Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup tastes just like the original, and is AMAZING! Filled with yummy ingredients, it’s sure to be a hit!
Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup is creamy and tastes like heaven in a Bread Bowl or served up with some fresh Dinner rolls. It’s for soup season.
Copycat Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Who loves Panera?
The first time I had was years ago in Chicago, and I’m so glad it’s made it’s way to Arizona!
One of my favorite soups from there is their Broccoli & Cheese Soup – so good (different from our classic Broccoli Cheddar soup, but just as good)!! Yes, we’ll still go and dine in, but now I can make the soup at home ANY TIME I want to because this recipe tastes JUST like it!! WOO HOO!
If you’re obsessed with this soup like us, then I think you’ll be just as excited as we are. 😀 I think I’ll make some next week and serve it in sourdough bread bowls!! In fact, we’ll probably stop by Panera and pick up a few of their bread bowls since I have a hard time finding them at the grocery store. 😉
How to Make Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup
The combination of chicken, cheese, broccoli and carrots make this soup irresistible!! Oh, and top it off with croutons – I promise you won’t regret it. ;D
VEGGIES. Melt the butter in a large pot, add the chopped veggies and cook for a few more minutes.
BROTH. Add the seasonings, chicken broth, cream, mustard, and whisk until smooth. Simmer over medium-low heat. Whisk together cornstarch and remaining broth and add to the pot, stirring until smooth.
CHICKEN + CHEESE. Lastly, add chicken and cheese and cook until the cheese is melted. Simple as that! It only takes about 3o minutes to cook.
Tips + Storing Info
Crockpot: To make this soup in the crockpot, put melted butter, carrots, broccoli, chicken broth, and seasonings in the crockpot and cook on LOW for 4 hours. In a separate bowl mix the cornstarch with the heavy cream. Turn the temperature to HIGH heat. Slowly stir in the heavy cream mixture. Mix in the chicken and add the cheddar cheese. Cook until the cheese has melted.
To make this vegetarian leave out the chicken and be sure to use vegetable broth.
Chicken: To make this soup a little heartier I added cubed chicken. For a truer copycat go ahead and leave it out.
STORE leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days. For best result reheat on the stove top but the microwave works well too.
The best technique to FREEZE soup is to let it cool completely and then fill freezer safe bags with soup. Lay it flat and freeze it that way. Let it thaw in the fridge. Reheat the soup on low heat on the stove. Stir occasionally to help all the ingredients reincorporate well.
For more favorite soupS check out:
- White Chicken Chili
- Cheesy Ham and Potato Soup
- Crock Pot Green Chile Enchilada Soup
- Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Minestrone Soup
- Lasagna Soup
Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- ¼ cup butter
- ¼ cup flour
- 2 cups half and half
- 2 cups chicken stock (plus more if needed)
- 1 ½ cups broccoli chopped
- 1 cup matchstick carrots
- 2 ½ cups sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- salt and pepper season to taste
Instructions
- In a large pot, melt butter. Add carrots and broccoli cook for additional 3-4 minutes, season with salt, pepper and paprika.
- Pour 4 cups of chicken broth and the cream into vegetable mixture. Add one teaspoon mustard and whisk until smooth. Simmer over medium-low heat.
- In a small bowl, whisk remaining ½ cup of broth with the cornstarch until smooth. Pour into the stockpot. Whisk with the vegetable mixture until smooth. Add additional salt and pepper to taste.
- Add chicken and cheese. Cook just until melted. Reduce heat until ready to serve.
This looks soo yummy! I love Panera! Pinning 🙂
I have never, like EVER, noticed chicken in Panera’s Broccoli Cheese soup. Do you just like it better that way?
This soup looks so amazing! Pinned!
You’re adding whipped cream to soup? Not whipPING cream?
I made this soup Tuesday night but without the chicken. It was really good!!
YUM!
So glad you liked it! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Now we have Panera here…. it’s In Arizona Ave and Ocotillo… well at least one of them… but Why go there if you can make it better? I love their Fuji Apple Chicken Salad too (Minus the Chicken, I am Vegetarian), and found a recipe somewhere.. but thanks for the recipe! My family will surely love this!
Someone told me about the one on Arizona Ave! It makes me SUPER jealous because AZ has Paradise AND Panera!! But yes, this recipe is delicious and can be made at home. 😀
We had this soup tonight. It was delicious!
Thanks for stopping by, Amy. SO glad you liked it!
That’s really kind of you for sharing this wonderful recipe! I would try this out soon enough to enjoy this with some wheat bread for sure! 🙂
You’re welcome!! It’s one of our favorite soups!!! Add some bread and it’s better for sure;) Thanks!
http://www.copykat.com/2011/05/12/panera-broccoli-cheese-soup/
This is the real Panera recipe!
Served this in one of those sourdough bread bowls and it was unreal! Thanks a million!
Awesome
Isn’t it so good?! Thank you so much for saying that!
STELLAR soup recipe!!! My husband, som, and i all inhaled it. I made it Exactly as is and we were floored by how amazing it was with a side of rolls to dip in it. We will make this again and again, thanks for the recipe!!!
Yay! I love to hear that! It’s one of my favorites! Glad you think so, too. Thank you!
This recipe is awesome! I’ve made it several times, but it has lots of errors. It says flour, but corn starch is used in the instructions. Also mustard is not listed in the ingredients. The chicken broth amounts don’t match. I did my best guesses and it turned out delicious! I like the chicken in it. I just throw in canned chicken drained.
Thanks Anna! We recently updated the recipe, but it looks like we need to finish updating the directions. The directions go with the old recipe and the ingredients are for the updated version. We’ll take care of it. Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed the soup.