Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup is thick, rich, creamy, and cheesy with bites of tender broccoli, and carrots, all cooked together with freshly grated cheddar. Perfect for cold days!

Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup

My absolute favorite thing to order at Panera is the broccoli cheddar soup. It is good all year long, anytime. So I just had to be able to make it at home.

This copycat Panera Broccoli Cheddar is thick, warm, creamy, and cheesy. It's even better than the original with freshly grated cheese, tender broccoli, and just a pinch nutmeg. I could eat it all day, every day.

This will be your new favorite soup that you'll want to make again and again.

How to Make Sure Your Soup is Super Creamy

Nothing is better than a thick and creamy broccoli cheddar soup. To make sure yours comes out that way here are a few tips.

• Add broth slowly. Adding it to quickly will make the flour mixture get lumpy and not incorporate properly. To ensure a lump-free, smooth soup, add the broth about ¼ cup at a time, stirring to fully incorporate after each addition before adding more.
• Use half-and-half. Milk can be used in a pinch, but half-and-half is creamier and thicker and will give you that desired thick, smooth, and silky texture you're looking for.
• Use freshly grated cheese. Store-bought shredded cheese is coated in starch to prevent sticking. This also makes it more difficult to melt smoothly. Freshly grated cheese will melt like butter, giving you a much creamier texture.

Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup Variations and Add-Ins

• Cheese - Typically, cheddar is used for this soup. However, you can experiment with the sharpness, opting for different amounts of mild, medium, or sharp, or even a white cheddar. You can also use smoked cheddar or another cheese like gouda or Parmesan to bring in some extra flavor.
• Puree - This recipe says to blend the soup a little bit. This is to thicken it and break down some of the bigger chunks of broccoli.
• Bacon - Sprinkle some crispy crumbled bacon on top when serving for an extra salty, savory bite.
• Spice - You can add some heat to this recipe by adding hot sauce, red pepper flakes or even fresh jalapenos in with the broccoli.
• Protein - Cooked protein, such as chicken or ham can add extra flavor and help the dish feel more hearty.
• Potatoes - Boiling some peeled, cubed potatoes can add some substance and make the soup more filling.
• Beans - Beans can make the soup more filling, healthy, and add a little kick of fiber and protein.

More Soup Recipes You'll Love

• Crockpot Broccoli Cheese Soup - a slow cooker version of everybody's favorite soup.
• Cheesy Potato Soup - thick, cheesy, and packed with warm soft potatoes.
• Cheeseburger Soup - our family's absolute favorite soup. So much warm cheeseburger flavor. It's comfort food in a bowl.
• Cheesy Ham and Corn Chowder - ham, corn, potatoes, and of course cheese make this chowder an instant favorite.
• Chicken Tortilla Chowder - super easy and packed with southwest flavors. You'll want to make this again and again.

Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup Video