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I recently had lunch at Panera and decided to try to make Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup. I am happy to report that this copycat recipe turned out creamy and delicious. It is the best comfort food.
Not that long ago I had lunch at Panera with a friend and I ate their broccoli cheese soup. It was delicious and of course it got me thinking, how can I recreate this?
Well, I am happy to report that I have a wonderful Panera Bread copycat recipe Broccoli Cheese Soup. Just like my Copycat Chicken noodle soup I think you are going to love this easy soup recipe.
I love being able to enjoy great meals at home for a fraction of the price. Plus, it is just not always that convenient to go out. Now, I can make delicious soup at home anytime I want.
What's in this post: Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Why We Love This Recipe
This broccoli cheddar soup Panera Recipe is a family favorite. We love the creamy texture and how easy it is to make. Making this Panera Bread broccoli cheddar soup recipe at home will save you time and money.
Ingredients
- Melted Butter
- Onion
- Flour
- Heavy Cream
- Chicken Broth
- Fresh Broccoli
- Shredded Carrots
- Nutmeg
- Cheddar Cheese
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Scroll to the bottom of the post to see the full recipe.
Variations Ideas
- 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.
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 – 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.
Step 6 – Str in the Cheese – 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.
Is this Panera’s Broccoli Cheddar Soup gluten-free?
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.
Expert Tips:
- 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.
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.
- Copycat Panera Strawberry Poppyseed Salad
- Slow Cooker Dinner Rolls Recipe
- See What to Serve with Broccoli Cheese Soup for more side dishes
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.
More Easy Copycat Recipes
- Hot Chocolate Starbucks CopyCat Recipe
- Copycat Panera Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
- Panera Strawberry Poppyseed Salad
- Panera Bread Tomato Soup Recipe
Try these Other Soup Recipes:
- Crock pot Cheeseburger Soup Recipe
- Easy Crock pot Lasagna Soup Recipe
- Crockpot Black Bean Cilantro Soup
- Easy Crock pot Lasagna Soup Recipe
We love hearing from you. If you make this Panera broccoli cheddar soup recipe, please leave us a comment or a star review.
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
Instructions
- In a large pot, sauté the onion in 1 tablespoon melted butter until onions are soft. Add in the flour and ¼ cup melted butter.
- Stir with the onions over medium heat for about 3-4 minutes until the mixture thickens.
- Slowly whisk in the heavy cream and chicken broth.
- Add the broccoli and carrots. Simmer, covered on medium-low for about 25 minutes until the broccoli and carrots are tender.
- Add nutmeg, salt, pepper and sharp cheddar cheese. Let the cheese melt and then serve.
- Enjoy!
I am making the soup now but there is an error in your recipe. At the beginning it says to use half and half but in the recipe it says to use heavy cream. I am making it with half and half since that is what I saw originally. Just wondering which is correct so I can make your original recipe.
I’m so sorry for the confusion. I use heavy cream in this recipe and I have updated the post.
Half & Half or Whipping Cream
Whipping cream
Can this be frozen?
Yes, you can freeze this after it cooked in a freezer bag for up to 3-6 months.
That is one of my fave meals!
Carrie,You are a wonderful cook. Thank you for your recipes.
Just made this and absolutely loved it ??
Could I make this in the crock pot? If so what settings and time would you suggest? Thank you!
Yes, I think it would work great. I would cook it on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 3 hours in the crock pot. Let us know how it turns out. Thank you!
Can you freeze some for later?
What is a serving size?
Can I freeze leftover soup?
Do you think this soup can be frozen? It sounds delicious! I can’t wait to try it!! 🙂
When do you add the extra 1/4 cup butter and are there extra onions or is this just a typo? (Instruction #3)
Kari – Thank you! It was a typo. I have corrected the post. The 1/4 cup melted butter is added when the flour is added. Also, there are not extra onions to be added so I have removed that duplication. Thank you for letting me know! 🙂