Panera Tomato Soup Recipe Copycat (2024)

By Robin Gagnon | Updated on

Articles may contain compensated links

Today, I have a copycat version of the Panera Tomato Soup Recipe for you. If you love Panera Bread restaurant, and especially their vegetariancreamy tomato soup then this is for you!

Table of Contents show

This homemade tomato soup recipe is great for those days you would much rather just hang out in your PJs. Creamy Tomato soup can be so comforting.

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Do you love Panera's Creamy Tomato Soup? Well, I have a copycat recipe for you, so you can still enjoy this delicious vegetarian creamy tomato soup at home, when you can't make it to an actual Panera Bread location.

How to Make Panera Bread Tomato Soup

Let's prepare a pot of this panera creamy tomato soup. It is quite easy to make and I will walk you through it. Jump down to the printable recipe card if you prefer.

The recipe makes 6 servings.

Prep Time: 15 mins | Cooking Time: 30 mins

What you need to Make the Tomato Soup

Here is everything required to make this easy tomato soup.

Panera Tomato Soup Recipe Copycat (2)
  • ½tablespoonolive oillight or classic
  • ½medium onionchopped
  • 1medium carrotschopped
  • 1celery ribchopped
  • 3clovesgarlicfinely minced
  • ½tspred pepper flakes
  • basilto taste
  • salt and black pepperto taste
  • 2bay leaves
  • 3tablespoonsflour
  • 3 ½cupslow sodium chicken stock(or vegetable stock for vegetarian version)
  • 28ozfire roasted tomatoescan, diced, drained (or you can use 8 fresh tomatoes,diced)
  • ¼cuptomato paste
  • ½tbssugar
  • ½cupheavy cream
  • 2tablespoonsunsalted butter
  • hot sauceto taste (optional)
  • croutonsoptional
  • sour creamoptional
  • fresh basil or parsley optional garnish

You will also need a Dutch oven or other good soup pot.

Preparing

Put olive oil in a large stockpot over medium heat.

Panera Tomato Soup Recipe Copycat (3)

Once hot, add onion, carrot, celery & garlic. Stir to coat with oil, then add salt, pepper, and pepper flakes (a couple pinches of each).

Panera Tomato Soup Recipe Copycat (4)

Stir frequently until the veggies are lightly browned.

Sprinkle the flour over the veggies and stir to evenly coat.

Pour in chicken stock.

Add tomatoes, tomato paste, bay and sugar. Stir. Bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer and cover. Simmer for 15 minutes, then remove from burner and retrieve the bay leaves.

Pour the mixture to a blender till ¾ of the way full, and puree. Temporarily, pour puree into a bowl, while repeating the pureeing with remaining soup. (If you have an immersion blender, you can puree soup right in the pot.)

Panera Tomato Soup Recipe Copycat (5)

Return all the pureed soup to the pan and stir in the butter and cream. Turn burner on to medium, and cook for 5 minutes, stirring regularly.

Panera Tomato Soup Recipe Copycat (6)

Give the tomato bisque a final seasoning, with salt & pepper and adding in the basil or fresh chopped parsley (to taste). Add hot sauce, (if you like) to taste.

Panera Tomato Soup Recipe Copycat (7)

To Serve: Garnish with a dollop of sour cream or croutons

Serving

Try teaming this rich vegetarian soup with my Copycat Panera Tuna Sandwich or a crispy grilled cheese sandwich! It is also great in a soup and salad pairing. A simple tossed salad with my copycat Chick-fil-a Avocado Lime Ranch dressing would be an excellent choice.

Storing the Soup

Whether you want to make a pot of this copycat Panera tomato soup ahead of time or need to store leftovers, it holds well.

Panera Tomato Soup Recipe Copycat (8)

Simply cool the soup to room temperature, then seal in an airtight container and place in the refrigerator or freezer. It will last for up to 4 days in the fridge and as long as 3 months when frozen.

If you love soups and enjoy making copycat recipes you should also try my other Panera Bread soups; Panera Broccoli Cheddar soup recipe and the now discontinued in the restaurants, Panera Vegetable Soup. My Olive Garden Minestrone Soup Recipe is also quite popular.

Panera Tomato Soup Recipe Copycat (9)

Copycat Panera Tomato Soup

Copycat Panera BreadCreamy Tomato Soup recipe that makes the creamy tomato soup just like is served at the restaurants!

