Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe (2024)

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Posted by Aimee 368 comments
Published: Oct 21, 2019 Last Updated: Nov 2, 2023

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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

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Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe (8)

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Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup

4.67 from 796 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

Did Panera change their Broccoli Cheddar Soup? ›

It's here: our new clean Broccoli Cheddar Soup. No artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners or preservatives. We're adding #SoupReview tweets to our never-ending trailer at PaneraSoupReview.com.

Is panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup healthy? ›

The Unhealthiest Panera Soup: Broccoli Cheddar Soup

In a 1-cup serving, expect 46% of the daily recommended limit of 2,300 milligrams. "Diets high in sodium can lead to high blood pressure," says Michelle Rauch, MS, RDN. "Hypertension is a major risk factor associated with heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease."

Why does my Broccoli Cheddar Soup taste grainy? ›

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.

Does Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup have milk? ›

Detailed Ingredients

Allergens: Milk, Wheat.

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.

Did Panera change their recipe? ›

In addition to the new products, 12 classic favorites – including the Bravo Club Sandwich, Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt, the Fuji Apple Chicken Salad and more have received recipe enhancements – keeping the classic Panera favorites guests expect and remember, packed with even more delicious flavors that guests will ...

What is 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.

What is the healthiest soup you can eat? ›

6 delicious and healthy soups
  • 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

Is Panera healthier than McDonald's? ›

Is Panera really healthier than McDonald's? ​A new study has found that meals served at fast-casual restaurants such as Panera Bread Co. and Chipotle Mexican Grill, which are often perceived as healthier options, contain more calories than meals at fast-food restaurants like McDonald's.

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.

Why does broccoli cheddar soup make my stomach hurt? ›

Broccoli also can be the culprit behind a slew of stomach-related symptoms. Not only does the veggie — or more specifically, the intestinal bacteria that breaks the fibrous content down — cause gas, but that gas can actually be painful, too. Because the gas expands the intestines, its lining and walls become stretched.

Why didn't my broccoli cheddar soup thicken? ›

Cook It Longer

Sometimes soup just needs to simmer longer to reach the perfect consistency. Check to see if the vegetables are tender, and then taste the broth. If the soup tastes a bit watery, give it more time.

Why is Panera's broccoli cheddar soup so good? ›

If it's been a minute since you've had Panera Bread's Broccoli Cheddar Soup, let me tell you everything that they do right: this soup is velvety, lightweight, and smooth; the broccoli florets are perfectly sized and many come whole; and the addition of shredded carrots bring out a whole new depth of flavor that sets it ...

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, ...

Is cream of broccoli soup the same as broccoli cheddar soup? ›

If there is leftover broccoli, there will be Cream of Broccoli Soup or Broccoli Cheese Soup. The preparation for the Cream of Broccoli is the same excluding the cheese. I like to garnish the Cream of Broccoli Soup with just a few pieces of the cooked broccoli.

What Panera soups were recalled? ›

On June 24, 2022, Panera parent company Blount Fine Foods issued a voluntary limited recall of Panera at Home Southwest Corn Chowder. The soup is described by Panera as being a creamy potato and corn soup with roasted corn, poblano peppers, and black beans.

Did Panera change their menu? ›

Panera's menu is getting a major refresh, just in time for spring. The bakery-café chain just revealed that it's adding nine new items and revamping 12 popular favorites in what it calls its “biggest menu transformation in brand history.” If it reminds of you of the great Subway menu revamp of 2022, you're not alone.

Why did my broccoli cheddar soup curdle? ›

Curdling in a cream soup usually occurs when the milk or cream is added at too high of a heat. As you incorporate the milk and broth into the cooked onion and flour mixture, keep the heat at medium and stir continuously with a whisk. Once all is mixed in, then proceed to heat to a boil.

Why is Panera broccoli cheddar soup 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.

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