Panera’s broccoli cheddar soup is a favorite of so many of us. This creamy, broccoli cheddar soup is perfect for a hearty lunch. This is easy to make and it just takes frozen broccoli, fresh carrots, and two types of cheese to make this soup.
You can purchase bread bowls from the grocery store. Then you will have broccoli cheese soup just like at Panera Bread.
Table of Contents
About Panera Bread Restaurant
Panera Bread is a bakery-café chain of casual restaurants in the United States and Canada. There are currently more than 1,900 Panera Bread bakery-cafés offering soups, pasta, sandwiches, salads, bakery items, and specialty drinks.
The name Panera is a Spanish word that means bread basket or bread box. Find out all the things you may not know about Panera Bread.
Panera’s Homemade Soups
Panera Bread is especially known for its delicious homemade-tasting soups which change daily. Their soups use only high-quality ingredients and you can even have your soup served up in a fat, round, crunchy bread bowl.
Panera Bread Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Panera’s Broccoli Cheddar soup is a favorite with lots of us and my recipe copycats the fresh ingredients and flavors of this popular dish. There are fresh carrots and onions in here, but for the broccoli, you can use fresh or frozen if you wish. Frozen is often more convenient because it’s already chopped up.
Whichever way you go, you’ll end up with a rich, creamy soup that’s perfect for a hearty lunch and warming the soul. You are going to love this copycat Broccoli Cheese Soup recipe.
Ingredients
Here’s a list of what you need:
- Butter
- All-purpose flour
- White onion
- Half-and-half
- Broccoli
- Velveeta cheese
- Low-sodium chicken broth
- Shredded carrots
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Salt
- Ground black pepper
How to Make Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup
- Melt butter in a large saucepan. Stir in flour and onions. Cook for about a minute.
- Slowly add half-and-half, whisking until thickened and smooth.
- Add broccoli and processed cheese.
- Slowly add chicken, stirring occasionally, until the soup has a consistent texture.
- Add the carrots and simmer for about 10 minutes.
- Stir in the cheddar cheese and cook for 10 more minutes.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve when all the cheese is fully melted and blended.
What to Serve With Broccoli Cheese Soup
I love to serve this style of soup with popovers or fresh yeast rolls with butter. Or, with a thick soup like this one, you can serve it in bread bowls just like Panera does. You can buy bread bowls from some stores.
How to Reheat Your Soup
If you have leftover soup and need to reheat it, just add a little milk because it may have thickened in your refrigerator.
A Perfect Family Soup
Panera broccoli cheese soup is so easy to duplicate, you can put it together in no time. Try this recipe—it tastes just like it does in the restaurant.
More Panera Bread Recipes
- Honey Walnut Cream Cheese
- Panera Baked Potato Soup
- Panera Bread Copycat Recipes
- Panera French Onion Soup
- Panera Macaroni and Cheese
- Panera Warm Grain Bowl
- Steak Panini
Popular Soup Recipes
Check out more of my easy soup recipes and the best Panera Bread recipes here on CopyKat!
Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup chopped white onions
- 1 cup half-and-half
- 16 ounces chopped broccoli frozen
- 16 ounces American cheese Velveeta
- 29 ounces low-sodium chicken broth 2 cans
- 1 cup carrots Julianne cut, or shredded
- 8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, melt the butter. Stir in the flour and onions. Cook for about a minute,
- Slowly add the half-and-half, about 1/4 cup at a time, whisking until thickened and smooth.
- When all of the half-and-half is incorporated, add the broccoli and processed cheese.Â
- When the cheese is completely melted, add the chicken broth 1 cup at a time, stirring occasionally, until soup is well mixed and has a consistent texture.
- Add the carrots and simmer for about 10 minutes.
- Stir in the cheddar cheese and cook for 10 minutes more.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve when all the cheese is fully melted and blended through.
Amanda O.
My husband didn’t care for this. Was too thick and gritty…may have had the heat on too high….either way too rich for my liking.
Stephanie
You can always add a little milk to make the soup less thick.
HJY
In the recipe, it calls for 1 pound of velveeta. But in the video, you used a larger size. How much do we use?
Stephanie Manley
I used 1 pound, I held up the big box because I thought it would look nicer than holding up a chunk of Velveeta.
Stephanie
You use the 1 pound, I buy it in the 2 pound box. I think it saves you a few pennies. You can always wrap up the cheese and save the remaining amount for another time.
