Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup is ready in less than 30 minutes! The perfect bowl of comfort food without leaving your house!
Copycat Panera Recipes
My family doesn’t love traditional fast food. Which I suppose is a good thing, except when I’m looking to just pick up a quick, on the go meal I’m limited by their taste buds!
Fortunately (or not) for us, our Panera Bread has a drive through, and it’s one of the “fast food” choices we all love. Except it’s pricey. They don’t have a dollar menu!
My goal with my blog has been to create a database of recipes that my family loves.
They scroll through often and say, “Hey, can you make Chicken Lime Enchiladas for dinner?” Or, “I’m craving some Chocolate Chip Cheesecakes for dessert.”
I’ve also been adding to our collection of copycat recipes.
Things like Starbucks Lemon Loaf, Panera Mac and Cheese, and Hostess Cupcakes. If my kids are craving it, I can probably recreate it!
With today’s Broccoli Cheese Soup recipe, we may never have to actually go to Panera again.
When I can make Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup at home, I know I’m saving us some money and a trip out.
30 minute dinner
From start to finish, this Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup recipe takes less than 30 minutes.
Real talk: It will probably take less time to make this soup at home than it would to get everyone in the car and drive to Panera. Not to mention the drive back home!
You can always use fresh broccoli to make Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup, but it’s ok if you want to reach into the freezer for a bag of frozen broccoli florets. We’ve all done it a time or two and they’ll be just as delicious in this soup!
My Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup recipe makes 3-4 decent sized bowls of soup…but you can easily double the recipe if you have hungry eaters, and this is your main dish.
Keep this soup vegetarian by using vegetable broth in place of the chicken broth.
You could also serve this soup as a side alongside sandwiches. Try my Turkey Cheddar Sliders or, if you want to mix favorites from different restaurants, Copycat Chick-fil-A Chicken Salad Sandwiches.
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Step by Step Instructions
STEP 1: In a large soup pot over medium heat, melt butter. Add in onions, broccoli and carrots. Cook to soften (until broccoli is tender, and carrots too!) about 5 minutes (may be more or less depending on the size vegetables you cut).
Slowly add in broth, milk, and cream. Sprinkle with flour and add salt, pepper and red pepper flakes.
Continue stirring and heating over medium heat until thickened. This will take about 10-15 minutes. If you want your soup a little thinner (and lighter), substitute some of the milk or cream for more chicken broth (chicken stock).
STEP 2: Once the soup thickens, reduce heat, and add cheddar cheese (either prepackaged shredded cheddar or hand grated cheese). Stir until melted and smooth. Serve soup and enjoy!
Want less chunks in your soup? Use an immersion blender to smooth it out! Our family loved this soup, it’s a great recipe for busy weeknights!
Today’s Broccoli Cheddar Soup can also be made in the Instant Pot! Dinner in under 30 minutes! Loaded with vegetables and cheese, you’ll love this easy, creamy Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup Recipe! It’s the BEST!
More Copycat Panera Recipes
Does your family love Panera as much as mine does? Lucky for you, I have a whole list of recipes I’ve recreated from Panera.
In addition to the Panera Mac and Cheese and Broccoli Cheese Soup, our family loves
- Orange Scones
- Cobblestone Muffins
- Strawberry Pecan Salad.
I told you – breakfast, lunch or dinner, I’ve got you covered!
What take out food do YOU wish I had a recipe for? Maybe I can work on it…..
What to serve with Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Easy, buttery Beer Bread goes perfect with this soup! Also great to cube into bite sized pieces and use for dips!
Are you looking for a fluffy, delicious Dinner Roll? These No Knead Garlic Parmesan Dinner Rolls will please the whole family!
Easiest side dish ever. Whip up a batch of these Puff Pastry Bread Sticks to dunk in your soup!
You can also go to most bakery sections in the grocery store and find a great homemade bread bowl!
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More Easy Dinner Ideas
- Tomato Soup
- Lemon Garlic Pasta
- French Onion Soup
- Zuppa Toscana Soup
- Pasta Fagioli Recipe
- More Soups and Stews
Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup
Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup is ready in less than 30 minutes! The perfect bowl of comfort food without leaving your house!
