This Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup is rich, creamy, and loaded with fresh broccoli, carrots, and cheddar cheese. A cozy, comforting classic you can make easily at home with simple ingredients!
Panera’s Broccoli Cheddar Soup has always been one of my favorite comfort foods because it is rich, creamy, and full of mellow cheddar flavor. Making it at home feels like such a win because it tastes just as cozy but is even creamier and more customizable.
I just found this recipe yesterday and made it for dinner today. It was delicious. My kids loved it and said it was as good as panera. It was easy and much cheaper plus we have left overs. Thank you so much for posting this.
-Laura
Whether it’s a chilly evening or you just need a bowl of something soothing, this soup always hits the spot. Add a crusty bread bowl, and you may never go back to the restaurant version again!
If you love this Easy Soup Recipe, you must try this broccoli soup with cheddar cheese or Copycat Chicken noodle soup!
Ingredients
- Melted Butter – We used unsalted butter
- Onion – Chop onion ahead of time and learn how to freeze onion
- Flour – Helps to thicken the broth
- Heavy Cream – Added for a creamy broth
- Low Sodium Chicken Broth – If you are out see Chicken broth substitutes
- Fresh Broccoli – Feel free to add in other veggies. Chopped Cauliflower would be a great addition
- Shredded Carrots – Matchstick Carrots work best
- Nutmeg – Added for warm flavors
- Cheddar Cheese – Use freshly shredded cheese for the best flavor and to easily melt
- Salt and Pepper to taste – Simple spices
Scroll to the bottom of the post to see the full recipe.
How to Make Panera’s Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Step 1 – Sauté the Onion – In a large pot, sauté the onion in 1 tablespoon melted butter until onions are soft.
Step 2 – Make a Roux – Add in the flour and ¼ cup melted butter. Stir with the onions over medium-low heat for about 3-4 minutes.
Step 3 – Add in Liquids – Slowly whisk in the heavy cream and chicken stock. Let this simmer for about 20 minutes on the stove-top.
Step 4 – Mix in Vegetables – Add the broccoli florets and carrots. Simmer on medium-low for about 25 minutes until the broccoli and carrots are tender.
Step 5 – Add in the Seasoning – Add nutmeg, salt and pepper. Add in the sharp cheddar cheese. Let the cheese melt and then serve. For a smoother and to thicken the soup you can puree with a immersion blender. But we love the bite size pieces!
Step 6 – Serve and Enjoy – Serve this soup in regular bowls or a bread bowl. Add extra sharp cheese to the top when serving.
Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon melted butter
- ½ medium onion chopped
- ¼ cup melted butter
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 2 cups chicken broth
- ½ lb fresh broccoli (chopped into bite size pieces)
- 1 carrot (peeled and shredded0.
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 8 ounces grated sharp cheddar cheese
- salt and pepper to taste
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Instructions
- In a large pot, sauté chopped onion in melted butter until the onions are soft.
- Add all purpose flour and melted butter to the pot. Stir with the onions over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes until the mixture thickens.
- Slowly whisk in heavy cream and chicken broth until combined.
- Add fresh broccoli chopped into bite-size pieces and peeled and shredded carrot. Cover and simmer on medium-low for about 25 minutes until the broccoli and carrots are tender.
- Stir in nutmeg, salt and pepper to taste, and grated sharp cheddar cheese. Let the cheese melt completely.
- Enjoy!
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
- Add Flavor – Feel free to change the seasoning to what you prefer in this broccoli cheddar soup at home. You can add in garlic, paprika, or ground mustard.
- Vegetable Stock – If you prefer you can use vegetable stock instead of chicken broth.
- Frozen Broccoli – You can use frozen broccoli, but I would recommend allowing the broccoli to thaw before adding to the soup.
- Combining the Ingredients – We recommend allowing the soup to simmer. This allows the soup to thicken as the vegetables soften.
- Slurry – If the soup needs to be thicken, make a cornstarch slurry. Mix together 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with water and combine. Then mix into the soup to allow it to thicken.
- Cheese – We recommend shredding the cheese yourself instead of using pre-shredded cheese. Pre-shredded cheese has added ingredients that may not make the cheese to melt well.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Suggestions
This Panera broccoli cheese soup recipe is delicious just the way it is. But we also to make sure to serve our favorite crusty bread to get every last drop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Store broccoli cheese soup Panera recipe in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge.
Reheat the leftovers in the microwave or stovetop depending on how much you have left.
No, it is not due to the flour in the soup. You can try using a gluten free flour as a substitute in the soup if you need to make it gluten free.
More Easy Panera Copycat Recipes
- Copycat Panera Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
- Panera Strawberry Poppyseed Salad
- Panera Bread Tomato Soup Recipe
More Easy Soup Recipes
We love hearing from you. If you make this Panera broccoli cheddar soup recipe, please leave us a comment or a star review.
Creamy, delicious and so easy to prepare!
Susan, I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review.