Holly
I’ve been searching for a good Broccoli Cheese soup for a while then Panera opened up close to us. Tried their soup and LOVED it but it’s quite pricey. I was so happy to get this recipe. I made it last night and it’s crazy good!!!! It’s very easy to make and is delicious. My hubby had 3 bowls and said he thought it was better than Panera.
Many thanks to Copykat for the recipe!! 🙂
Stephanie Manley
Thanks Holly 😉 I am so glad you enjoyed the soup, and now you can save a little cash!
Larry Johnson
panera bread’s verson doest hae chunks of onions in it
Anne
Hi, I went on holiday to the USA, the soup was great. Just wondering, we don’t have velveete in our country (or any other American cheese, I am Dutch… there must be some right cheese for the soup here?)
Stephanie Manley
I would use a cheese that has a cheddar flavor and melts very well. Cheddar doesn’t melt as well as “american” cheese.
Jen
So I just made this soup for the first time and it was AWESOME!!!! I have a gluten allergy so I am not able to eat Panera Soups anymore. I made it and substituted it with GF all purpose flour and it was soup just as I remembered it. I can’t wait to try some more soups just as I remember them. Thank you so much for putting this together.
Eric Rix
I do believe that Panera’s broccoli cheese has gluten in it, but they do have a few gluten-free kinds available. My mom is a celiac and I know because of her that they have a gluten-free menu available. Check it out…
Jesse
I made this last night. It was FANTASTIC!!!!!!
Nikki
The first time when she says to put in cheese, don’t put in all the cheese! I was shocked when the next step was to add the cheddar. It’s still cooking now, and I hope it still turns out good!!
Nikki
The first time when she says to put in cheese, don’t put in all the cheese! I was shocked when the next step was to add the cheddar. It’s still cooking now, and I hope it still turns out good!!
Kiera Marie
How much for one serving?
sonalipr
Made half the recipe just to see if I liked them. I didn’t like it …I LOVED IT! Simple recipe and quick.
Thanks for the recipe.
Stephanie
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe. I am always very happy to hear a recipe turned out well for someone! I hope you try other recipes.
Anonymous
I am so glad to hear that this soup recipe turned out well for you. There is something about a delicious soup and how it makes you feel inside.
Burly636
I buy this soup all the time to go by the pint, or whatever that size is. It is my all time favorite soup. I will try this recipie. Num
Burly636
I buy this soup all the time to go by the pint, or whatever that size is. It is my all time favorite soup. I will try this recipie. Num
Burly636
I buy this soup all the time to go by the pint, or whatever that size is. It is my all time favorite soup. I will try this recipie. Num
Megancasteen
You may want to add some beef broth to it as well, thats how Panera makes theirs (with both chicken and beef).
Oldsmc
thanks for the thumbs up, plan on makiing this tonight
Sarah
So I can chicken and one can beef??
Stephanie Manley
You could do it that way.
Anwea
EXTRAORDINARY! The longer you simmer… the more velvety it becomes. AMAZING!
Stephanie
I am glad you enjoyed the soup!
ida
Love, love your site. Keep it up.
amber
has anyone made this recipe as of yet. I am dying to make it but would love to hear your opinions on taste.
Eddiesuzettelancon
Yes, and it is spot on. Great taste and texture.
Eddiesuzettelancon
Yes, and it is spot on. Great taste and texture.
Sag517
Very good recipe! I don’t know what it tastes like at Panera’s but when I lived in Puerto Rico I had it all the time when I went to Chili’s. Well, here in the US Chili’s doesn’t serve them. I made it today and garnished with some chopped onions, tomatoes, cilantro and extra shredded sheddar. Yummy!
Sag517
Very good recipe! I don’t know what it tastes like at Panera’s but when I lived in Puerto Rico I had it all the time when I went to Chili’s. Well, here in the US Chili’s doesn’t serve them. I made it today and garnished with some chopped onions, tomatoes, cilantro and extra shredded sheddar. Yummy!
Stephanie
I love a little fresh cilantro and just about anything!
NHgall
Instead of onion, I’ve been using chopped leek and the flavor & aroma are a home run! Love your recipe…
Mary
I love this site! Thank you so much for all you do!
Mitzi
What type of onion?
Stephanie
I used yellow, I imagine a white onion would work well too.
Larry Johnson
panera bread’s ersion doesnt have chunks of onion