Panera’s Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Panera’s Broccoli Cheddar Soup is comfort food at its best and tastes just like Panera. This soup is an easy dinner that hits the spot and quick enough for a weeknight.
This broccoli cheese soup competes for the #1 soup recipe on this blog with this crockpot potato soup.
BROCCOLI CHEDDAR SOUP
I know this Panera’s Broccoli Cheddar Soup recipe has made the rounds around the blogs but my job is to share recipes that I really love and this is one of them.
The reason I know that this recipe tastes just like the delicious Broccoli Cheddar soup at Panera is because I ate this at least once a week during my last pregnancy.
It was the ONLY thing that I looked forward to eating and I’m sure the peeps at Panera knew me by name. They serve this Panera’s Broccoli Cheese Soup with a warm crusty baguette. Oh my goodness.
It almost makes me want to get pregnant again.
I once was in charge of making soup for 250 women. Guess which soup went first? Nope. Not the chicken noodle.
Yes, you guessed it. The Broccoli Cheddar soup. I mean who doesn’t like broccoli and cheese? Not only is it a healthy broccoli cheese soup recipe, it’s only 417 calories a serving.
You’ll need about 3 cups of broccoli chopped into bite sized pieces. You’re supposed to julienne a carrot. I cook a lot and I do not have the patience to do that.
They sell “matchstick” carrots in the produce section. Save yourself some sanity and time and just buy those.
It’s important to use sharp cheese here in this Panera’s Broccoli Cheese Soup recipe as it gives it more flavor than a milder cheese.
Then eat a couple of bowls of this delicious broccoli cheddar soup. After all, it is the first day of fall today.
Is this Panera’s Broccoli Cheddar Soup gluten-free?
Part of the thickening agent in this soup is the flour in the roux. There’s only 1/4 cup and you can definitely leave it out but your soup will not be as thick.
You can thicken it at the very end if needed by creating a cornstarch slurry.
Add a couple tablespoons of cornstarch to a small bowl and add water until it forms a paste. Whisk in this mixture at the end of cooking to thicken up the soup.
HOW TO MAKE PANERA’S BROCCOLI CHEDDAR SOUP
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Met the 1/4 cup butter and sautee the onions in it until soft. Sprinkle the flour over the mixture. Cook and stir over medium heat for 1-2 minutes.
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Whisk in the half & half and chicken stock.
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Add the broccoli and carrots. Cook over low heat for 20-25 minutes or until the broccoli and carrots are tender.
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Add salt and pepper. You can leave the soup chunky or blend about 1 cup of the soup and stir it in for a smoother soup (that’s what I do). Return to low heat and add the cheese. If your heat is too high your soup can get grainy. Stir in the nutmeg if desired.
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Serve with crusty bread.
OTHER SOUP RECIPES:
- Cauliflower Soup
- Creamy Potato Soup
- Easy Tomato Soup
- Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Sausage and Tomato Cauliflower Soup
- Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Parmesan Soup
- Zuppa Toscana Soup
- Egg Drop Soup
- Buffalo Chicken Soup
Panera's Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Creamy broccoli cheddar soup is comfort food at its best and this Panera's Broccoli Cheddar Soup is an easy dinner that hits the spot.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup melted butter
- 1/2 medium chopped onion
- 1/4 cup flour
- 2 cups half-and-half cream
- 2 cups chicken stock or broth
- 1/2 lb broccoli, (about 3 cups), chopped into bite size pieces
- 1 cup carrot, , julienned (can buy matchstick carrots in produce section)
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, (optional but brings out the flavor)
- 8 ounces grated sharp cheddar cheese, (2 cups)
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Melt the 1/4 cup butter and sautee the onions in it until soft. Sprinkle the flour over the mixture. Cook and stir over medium heat for 1-2 minutes.
- Whisk in the half & half and chicken stock.
- Add the broccoli and carrots. Cook over low heat for 20-25 minutes or until the broccoli and carrots are tender.
- Add salt and pepper. You can leave the soup chunky or blend about 1 cup of the soup and stir it in for a smoother soup (that's what I do). Return to low heat and add the cheese. If your heat is too high your soup can get grainy. Stir in the nutmeg if desired.
- Serve with crusty bread.
Notes
Source: http://www.food.com/recipe/panera-broccoli-cheese-soup-150384
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 413Total Fat: 31gSaturated Fat: 18gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 90mgSodium: 610mgCarbohydrates: 19gFiber: 3gSugar: 7gProtein: 17g
Bomb soup ! It’s perfect yummy and creamy !
Shame on you. You know this is panera’s broccoli cheese soup. You just worded it different. It’s the exact recipe of panera.. For shame.
