Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe (2024)

HomeRecipe ListSoups and StewsCopycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe

Posted by Aimee 373 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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Instant Pot Taco Soup

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Instant Pot Lasagna Soup

Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe (8)

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Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup

4.67 from 799 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 is 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 ...

What is in Panera broccoli cheddar mac and cheese? ›

Cooked Enriched Pasta (Water, Semolina Wheat Flour, Egg Whites, Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Broccoli, Cheddar Cheese (Pasteurized Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes), Milk (Milk, Vitamin D), Heavy Cream, Contains 2% or less of: Carrots, Organic Canola Oil, Butter (Cream, ...

Is broccoli cheddar soup panera 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 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.

How to thicken up broccoli cheddar soup? ›

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 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.

Does Panera broccoli cheddar have carrots? ›

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

What is broccoli cheddar soup made of? ›

I sautéed the onions and garlic, and then I added 4 cups of chicken broth, carrots, and broccoli to the sautéed veggies. I let that simmer for about 20 minutes, and I mixed in the flour and butter thickener. Lastly I added the half and half and heavy cream, and stirred in the cheese.

What is the most unhealthy food at Panera? ›

10 Unhealthiest Panera Menu Items, According to Dietitians
  • Vanilla Cinnamon Roll.
  • Frozen Caramel Cold Brew.
  • Chipotle Chicken & Bacon Flatbread.
  • Mac & Cheese Bread Bowl.
  • Sausage, Scrambled Eggs, & Cheese on an Asiago Bagel.
  • Brownie.
  • Bacon Turkey Bravo Sandwich.
  • Pepperoni Flatbread Pizza.
Dec 8, 2023

What is the healthiest thing to get from Panera Bread? ›

  • Greek Yogurt with Mixed Berries Parfait.
  • Garden Avocado & Egg White Sandwich.
  • Steel Cut Oatmeal with Strawberries and Pecans.
  • Ciabatta Egg & Cheese Sandwich.
  • Ciabatta Ham, Egg & Cheese Sandwich.
  • Multigrain Bagel Flat with Plain Cream Cheese Spread.
  • Half Toasted Garden Caprese.
  • Half Toasted Frontega Chicken Sandwich.
Jul 10, 2024

Does panera broccoli cheddar soup have MSG in it? ›

This product is likely msg free.

Why won't my cheese melt in broccoli cheddar soup? ›

Why won't my cheese melt in my broccoli cheddar soup? This tends to happen when you use a pre-shredded cheese. Pre-shredded cheeses include anti-caking agents that will prevent them from melting properly in your soup. If you shredded your own cheese and it's still not melting, it may just need more time on the stove.

Why does broccoli cheddar soup make my stomach hurt? ›

Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, contain sugars that can be hard to digest for some people. The sugars can ferment in the digestive system, and cause gas and bloating.

What is the best melting cheese for 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.

Does the broccoli cheese soup at Panera have gluten? ›

Sadly, Panera's broccoli cheese soup contains wheat flour and therefore is not gluten free.

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