Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe (2024)

HomeRecipe ListSoups and StewsCopycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe

Posted by Aimee 374 comments
Published: Oct 21, 2019 Last Updated: Nov 2, 2023

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup is ready in less than 30 minutes! The perfect bowl of comfort food without leaving your house!

Love easy soup recipes? Be sure to try our Chicken Taco Soup for a family favorite dinner. Or try our hearty Lasagna Soup recipe!

Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe (1)

Table of Contents

  • Copycat Panera Recipes
  • Ingredient Notes
  • Step by Step Instructions
  • More Copycat Panera Recipes
  • Serving Suggestions
  • More Easy Dinner Ideas
  • Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe

Copycat Panera Recipes

My family doesn’t love traditional fast food. Which I suppose is a good thing, except when I’m looking to just pick up a quick, on the go meal I’m limited by their taste buds!

Fortunately (or not) for us, our Panera Bread has a drive through, and it’s one of the “fast food” choices we all love. Except it’s pricey. They don’t have a dollar menu!

My goal with my blog has been to create a database of recipes that my family loves.

Things like Starbucks Lemon Loaf, Panera Mac and Cheese, and Hostess Cupcakes. If my kids are craving it, I can probably recreate it!

With today’s Broccoli Cheese Soup recipe, we may never have to actually go to Panera again.

When I can make Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup at home, I know I’m saving us some money and a trip out.

Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe (2)

Ingredient Notes

From start to finish, this Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup recipe takes less than 30 minutes.

Real talk: It will probably take less time to make this soup at home than it would to get everyone in the car and drive to Panera. Not to mention the drive back home!

Broccoli: You can always use fresh broccoli to make Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup, but it’s ok if you want to reach into the freezer for a bag of frozen broccoli florets. We’ve all done it a time or two and they’ll be just as delicious in this soup!

Broth: Keep this soup vegetarian by using vegetable broth in place of the chicken broth.

My Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup recipe makes 3-4 decent sized bowls of soup…but you can easily double the recipe if you have hungry eaters, and this is your main dish.

You could also serve this soup as a side alongside sandwiches. Try my Turkey Cheddar Sliders or, if you want to mix favorites from different restaurants, Copycat Chick-fil-A Chicken Salad Sandwiches.

Step by Step Instructions

Want less chunks in your soup? Use an immersion blender to smooth it out! Our family loved this soup, it’s a great recipe for busy weeknights!

Today’s Broccoli Cheddar Soup can also be made in the Instant Pot!Dinner in under 30 minutes! Loaded with vegetables and cheese, you’ll love this easy, creamyInstant Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup Recipe! It’s the BEST!

Slow cooker: Use our slow cooker broccoli cheddar soup recipe for a great, fix it and forget it meal!

More Copycat Panera Recipes

Does your family love Panera as much as mine does? Lucky for you, I have a whole list of recipes I’ve recreated from Panera.

In addition to the Broccoli Cheese Soup, our family loves

  • Panera Mac and Cheese
  • Orange Scones
  • Kitchen Sink Cookies
  • Strawberry Pecan Salad.
Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe (3)

Serving Suggestions

Easy, butteryBeer Breadgoes perfect with this soup! Also great to cube into bite sized pieces and use for dips!

Are you looking for a fluffy, delicious Dinner Roll? TheseNo Knead Garlic Parmesan Dinner Rollswill please the whole family!

Easiest side dish ever. Whip up a batch of these Puff Pastry Bread Sticks to dunk in your soup!

You can also go to most bakery sections in the grocery store and find a great homemade bread bowl!

More Easy Dinner Ideas

  • Tomato Soup
  • Lemon Garlic Pasta
  • French Onion Soup
  • Zuppa Toscana Soup
  • Pasta fa*gioli Recipe
  • Pork Ragu

Easy Soup Recipes

See all Soups and Stews recipes

Soups and Stews

Zuppa Toscana Soup Recipe

Soups and Stews

Chicken Pot Pie Soup Recipe

Soups and Stews

Instant Pot Pasta e fa*gioli Recipe

Soups and Stews

Instant Pot Taco Soup

Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe (8)

SavePinPrint

Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup

4.67 from 801 votes

By: Aimee

Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup is ready in less than 30 minutes! The perfect bowl of comfort food without leaving your house!

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup unsalted butter
  • ½ cup diced onions yellow or white
  • 1 cup shredded carrots I used matchsticks that I cut into half inch pieces
  • 2 1/2-3 cups broccoli florets chopped small
  • 1 ½ cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup milk I use skim/fat free
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • pinch of crushed red pepper flakes or more as desired
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

  • In a large pot over medium high heat, melt butter. Add in onions, carrots and broccoli. Cook to soften about 5 minutes (may be more or less depending on the size vegetables you cut).

  • Slowly add in broth, milk, and cream. Sprinkle with flour and add salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Continue stirring and heating over medium heat until thickened. This will take about 10-15 minutes.

  • Once thick, add cheese and stir until melted and smooth. Serve soup and enjoy!

Notes

  • Easily double the ingredients to make more of this delicious soup!
  • Use a good quality cheddar cheese for best results. And shred the cheese yourself for the creamiest results.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 724kcal, Carbohydrates: 39g, Protein: 26g, Fat: 55g, Saturated Fat: 33g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 17g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 160mg, Sodium: 1374mg, Fiber: 11g, Sugar: 12g

Course: Soups and Stews

Cuisine: American

Did you make this recipe?Mention @shugarysweets or tag #shugarysweets!

Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup is ready in less than 30 minutes! The perfect bowl of comfort food without leaving your house!

Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Does Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup have carrots in it? ›

About This. Chopped broccoli, shredded carrots and select seasonings simmered in a velvety smooth cheese sauce.

