Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup is ready in less than 30 minutes! The perfect bowl of comfort food without leaving your house!
I created this recipe many years ago, and you’ll see by the recipe reviews how loved it’s become. I hope it becomes a staple in your weeknight dinner rotation too!
This recipe was originally published in January 2017. The recipe notes have been updated in February 2025.
Aimee’s Recipe Notes
Taste & Texture – Creamy, cheesy, and loaded with tender broccoli, just like the Panera favorite.
Ease of Making – Quick and easy, ready in under 30 minutes.
Cooking Method – One-pot stovetop soup for a simple, comforting meal.
Aimee’s Top Tip – Use an immersion blender for a smoother texture, or keep it chunky for more bite. Frozen broccoli works too!
I first created this Broccoli Cheese Soup recipe years ago because Panera was one of the few “fast food” stops my whole family could agree on. Their broccoli cheddar soup has always been a favorite, but the cost for 6 people to eat out was too much.
After making it at home, again and again, I’ve learned how to get that same creamy, cheesy texture while keeping the recipe simple enough for a busy weeknight. And yes, shredding your own cheddar really does make a difference!
My goal with copycat recipes isn’t just to recreate something you love from a restaurant. I want to give you a dependable version that’s easy enough to make at home, and I know your family will ask for it again and again.
Featured Review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“My picky son finally let me make him this soup for him and he loved it!” -Corrie
Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe Ingredients
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!
- Broccoli: 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.
- Broth: Keep this soup vegetarian by using vegetable broth in place of the chicken broth.
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.
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.
How to Make Broccoli Cheddar Soup (Panera Copycat)
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!
Instant Pot: 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!
Slow cooker: Use my slow cooker broccoli cheddar soup recipe for a great, fix it and forget it meal!
Tips for this Cheddar Broccoli Soup Recipe
- For creamier soup, use an immersion blender. Pulse it until you achieve your desired texture. If you want a few chunks, don’t blend completely.
- Grate the cheese by hand instead of buying pre-shredded cheese. The cheese will melt smoother and result in a creamier texture. Store bought pre-shredded cheese is packaged with anti-caking ingredients that prevent the cheese from melting smooth, resulting in a grittier texture.
- Reheat leftovers on the stove on low heat for best results. This allows you to reheat slowly, and add in a little cream or milk (or more cheese!) should you need it.
- Use a whisk when adding in milk, cream, broth, and flour. Whisk for several minutes until smooth.
Best Broccoli Cheddar Soup Recipe Variations
Want to make the soup heartier? Add in some cooked, cubed potato for flavor and texture.
Need more protein? Shred a rotisserie chicken and add it after the flour has been whisked into the cream.
Make it spicy! For a little heat, add in some extra red pepper flavors or chopped jalapenos.
How to Serve This Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe
Easy, buttery Beer Bread goes perfect with this soup! Also great to cube into bite sized pieces and use for dips!
Of course my 5 minute Artisan bread is a great side for this soup.
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!
How to Store this Cheddar Broccoli Soup Recipe
Allow soup to cool, then keep leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
You can also freeze soup in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months. Reheat on low on the stovetop, adding more cream if needed.
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 Broccoli Cheese Soup, our family loves
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Best Broccoli Cheddar Soup Recipe
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 1/2-3 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 teaspoons kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon 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!
- Use a good quality cheddar cheese for best results. And shred the cheese yourself for the creamiest results.
- Store leftovers in refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freeze soup in airtight freezer safe container for up to 3 months. Reheat on stovetop.
- See blog post for more recipe tips and tricks and directions on how to make in slow cooker and Instant Pot.
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Nutrition
Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup is ready in less than 30 minutes! The perfect bowl of comfort food without leaving your house!
My husband made this tonight! Really really good! He used two cups of half & half instead of one cup of heavy cream and one cup of milk. I think to cut calories, I would try one cup of half and half (instead of heavy whipping cream) and one cup milk. I also think it would be just as good with half the amount of cheese which would cut some calories as well. Thanks for the recipe – really good soup!
The soup was delicious! My husband and I both loved it! Followed per instructions except made a double batch. Thank you for posting this.
My comment was incorrect…should be lactaid free milk.
I haven’t tried that, so I’m not sure!
Can you use lactaud free milk or will it change the flavor?
Lactose free milk will make the soup slightly sweeter tasting that regular milk.
Does this soup store well? Would you recommend freezing? My husband can’t have dairy so I’d be the only one eating it, but I’d love to be able to make a big batch to eat off of for a while!
How much chicken broth do I use?
Loved it! Followed as instructed.
Can you substitute almond flour?
I haven’t tried that.
As long as it thickens. I substituted corn starch.
This soup is AMAZING. This is my second time making it this month; we can’t get enough! Thank you for the recipe, definitely adding it to our collection!
I am with you on this one. I am not a fan of fast-food restaurants, and will not eat a fast-food hamburger at any fast food restaurant. However, I do eat at fast-food restaurants occasionally, against my better judgment. However, Panera Bread is my favorite place. I feel like I can eat there and not hurt my heart too much. My wife loves their Brocolli Cheddar soup so I thought I would try to find a recipe for one, and here I am. Thank you for posting this, I am sure we will love it.
Did you use mild or med. Or sharp cheddar?
This soup is fantastic. Followed the directions except added added 2 cups of diced potatoes. Definitely will make this again…
Can this be made without onions? Will it taste about the same? I’m pregnant and the smell of sauteed onions (which I normally love) has made me nauseous all throughout my pregnancy 🙁
Totally fine if you leave them out 🙂
I know this is a stretch but I work in an assisted living community and I’d like to make this for my residents, I have 60, any idea on numbers and measurements for that many?
This serves 4 so you take the ingredients listed and multiply it by 15. You’re gonna need a cauldron.
Do you think I could use sour cream or Greek yogurt in place of milk? I am allergic to milk or cream in its whole form. Sounds so yummy!!!
Could I freeze broccoli soup?
I don’t usually freeze cream soups as I find the texture unappealing after thawing.
This is so good. I didn’t have regular milk in the house so I ended up using a cup of heavy cream and a cup of half & half. Made it very rich but equally delicious.
I dont Use red pepper flakes but I do Add in some nutmeg after it’s done before I serve it. We can’t eat this soup without it now that we’ve had it that way. My recipe is a little bit different. This way seems about 15-20 mins quicker but still has the same ingredients.
Ok, I’m also a huge Panera fan and love their broccoli cheese soup! Made this tonight and it was so good! I’ll be making it again soon. Thanks for posting this, it hit the spot!!
Glad you enjoyed the recipe!
First, genius idea to have your family use the blog as a menu. Yes!! I get a little defensive when I get dinner complaints and always want to tell them to do the menu planning themselves, hehe. And love that this is ready in 30! Yum!
LOVE this recipe. It’s so good!