Ha bobbie how do you know? Do you work there? It’s just a guess but I’m glad I’m close
This is always good. Good recipe. Forget Panera Bread. They called me Kral when my name is Karl. They are kicked outta the heard. I should be thanking then for the Kral-hap tho cuz my soup(or your soup) is better. Long live the cheddar
Haha thanks for making me laugh.
Can I double the recipe and freeze leftovers?
Thank you!
Many have done this successfully.
Amazing recipe! Tweaked it slightly based on what I had on hand, and it really hit the spot for soup! I’ve never made broccoli and cheddar soup, but this was super easy to make and even easier to customize! 10/10
Thank you!
Have made this recipe half a dozen times and it’s always good, even with substituted ingredients. For 2 adults and 6 kids, I usually double the recipe and have leftovers. I also use frozen bread dough to make bread bowls which makes it more filling and feels like Panera. Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome!
You need a list of ingredients
Needs more cheddar, add 1 T of minced garlic. I doubled the cheese.
What broth would you use to make this vegetarian or vegan?
Vegetable broth
Vegetarian broth works great.
I used Trader Joe’s Organic Low Sodium Vegetable Broth. It turned out great. I also used some coarsely chopped cilantro with the stems.
I would use better than bouillon “no chicken” base. Add to water and make your own broth. It’s amazing!! I use it with everything that is supposed to have chicken broth.
When I found the ingredients, this recipe was delicious!! I love it! Thank you!
Great!
This is a great recipe that will ne one of our keepers. My wife and daughter love Panera broccoli and cheddar soup. My wife thought it was perfect and my 14 year old said it was better than Panera. Thanks!
You’re welcome!
So good! I used tapioca flour to make it a tiny bit keto friendly..and bacon. Thank you for a delicious recipe.
Yes! You can totally do that!
Does this freeze well? Trying to make a freezer meal for a friend.
Sure! You can freeze it.
I’m sorry but dairy does not freeze well. If you plan on freezing it you should hold back on any of the dairy products. Freeze it without them and add them when you warm it up. Same goes for any type of cheesy soup -wait to add the cheese until you take it out of the freezer and warm it up
This soup was really good and yes add the nutmeg, yum!
Thank yoU!
The best soup hands down. I made this vegan with just a couple substitutions and not 1 child complained…….until it was gone that is. Thank u for this recipe, it is in my weekly rotation now. 6 children can’t be wrong.
Thank you!
Can I use frozen broccoli?
Yep!
Amazing recipe! Made it for supper, and it was a hit! Thanks for sharing!
Love this recipe easy and very delicious . But it doesn’t make enough . Would you have a recipe for 12 instead of 6 .
Double all ingredients!
Just double the ingredients lol
You can double everything
Delicious soup! Thank you for the great recipe. I did add some extra onion and used 2% milk instead and it was amazing.
Absolutely delish! Thanks!
Is the serving size one cup?
Made this today, delicious!! Will definitely make again. Great, quick and simple ingredients. I used 1% milk which is all I had, but will try it next time with half and half.
Yes!
My grandson loves Panera’s broccoli cheese soup but the are always out of it when they try to order it so I decided to check on recipes and I love the sound of yours and I was informed by my grandson and the whole family in-fact that they thought it was even better than Panera’s.
Can’t wait to try more of your recipes
If I were to make this the night before it’s needed, refrigerate, and then warm via crockpot, so you think it’d be good the next day?
This was so good!! Tastes just like Panera. I served it with sourdough bread. I didn’t have enough half and half so I subbed a cup with milk and then did the cornstarch mixture to thicken it up. I also added cooked chicken since I had a rotisserie chicken leftovers. My very picky boys asked for seconds… will be making this a lot this winter- thanks 😉
You’re welcome!
I made this, and it was awesome. My husband loves broccoli anyway and this is just another way for us to enjoy. I will be making this again. Very yummy in our tummies.
You’re welcome!
I made this today and it’s delicious based on all the tasting I was doing while making it. I want to grab sourdough bowls to serve it in for dinner with a salad on the side. My 12- year old daughter is my biggest critique so can’t wait for her to try! Thanks 😊.
You are welcome!
Can I use a heavy whipping cream instead of half and half don’t have handy
Of course!
Whipping cream is very heavy. Half and Half is actually. Half cream Half milk! So all you’d have to do is use half as much cream called for in the recipe= 1c heavy cream 1c milk!
I would like to make this for work, but will need to reheat in the microwave. How long do I leave it in for without the soup breaking?
It will depend on your microwave. Slow and low is best.
Maybe transfer to a crock pot?
Can the broccoli cheddar soup be frozen? It is just my 90 year old mother and myself. She loves broccoli cheddar soup !
Sure!
Can I use 2% milk in place of cream ?
Hi, I’ve made this for my Café, with rave reviews. Yes, you can use 2%, in fact, I use 3 cups of chicken broth and 1 cup of milk to make it healthier. It’s great!
Yes, it just won’t be as thick