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

What are the ingredients in Panera broccoli cheddar soup? ›

Milk, Chicken Stock (Chicken Base [Chicken Meat Including Chicken Juices, Salt, Chicken Fat, Yeast Extract, Sugar, Natural Flavor, Potato Flour, Carrot Powder, Turmeric]), Water, Broccoli, Pasteurized Process Cheddar Cheese (Cheddar Cheese [Pasteurized Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes], Whey, Whey Protein ...

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.

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.

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.

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.

Is Panera's 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."

What is Panera discontinuing? ›

Panera Bread said it's discontinuing its Charged Sips drinks Panera Bread is getting rid of Charged Lemonade from its menu. The highly caffeinated beverage is at the center of at least two wrongful death lawsuits.

Does Panera soup and grocery store taste 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!

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 ...

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.

Why does my broccoli soup taste bland? ›

If your Broccoli Soup tastes bland, there are several potential reasons. Here are some common culprits and suggestions to enhance the flavour: Insufficient seasoning. Solution: Taste the soup and adjust the salt and pepper accordingly.

Why is my broccoli cheddar soup watery? ›

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.

What kind of cheese melts best 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.

Why do you avoid simmering your soup after adding the cheese? ›

If you are adding cheese to hot liquid, it can become stringy or seizes. If you are adding any cheese to hot liquid, my best tip is to use the finest shreds you can and let the cheese come to room temperature and take the soup off any heat when you stir in the cheese.

How can I thicken my broccoli cheddar 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.

What are the ingredients in Panera soup? ›

Water, Chicken Raised Without Antibiotics, Carrots, Enriched Noodles (Semolina Wheat Flour, Eggs, Egg Whites, Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Celery, Contains 2% or less of: Onions, Chicken Stock, Natural Flavor, Sea Salt, Chicken Fat, Corn Starch, Garlic, Yeast Extract, Parsley, ...

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.

Does Panera broccoli cheddar soup have dairy? ›

Contains Milk, Wheat

Please note that we cannot guarantee that any of our menu items are free of allergens because we use shared equipment and handle common allergens throughout our supply chain and bakery-cafe.

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.

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