4.95 from 34 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Soup

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Panera Tomato Soup, Tomato Bisque

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 servings

Calories: 200kcal

Author: Robin Gagnon

Ingredients

  • ½ tablespoon olive oil light or classic
  • ½ medium yellow onion chopped
  • 1 medium carrots chopped
  • 1 celery rib chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic finely minced
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • basil to taste
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 3 tablespoons flour
  • 3 ½ cups low sodium chicken stock (or vegetable stock for vegetarian version)
  • 28 oz fire roasted tomatoes can, diced, drained (or you can use 8 fresh tomatoes,diced)
  • ¼ cup tomato paste
  • ½ tbs sugar
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • hot sauce to taste (optional)
  • croutons optional
  • sour cream optional
  • parsley optional

Instructions

  • Put olive oil in a large stockpot over medium heat.

  • Once hot, add onion, carrot, celery and garlic. Stir to coat with oil, then add salt, pepper, and pepper flakes (a couple pinches of each). Stir frequently until the veggies are lightly browned.

  • Sprinkle the flour over the veggies and stir to evenly coat.

  • Pour in chicken stock.

  • Add tomatoes, tomato paste, bay and sugar. Stir. Bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer and cover. Simmer for 15 minutes, then remove from burner and retrieve the bay leaves.

  • Pour the mixture to a blender till ¾ of the way full, and puree. Temporarily, pour puree into a bowl, while repeating the pureeing with remaining soup. (If you have an immersion blender, puree the soup right in the pot.)

  • Return all the pureed soup to the pan and stir in the cream and butter. Turn burner on to medium, and cook for 5 minutes, stirring regularly.

  • Give the tomato bisque a final seasoning, with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Add in the basil (to taste).

  • To Serve: Garnish with a dollop of sour cream, croutons, and fresh chopped parsley or more basil.

Notes

For an authentic Panera experience, make homemade croutons from focaccia bread to serve with the soup.

Storing

Seal cooled copycat panera tomato soup in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 200kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 32mg | Sodium: 380mg | Potassium: 326mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 2884IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 2mg

Related Posts

  • Copycat Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino Recipe

  • Copycat Wendy's Chili Recipe

  • Copycat Panera Tuna Salad Sandwich Recipe

« Chicken Cooking Safety Tips

Vegan Chicken Fajita Skillet Recipe »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. John says

    I've only been to Panera once, but a good tomato soup is something I'm always going to try. I'll have to bookmark this and try it out in a few months when the weather is more conducive to soup. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply

  2. Vickie says

    Fantastic tomato soup! I didn't have enough chicken stock on hand, so used half chicken and half beef stock. Otherwise I followed your recipe exactly! This is a Keeper! Thanks!

    Reply

    • Robin Gagnon says

      Thanks for the feedback. I am happy you enjoyed it.

      Reply

  3. Stephanie R says

    While I have never had Panera's yours looks amazing. I'm going to had to make this for my family!

    Reply

  4. Lisa says

    This is delicious and tastes exactly like Panera's!

    Reply

  5. McKenzie says

    How many does this recipe serve?

    Reply

    • Robin Gagnon says

      The recipe should provide 6-8 servings of soup.

      Reply

  6. Kathy says

    Delicious! Received lots of compliments and my picky husband loves it!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Panera Tomato Soup Recipe Copycat (2024)

FAQs

Panera Tomato Soup Recipe Copycat? ›

Detailed Ingredients

Tomatoes (Tomatoes, Tomato Puree, Citric Acid), Water, Heavy Cream, Onions, Contains 2% or less of: Butter (Cream, Salt), Seasoning (Sugar, Salt, Spices), Corn Starch, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Garlic and Nisin Preparation.

What are the ingredients in Panera's tomato soup? ›

Detailed Ingredients

Tomatoes (Tomatoes, Tomato Puree, Citric Acid), Water, Heavy Cream, Onions, Contains 2% or less of: Butter (Cream, Salt), Seasoning (Sugar, Salt, Spices), Corn Starch, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Garlic and Nisin Preparation.

Is Panera's tomato soup healthy? ›

The Creamy Tomato Soup provides 8 grams of saturated fat—62% of the American Heart Association's daily recommendation. And since just 1 gram of fiber and 4 grams of protein are all this soup has to offer, it's not a very balanced choice.

Why do you put baking soda in tomato soup? ›

A small pinch of baking soda can help balance the pH levels and reduce the overall acidity. This can result in a milder and less tangy flavor, making the soup taste better! Also, if you want a tomato cream soup- it'll help prevent the milk from curdling when added!

What does tomato soup taste like Panera? ›

Vine-ripened pear tomatoes pureed with fresh cream for a velvety smooth flavor accented by hints of red pepper and oregano and topped with black pepper and sea salt croutons.

Does Panera make their own soup? ›

That Soup Isn't Made In-House

It may taste homemade, but that Panera soup wasn't actually prepared by the workers at your local shop. "The soups are made at a factory/plant/etc., flash-frozen, shipped to us, and we thaw it out in what's called a thermalizer, essentially a soup-thawer," says one former employee.