Ingredients
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup diced onions (yellow or white)
- 1 cup shredded carrots (I used matchsticks that I cut into half inch pieces)
- 2 ½-3 cups broccoli florets, chopped small
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth
- 1 cup milk (I use skim/fat free)
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- pinch of crushed red pepper flakes (or more as desired)
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- In a large pot over medium high heat, melt butter. Add in onions, carrots and broccoli. Cook to soften about 5 minutes (may be more or less depending on the size vegetables you cut).
- Slowly add in broth, milk, and cream. Sprinkle with flour and add salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Continue stirring and heating over medium heat until thickened. This will take about 10-15 minutes.
- Once thick, add cheese and stir until melted and smooth. Serve soup and enjoy!
Notes
- Easily double the ingredients to make more of this delicious soup!
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 725Total Fat: 55gSaturated Fat: 33gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 160mgSodium: 1777mgCarbohydrates: 40gFiber: 11gSugar: 9gProtein: 26g
*Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietitian for special diet advice.
Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup is ready in less than 30 minutes! The perfect bowl of comfort food without leaving your house!
I made this soup twice and we love it! I have a quick question: how do I stop the flour from clumping? I used a whisk continuously but it still clumped. Any suggestions?
Maybe is not enough butter it that happen I personally add a little bit of milk or more butter
Aimee,
I made your broccoli cheddar soup today! It was delicious, will be adding this to my soup rotation. Thank you for sharing.
My family Loves this soup! I double the recipe for us.: family of 5. Thanks for the easy, delicious recipe!
I just anted you pop in and say thank you for sharing this recipe. This has become a go to recipe for our family. We love it.
Made this soup today, in a word delicious. Use evaporated milk instead of whipping cream worked out good. added Monterey Jack cheese great addition.
Thank you, definitely making again, it’s a keeper.
Can this be reheated? I made it too early.
Yes!
Can you freeze this. I’m the only one eating it
I freeze mine and it turns out good. Just heat the soup up slowly.
I’ve never heard of Panera’s soup before but it looked so delicious I thought I’d give it a try. Needless to say it’s become one of our family’s favourite soups. Soooo good I make it all the time especially in winter. I add some chopped bacon with the onions only because my men love meat and up the liquids so it goes further. Really delicious thank you😊
Bacon sounds like a delicious addition!
Paneras soups are amazing! I make this soup a lot in winter and it’s amazing, I also add bacon but I add in the bowls after serving, so it still has that nice crunch texture. It raises the bar 1000%
Or ham!
I just made this wonderful soup for lunch. It was a great hit with everyone. Thanks for making me look good!
I did the same thing and many more seasonings.
Including liquid smoke yummy !!! Thank you for the recipe
I need to make for 30 people how much do I calculate ingredients measurements
Does it freeze well?
I have frozen it, and it did fine.
Definitely ***** I followed the recipe exactly, and it was delicious!! I only wish I had made more! It will now be on my soup rotation list. Thanks so much for this recipe!!
This has to be the best soup ever i will make it again i read the comments so I didn’t put any salt in it i figure you can always add it yourself
scrub007@comcast.net
I’ve made this soup several times, and it’s a family favorite! We actually like it BETTER than Panera’s! Making it at home is certainly less expensive. Thank you very much for sharing a stellar recipe. It’s saved on my “Favorites” board. 🙂
So glad you love it 🙂
I have made this a couple of times. It’s easy, fast and Delicious!!! My husband and me love it!!! I am so grateful for you sharing your recipes, I have used so many and they are all great!!!
Thank-you for sharing!
Terry
So glad to hear it Terry!
So yummy! Made for my Fiancé and I on a cold snowy day.
I think i put so much salt in < any suggestions thank you
Put a peeled potato in the soup, it will absorb the salt
low sodium chicken broth. Then you can add salt to taste
A little honey will help make it not taste so salty 🙂
If u put to much:)!
Delicious, fast and easy to make during the week.
Very yummy! My husband isn’t a fan of broccoli and he had seconds! I’m not sure why they recommend the flour because mine was already pretty thick before I added the cheese. I’m not going to use it next time.