Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup Recipe • Food Folks and Fun (2024)

ThisCopycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Souprecipe tastes just like the original! Save money by making this soup at home!

Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup Recipe • Food Folks and Fun (1)

You will love this Copycat Panera Bread Broccoli Cheddar Soup

I have found that we have been eating A LOT of soup this winter. However, we have some favorites that we love to get when we’re out and about.

One of them is theBroccoli Cheese Soup from Panera. But I do not love driving in the snow. So what am I to do when I crave one of my favorite soups, and it’s snowing outside?

I decided to develop acopycat recipeof my favoritesoupfrom Panera. The best part of this soup is that it takes less time to make this recipe than it takes actually to drive to Panera and come home, score!

Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup Recipe • Food Folks and Fun (2)

Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe ingredients (and cost!)

Per Serving Cost: $1.60

Recipe Cost: $6.40

NOTE: The recipe prices are used calculating name brand products from Walmart’s website. The recipe’s actual cost will vary depending on what your pantry is already stocked with and current grocery prices.

5 Tablespoons salted butter – $0.50
½ cup chopped yellow onion – $0.31
¼cup all-purpose flour – $0.08
1 ¾cups chicken broth – $0.84
2 cups half-and-half – $0.88
3 cups broccoli florets – $2.08
1 cup julienned carrots – $0.42
1 teaspoon salt – $0.01
8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese, mild or sharp – $1.28

COOK’S TOOLS

Cutting board
Chef’s knife
Large heavy-bottomed pot
Wooden spoon
Whisk
Cheese grater

Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup Recipe variations

This soup doubles and triples nicely.
Instead of chicken broth you can use chicken stock.
If you don’t have half-and-half you can use milk, just don’t use skim milk.
You can use frozen broccoli florets in this recipe, just make sure they’re thawed. If you use frozen florets, reduce the simmer time to 5 minutes.

How to make Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup

First, melt butter in a large pot over medium heat.
Next, add onions and cook for about 4-5 minutes.
Then make a roux by stirring in the flour. Stir until the roux turns the color of peanut butter.
Next, slowly whisk in the chicken broth and half-and-half while whisking constantly. Bring the soup to a slow bubble and then reduce the heat to simmer.
Then stir in the broccoli florets and carrots and simmer for 15 minutes. Be sure to stir the soup every few minutes.
Finally, stir in the cheese and salt and mix until the cheese is melted. Season with additional salt to taste and serve.

***For complete recipe instructions, see the recipe card and recipe video below!

How to thicken this Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup

If you need to thicken the soup, you can try adding more cheese into the soup. If that does not work, you can also whisk cornstarch into some water. Whisk until the cornstarch is dissolved, and then stir the mixture into the soup until the soup thickens.

What to serve with Panera Bread Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Bread Bowls
Copycat Panera Mac and Cheese
Cobb Salad
Garlic Cheese Breadsticks
Spinach Salad

How to store Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup

SERVE:As with most recipes with dairy products, you shouldn’t leave this soup out for longer than 2 hours.

STORE:Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Note that the broccoli will not be a vibrant green the longer the soup sits.

FREEZE:You can freeze this soup. Just know that the texture may be altered, and it will take some care when reheating it. Place the cooled soup in a freezer-safe container and freeze for 1-2 months.

DEFROST:Defrost the broccoli cheese soup overnight in the refrigerator.

Panera Copycat Broccoli Cheddar Soup FAQs

Is broccoli cheddar soup vegetarian?

You would at first glance think the Broccoli Cheddar Soup is vegetarian, but it is not. The recipe calls for chicken broth, which is not vegetarian. However, you can make it vegetarian by using vegetable broth.

Is Panera broccoli cheese soup vegetarian?

No, it is not vegetarian, as it contains chicken broth. You can make it vegetarian by using vegetable broth instead.

Why is my broccoli cheddar soup gritty?

The grittiness in your broccoli cheddar soup could be due to unblended cheese or poorly cooked roux. When making the soup, ensure the cheese is fully melted and incorporated into the broth, creating a smooth and creamy texture. Also, cook the roux thoroughly; undercooked roux can leave a gritty consistency.

What is the best melting cheese for soup?

The best melting cheese for soup is generally cheese with a smooth and creamy texture that melts easily. Some popular choices include cheddar, Gouda, Swiss, and American cheese.
Cheddar cheese adds a rich and sharp flavor, while Gouda provides a milder, smoky taste. Swiss cheese offers a nutty and slightly sweet flavor, and American cheese is known for its excellent melting properties, creating a creamy and smooth consistency in the soup.

How many calories in a bowl of Panera broccoli cheese soup?

There are approximately 501 calories in a bowl of this soup.

Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup Recipe • Food Folks and Fun (5)

MORE SOUPS

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Jalapeno Popper Soup
Easy Tomato Soup with Basil
Chicken Barley Soup
Pantry Chicken Taco Soup
Crock-Pot Tuscan White Bean Soup
Rotisserie Chicken Noodle Soup
Thick and Creamy Potato Soup
Instant Pot Miso Soup
Black Bean Soup

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4.07 from 120 votes

Copycat Panera Bread Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Author A Food Folks and Fun Original

Recipe Cost $ $6.40

Serving Cost $ $1.60

Equipment

cutting board
chef's knife
large heavy-bottomed pot
wooden spoon
whisk
Cheese grater

Ingredients

▢ 5 Tablespoons salted butter
▢ ½ cup chopped yellow onion
▢ ¼ cup all-purpose flour
▢ 1 ¾ cup chicken broth
▢ 2 cups half and half
▢ 3 cups broccoli florets cut into bite-sized pieces
▢ 1 cup julienned carrots
▢ 1 teaspoon salt
▢ 8 ounces cheddar cheese, mild or sharp shredded (about 2 cups)

Instructions

COOK ONIONS:

Melt butter to a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat.
Add onions and cook until lightly golden brown on the edges and the onions are translucent about 4-5 minutes.

MAKE ROUX:

Make a roux by stirring in the flour. Continue to stir and cook the flour mixture until the roux turns the color of peanut butter. This will take about 4 minutes.

MAKE SOUP:

Grab a whisk and slowly pour in the chicken broth and half and half while whisking constantly.
Turn the heat up to medium-high and bring the soup to a slow bubble. Once bubbling, reduce the heat to simmer.

SIMMER SOUP:

Stir in the broccoli florets and carrots. Simmer the soup for 15 minutes, stirring every 3-4 minutes.

TO FINISH:

Stir in the salt and cheddar cheese until the cheese is nice and melted.
Season the soup to taste with additional salt. Serve.

Video

Notes

Serve the soup on its own or with bread bowls.
Make sure you don’t heat the broth and half and half too quickly because you run the half and half curdling risk.

Nutrition

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Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup Recipe • Food Folks and Fun (7)

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Jillian

I’m Jillian, the creator behind Food Folks and Fun. I have over 30 years of experience cooking for others. There’s nothing I love more than cooking for my family. Food is love, and cooking isn’t just putting a meal on a plate: It’s putting a little part of myself into that meal.