, about 5 minutes.

3. Add onion, celery, and butter and saute for 4-5 minutes or until onion is softened.

4. Add flour and saute for a few minutes over medium heat. Whisk in chicken stock and milk. Stir consistently until you see the first bubbles forming. Turn down to low heat and simmer uncovered for about 25 minutes.

5. Remove from heat and stir in cheese, Tabasco, Worcestershire sauce, and beer. If you want a smoother texture you can use an immersion blender (I like the texture the way it is).

6. Add salt and pepper to taste and serve with chopped scallions or chives.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 250

Epcot's Canadian Cheese Soup Recipe From Le Cellier (11)

Epcot's Canadian Cheese Soup Recipe From Le Cellier (2024)

FAQs

How to make cheese melt in soup? ›

MDP: The key is to add cheese at the very end, with just residual heat -- either after turning off the heat or at the very end. It's a similar technique as with pasta, how you have the burner very low or turned off. If heated too high, you risk clumping and if too low, not melting properly.

Why does cheese separate in soup? ›

Cheese can curdle when added to soup due to the high temperatures and acidity in the soup. The proteins in cheese are sensitive to heat and acid, causing them to separate and form curds.

How do you break down cheese in soup? ›

If your soup doesn't have the desired melted cheese consistency, you can try blending it with an immersion blender or transferring it to a regular blender. This can help break down any clumps and incorporate the cheese more evenly.

What is the best cheese to put in soup? ›

Mild cheddar, Colby, Monterey jack, mozzarella, Swiss and queso blanco can all work well. “The best cheeses to melt into soups are cheeses that are higher in moisture and have a lower melting point,” says Bauer. In addition to cheddar and Monterey jack, he recommends Fontina and Gruyère.

What is cheese soup made of? ›

Milk and/or broth such as chicken broth or stock are used to form the liquid basis for cheese soup. Additional ingredients can include half and half, beer, bread crumbs, butter, eggs, onion, onion juice, garlic, vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, carrot and celery, spices and seasonings.

How do you thicken cheese soup? ›

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute. For the best results, never add flour or cornstarch directly to your soup. If you do, it will clump up on top. Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool.

How do you keep cheddar cheese from clumping in soup? ›

When it's time to add the cheese into the soup, sprinkle it in in batches, stirring until each batch is melted before adding the next batch vs dumping it all in at once. This will ensure there are no clumps in the final soup.

Why is my cheese soup grainy? ›

Your soup may become grainy if the cheese or dairy curdles. With a recipe like the one that follow you shouldn't have trouble because the cheese is added as a finishing component, off heat. But to avoid “breaking” the dairy while reheating (or with other dairy-rich soups), take it low and slow.

How do I get my cheese to melt? ›

Apply Some Heat: At about 90°F (32°C) the fat in cheese begins to soften and melt. Increase the temperature by about 40-60 degrees and that's when the activity starts with the protein. The molecules begin to break apart and disperse throughout the fat and water.

How do you add cheese to soup without clumping it? ›

When it's time to add the cheese into the soup, sprinkle it in in batches, stirring until each batch is melted before adding the next batch vs dumping it all in at once. This will ensure there are no clumps in the final soup.

What can I add to cheese to make it melt? ›

One of the most common ways to help cheese melt smoothly is to add starch: this is a process that works in sauces like mornay, or nacho cheese sauce. Starches and other thickeners will physically impede fat molecules from joining up into larger droplets, as well as making the water phase of the cheese more viscous.

How to avoid cheese curdling in soup? ›

If the liquid boiled with the cheese in it, it can cause the cheese to 'sieze' and break up into little bits. Don't let the liquid boil, take it off the heat then add cheese, let it stand for a few minutes to melt, using the heat of the soup, then stir as desired.

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