Is panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup healthy? ›

Panera's Broccoli Cheddar Soup is extremely high in fat and calories. This recipe uses JUST enough butter and swaps out the heavy cream for evaporated milk to keep this version of broccoli cheese soup creamy and rich, yet lower in fat and calories. Family-Favorite Recipe.

Is Panera soup at the grocery store the same? ›

Our Panera at Home products are inspired by the recipes served in our bakery-cafes, but the recipes are not identical. While they're not the exact same, they let you enjoy the flavor profiles of your Panera favorites!

Why won t my cheese melt in my Broccoli Cheddar Soup? ›

Grate the cheese yourself.

Pre-shredded cheese is often coated in anti-caking agents that can prevent the cheese from melting into a lusciously creamy soup. To ensure that your broccoli cheddar soup has the best smooth and creamy texture, buy a block of cheese and grate it yourself.

Is Panera getting rid of broccoli cheddar soup? ›

“Panera will absolutely be serving longtime guest favorites like sourdough on sandwiches and via its iconic sourdough bread bowl and other longtime favs like French onion soup, broccoli cheddar soup, Toasted Frontega Chicken sandwich, mac & cheese, the kitchen sink cookie and more,” a Panera spokesperson clarified, ...

Why is Panera broccoli cheddar not vegetarian? ›

One major complaint people have about the soup is that it is not vegetarian because it is made with chicken stock. I've called for vegetable broth here, although you could certainly use chicken stock if the vegetarian factor isn't a priority for you.

What is the most unhealthy food at Panera? ›

The Bacon Mac and Cheese Bread Bowl is packed with:

"With a staggering 1,180 calories, 39 grams of fat, and 164 grams of carbohydrates, it delivers a hefty caloric punch laden with unhealthy fats and carbohydrates," says Sabat.

What is the healthiest Panera soup? ›

You might be surprised at where each of your favorites falls on the list!
  • The Healthiest Panera Soup: Turkey Chili.
  • Cream of Chicken and Wild Rice Soup.
  • Homestyle Chicken Noodle Soup.
  • Vegetarian Autumn Squash Soup.
  • Bistro French Onion.
  • Creamy Tomato Soup.
  • The Unhealthiest Panera Soup: Broccoli Cheddar Soup.
Dec 26, 2023

What is the healthiest soup you can eat? ›

These healthy soup recipes are packed full of goodness but they also pack a punch when it comes to flavour.
  • Chicken Vietnamese Pho.
  • Green spring minestrone.
  • Herb and yoghurt-based soup.
  • Lamb shank and barley soup.
  • Pumpkin soup with star croutons.
  • Lentil and vegetable soup with crusty bread.
Apr 26, 2020

What company did Panera merge with? ›

JAB Holding, the investment arm of the Reimann family, bought Panera Bread in 2017 for $7.5 billion, taking it private. The firm combined the sandwich chain with Einstein Bros. Bagels and Caribou Coffee to form Panera Brands.

Why did Panera change their name? ›

Six years after its founding, St. Louis Bread Company was bought by Au Bon Pain, a French bakery led by Ron Shaich. Shaich then changed the name to Panera Bread in 1997, which is Latin for “bread basket.” From there, Schaich grew the chain into the fast-casual restaurant that we know today.

Who makes soup for Panera? ›

Blount Fine Foods, formerly Blount Seafood, is a prepared foods and soup manufacturer that produces wholesale frozen and fresh soups under the Blount brand as well as Panera Bread and Legal Sea Foods. Blount Fine Foods is headquartered in Fall River, Massachusetts with a production facility in Warren, Rhode Island.

How do I thicken my broccoli cheese soup? ›

Charring broccoli florets and simmering the stems builds in layers of broccoli flavor. Adding a potato to the simmering soup provides a natural thickener that helps the cheese emulsify and gives the soup a creamy texture.

Why is my cheese clumping in broccoli cheddar soup? ›

If heated too high, you risk clumping and if too low, not melting properly. With soup, you might be able to fix it with an immersion blender, or you might not. At a temperature of 150 or so, the protein bonds in the cheese break down and as a result, too much fo the moisture escapes too quickly.

What is the best cheese for melting 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 does broccoli cheddar soup contain? ›

A bakery-cafe inspired favorite made with chopped broccoli, shredded carrots and select seasonings simmered in a velvety smooth cheese sauce. No artificial preservatives, sweeteners, flavors or colors from artificial sources.

Is Panera potato soup vegetarian? ›

This product contains 2 ingredients that are not vegetarian and 4 ingredients that may not be vegetarian.

Is Campbell's broccoli cheddar soup vegetarian? ›

Campbell's® Broccoli Cheese soup is the perfect blend of Broccoli and Cheese in a creamy soup base, and has no artificial flavours or colours. This creamy soup is made with broccoli and real cheddar cheese, and is Vegetarian. It comes in a convenient Non BPA lined can.

Why does broccoli cheddar soup separate? ›

The temperature you cook Broccoli Cheese Soup at is key to making sure it doesn't end up grainy or curdled. Medium heat is best for dairy-based soups so it doesn't boil and curdle.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Rev. Leonie Wyman

Last Updated:

Views: 5818

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (79 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Rev. Leonie Wyman

Birthday: 1993-07-01

Address: Suite 763 6272 Lang Bypass, New Xochitlport, VT 72704-3308

Phone: +22014484519944

Job: Banking Officer

Hobby: Sailing, Gaming, Basketball, Calligraphy, Mycology, Astronomy, Juggling

Introduction: My name is Rev. Leonie Wyman, I am a colorful, tasty, splendid, fair, witty, gorgeous, splendid person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.