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. 
BROCCOLI CHEDDAR SOUP
This broccoli cheese soup competes for the #1 soup recipe on this blog with this crockpot potato 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
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.
Can you use corn starch instead of flour?
Ridiculously delicious!, love the way the onions caramelize on the potatoes, this recipe is a keeper, thank you 🙏🏻
Sorry guys, the review above was meant for another recipe I made today, but I made the Panera’s Broccoli Cheddar soup yesterday and it was amazingly delicious also, better than Panera’s because it’s homemade and more hearty, plus leftovers!! Thank you for this recipe 😊
This recipe was so good! We used to have Panera bread broccoli cheddar soup all the time and I tried this recipe today and my family loved it!! Only thing which was my mistake is that I added a dash too much salt. Any recommendations how I can make the soup less salty?
Delicious soup but it got weird the next day.
Is this a same day soup? Lol
Besides that it was good right after prepared!
This was so easy to make and soooo delicious! My family absolutely loved it. They said it was better than Panera’s. I’m making it for my family again tonight. Thanks for the recipe.
You’re welcome!
I had never had broccoli cheddar soup before of any kind and omg! If I had known that this recipe existed I would have been eating it for years! I’ve made it twice in 10 days 😂 the first batch I doubled but it all disappeared quickly, my husband had 3 bowls so the second batch I tripled so that I could actually have enough to enjoy. I didn’t change anything in the recipe except that I have a serious love of cheese so I added extra. Thank you for putting this recipe out there for people like me!
You’re welcome!
This recipe is good the only thing I did was put frozen carrots and broccoli did not use half and half and still came out good and added mixed cheese
Thank you!
My family is OBSESSED with this recipe. Pairs perfectly with homemade sourdough bread.
Thank you!
I have some frozen broccoli that I need to use to make room in my freezer. Can I use is this recipe if I thaw and drain well. Would the cooking time be shorter. Previously made with fresh broccoli and it was wonderful.
Yes! Cook time will be shorter
Wonderful, did not see the rating at first!
This soup was awesome on a cold Missouri day! Did not have nutmeg, but will try this again with nutmeg but still turned out to be delicious and very flavorful. Thank you!
Thank you!
Can I put it in the blender for someone who cannot chew?
You sure can!
Use an immersion blender if you have one. They’re quick and easy and no transferring hot liquids back and forth to worry about.
Yes!
Very good flavor, but the veggies are way crunchier than panera’s version. If you like the texture of panera’s like my kiddo, you’ll want to cook this for twice as long as recommended, maybe more, which would probably require more broth. That’s how I’m going to make it next time!
you could also try steaming the broccoli first
Love this soup… quick and so yummy!!!
Quick and easy to make!
Thank you!
Made this exactly according to the recipe and I wouldn’t change a thing except maybe to double it. This soup is so easy to make but it’s so delicious. I used an immersion blender to make it half chunky half smooth. Delicious!
This is the best broccoli soup ever! I used 2 leeks instead of the onion. I agree with the comment to double it!
Thank you, Christy, this is AMAZING!!! Better than Panera! I had to adapt a little since I didn’t have the exact ingredients (didn’t quite have 2 cups half & half, so had to add milk to get to 2 cups, had medium cheddar cheese and some of the 8 oz was already gone). I know it will be even better using the full amount of half & half and sharp cheddar cheese and all 8 ounces. Also, I ended up cutting the broccoli into smaller pieces since it took longer to get tender. Next time I will chop it into very small pieces before adding it to the soup. And, people, you MUST put in the nutmeg. It totally makes it! Next time I may use fresh nutmeg and grate it because it is so amazing! Thank you for this delicious and easy to make soup!
This was absolutely delicious! The only thing I would do different is double the recipe so we would’ve had leftovers!
Omg so good!!! Thank you so much for the recipe. I will definitely be making this again. My husband even liked it and he doesn’t like broccoli cheddar soup.
very good! i personally found 2 cups of half and half to be excessive so I subbed whole milk. I also stirred in abt a quarter cup of Greek yogurt to add some protein and help thicken. perfect and simple.
I do not have chicken broth for the Panera Bread brocoli soup recipe. What can I use in place if it?Charmaine Lipa
Hi! You could use bullion and hot water to make broth.
You could use Vegetable broth instead or some type of instant bouillon prepared according to directions
You can use more half in half or cream
WOW-stupenda!!! thank you for providing this recipe. Made two batches one for myself and one for my mother. She loves the Panera one but it’s too salty. My mom is an old school Italian who survived WW2 hiding in bunkers in mountains. She’s my biggest “constructive” critic when it comes to baking and cooking. Her quote, “mamma mia, è meglio di Panera” (…better than paneras). Grazie mille!
Omg it came out so good I can’t wait to make it for my girlfriends next month with chicken salad sandwiches. Go for it you won’t be sorry.
Thank you!