What's the difference between creamy tomato soup and tomato soup? ›

But what about cream of tomato soup? Any “cream of” soup, tomato included, is pureed like a normal soup but then goes through a “creaming” process, wherein cream is added to the mixture. Cream of tomato soup is actually cooked at a much lower temperature than normal tomato soup.

What is the most unhealthy food at Panera? ›

The unhealthiest lunch order at Panera is…the new Bacon Mac and Cheese Bread Bowl. At Panera, you can order any of the soups or mac and cheese in a bread bowl, which is a bowl made entirely of Panera's Artisinal Sourdough Bread.

What's the healthiest soup at Panera Bread? ›

The next time you find yourself going for the infamous Panera broccoli cheddar soup, try out the cream of chicken and wild rice instead. This healthier option is lower in calories, fat, and carbs, but the flavors are just as satisfying. Plus, the long grain and wild rice are great for protein and healthy carbs.

Is tomato soup good for your kidneys? ›

Tomatoes. Tomatoes are high in potassium. People in the earlier stages of kidney disease don't usually have to limit their consumption of tomatoes. If your healthcare provider says your potassium levels are high, however, tomatoes may have to be on your restricted foods list.

How to make tomato soup taste better? ›

Adding cooked meat that's high in protein is an easy way to make canned tomato soup taste better and more filling. Chopped bacon pairs well with tomato soup for a BLT-esque soup, or try adding in crumbled ground meat like spicy sausage for some added flavor.

Why does my homemade tomato soup taste bitter? ›

Leaf states that this can be due to burning the sauce in the pot or simply dealing with a batch of produce that are overly acidic or metallic from canning or cooking. This can also come from under-ripe or low-quality tomatoes, as well as stirring in a hefty amount of tomato paste, per Boss The Kitchen.

Are you supposed to put milk in tomato soup? ›

Heavy cream is the best way to get that classic creamy flavor we know and love. In its place I have tried, to no avail, every other dairy for creamy tomato soup: half-and-half works in a pinch, milk makes the soup too thin, and yogurt is too acidic.

What is Panera's best selling soup? ›

The top three favorite soups nationwide are:
  • Broccoli Cheddar Soup with 54.6M servings.
  • Homestyle Chicken Noodle Soup with 23M servings.
  • Creamy Tomato Soup with 22.3M servings.
Apr 1, 2024

What is comparable to Panera? ›

Panera Bread's competitors and similar companies include Sweetgreen, Del Taco, Starbucks, Restaurant Brands International, Au Bon Pain and Dine Brands Global. Panera Bread is a company that owns and operates a chain of bakery cafés.

Can you freeze Panera tomato soup? ›

For soups sold in our bakery-cafes, freezing and then reheating is safe. Both the FDA and USDA recommend that consumers can store soups and stews in an airtight, clean container for up to 2-3 months in the freezer. We do not recommend storing our soups in the refrigerator.

Does Panera tomato soup have milk? ›

Contains Milk, Wheat

Indicates that the sodium (salt) content of this item is higher than the total daily recommended limit (2,300 mg).

Does Panera use artificial ingredients? ›

Our Food Beliefs serve as a compass, helping us provide meals that are delicious, and made with high-quality, select ingredients. Clean Foods - Clean simply means we don't fill our pantry with the artificial preservatives, sweeteners, flavors, and colors from artificial sources that are listed on our No No List.

What are the ingredients in canned tomato soup? ›

WATER, TOMATO PUREE (WATER, TOMATO PASTE), SUGAR, WHEAT FLOUR, VEGETABLE OIL (CORN, CANOLA, AND/OR SOYBEAN), CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF: SALT, POTASSIUM SALT, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, CREAM, CITRIC ACID, SOY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, NATURAL FLAVORING, CELERY EXTRACT, GARLIC OIL.

Is tomato soup good for you? ›

Heart Health Hero: Tomato soup is excellent for heart health. Thanks to its lycopene content, potassium, and fiber, it helps in lowering high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The soup's low saturated fat content also makes it a heart-friendly choice.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Pres. Lawanda Wiegand

Last Updated:

Views: 6257

Rating: 4 / 5 (51 voted)

Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Pres. Lawanda Wiegand

Birthday: 1993-01-10

Address: Suite 391 6963 Ullrich Shore, Bellefort, WI 01350-7893

Phone: +6806610432415

Job: Dynamic Manufacturing Assistant

Hobby: amateur radio, Taekwondo, Wood carving, Parkour, Skateboarding, Running, Rafting

Introduction: My name is Pres. Lawanda Wiegand, I am a inquisitive, helpful, glamorous, cheerful, open, clever, innocent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.