Panera Bread Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Panera Bread Broccoli Cheddar Soup Copycat is the perfect recipe from your favorite restaurant chain to easily make it at home. This soup is so thick and cheesy, perfectly seasoned, and with the right ratio of broccoli to cheese. You cannot go wrong with this creamy and rich dish, whether you are serving it as a first course, side dish, or main dish.

This Copycat Panera Bread Broccoli Cheddar Soup is the homemade version of this delicious recipe I ordered so many times at Panera Bread. With this easy recipe, you can now satisfy your craving anytime you want. I figured out the secret ingredients for the perfect cheesy broccoli cheddar soup (nutmeg and heavy cream) and tried different amounts of each ingredient. Now, I think mine is better than theirs.

This great soup is the ultimate comfort food that is hearty and loaded with mouthwatering flavors, while also using everyday ingredients. Not to mention that is affordable and ready in about 30 minutes! My type of an easy dinner for the whole family to enjoy during busy weeknights. 

This is one of the most popular soups at Panera Bread. At this point, I have told you many times, that I made it my mission to make at home my favorites from them. This is the fourth recipe in my collection, alongside Panera Bread creamy tomato soup, baked potato soup, and chicken and wild rice soup. Which one is your favorite?

What you’ll need to make Panera Bread broccoli cheese soup:

Special items:

• Potato masher – For creaming potatoes.
• Dutch Oven – I use a Le Creuset Dutch oven, but you can use a big pot.
• Wooden spoon – For stirring your soup and sautéing veggies.

Ingredients:

To make this delicious soup, you will only need a handful of ingredients.

• Broccoli – I use fresh broccoli chopped into small florets.
• Carrots – One carrot julienned is all I use for just a touch of sweet carrot flavor.
• Sharp cheddar cheese – I only use freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese for the absolute best flavor with the creamiest texture.
• Vegetable broth – Perfect for keeping your soup vegetarian and it tastes incredible.
• Butter – Unsalted butter for sauteing the onion.
• Onion – A small sweet yellow onion is what I prefer for a bit of a bite and a touch of sweetness. 
• Flour – To thicken the sauce. All-purpose flour has the best texture with the least flavor added.
• Heavy cream is an important ingredient for a thick and rich soup base.
• Nutmeg – For a bit of earthy sweetness.
• Salt – To enhance the other flavors. 
• Ground black pepper – Like cheese, I prefer my pepper freshly ground.

How to make Panera Bread broccoli cheese soup?

1. Saute the onion: First, melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Then, add the diced onion and sauté, stirring, for three to four minutes or until it is translucent. Set it aside for now.
2. Make the sauce: Now, heat the Dutch oven or pot on medium until it is warm. Add butter and melt before adding the flour. Continue cooking while whisking constantly for three minutes. Keep whisking as you add the chicken broth. Then, add the cream, stir, and let it simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Add veggies: Once the sauce is condensed and thick, add the nutmeg, onion, carrots, and broccoli and stir. Add salt and pepper to taste before cooking on low heat for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Blend it: For extra creamy soup, use a potato masher to mash half of the potatoes and stir it all together to combine. Add cheese and let it melt before serving with extra cheddar cheese and other toppings.

Expert tip

Fresh or pre-shredded cheese

Fresh is always better than store-bought no matter what you are talking about. Especially shredded cheese. Many people still go to the store and buy shredded cheeses instead of making their own. Maybe because they do not have much time, or they think it is too difficult. I am here to tell you; that it is easy, takes just a few minutes, and is worth every bit of that time.

Freshly grated cheddar (or any cheese) has a richer and creamier flavor and texture than pre-shredded. Why go to all the trouble to make something from scratch and then use pre-shredded cheese? Especially when cheese is the main ingredient. You want the highest quality cheese, freshly shredded for the best taste.

Fresh cheese also melts better because the storebought stuff has preservatives and wax to keep it from clumping. And although it may seem less expensive to buy the shredded stuff, you can get a big block of good cheddar cheese that makes eight cups for about $10 but the $8 bag of shredded only makes two cups. You do the math. 

The additives are also quite scary. Pre-shredded cheese may have cellulose powder and natamycin in it as additives. These ingredients have no place in my cheddar broccoli soup or any of my recipes. Cellulose powder is made from wood pulp and natamycin is an antibiotic. Those two are not part of my ingredient list EVER.

Recipe variations and add-ins:

• More vegetables: Diced bell peppers, sweet corn, chopped cauliflower florets, and minced zucchini can be added for a heartier soup. 
• Noodles: For even more heartiness, add some egg noodles or another kind of pasta to your soup.
• Spice up your broccoli cheese soup: Add a little bit of cayenne pepper or chopped jalapenos to your soup for a spicy flavor to kick it.
• Add some meat: This broccoli cheese soup would be a great hearty dish with chunks of ham, chicken, or turkey in it. You could also top it with bacon crumbles.
• More cheese: Just because the name says cheddar, that does not mean you cannot use a different kind. You can add mozzarella, pepper jack, Swiss, or shaved parmesan too.
• No onion: Some people don’t like onions. Go ahead and leave them out if you want to. It will not change the flavor too much.
• No stove: If you are a student living the van life, or simply do not have access to a stove here is a Crockpot Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe and Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup version.

Serving suggestions:

Panera Bread copycat broccoli cheese soup is the perfect appetizer, side dish, or snack. Here are some ideas for serving that I love.

• Be even more of a copycat. Serve this delicious comfort food in a bread bowl like they do at Panera.
• Salad goes well with any soup. Any kind from macaroni salad to a fresh arugula strawberry salad would be awesome.
• Sandwiches are the perfect accompaniment to a bowl of soup. From grilled cheese to corned beef sandwiches, or some hearty crockpot sloppy joes.
• Another way to serve this soup is with some bread or rolls for dipping. Try my easy potato dinner rolls recipe.
• Instead of bread, use crackers or breadsticks to dip in your cheesy soup.

Favorite toppings:

This is the perfect comfort food to serve with the following toppings:

• Bacon crumbs
• Cheddar cheese: For an extra cheesy flavor and creamy texture. 
• Chopped green onion
• Diced chives
• A dollop of sour cream

Frequently asked questions

What is the best cheese for broccoli cheddar soup?

I use only sharp cheddar cheese, freshly shredded for the most intense and incredibly flavorful cheesiness. While mild cheddar cheese would also work, you will not get that extra boost of cheese taste. Sharp cheese is aged longer for a more pronounced flavor. Some say that the sharp stuff does not melt as well, but it will melt just fine if you use a high-quality block of cheese, shredded right before you use it.

Why is my soup grainy?

It usually has to do with the cheese. Get the best cheese and be sure to shred it yourself right before using it. If you are worried about it, use mild cheddar instead of sharp. It could also be the temperature you used. Use medium heat and be sure to stir while adding the cream. If the temperature is too high, you can curdle the dairy products and make them grainy.

How do I thicken broccoli cheddar soup?

If you use the proper amounts of each ingredient, that should not be a problem. However, if it does happen, it’s easy to fix so don’t worry. Just mix a tablespoon of cornstarch with two tablespoons of water. Stir until it is dissolved and then add it to your soup, mixing well. Continue to heat it on medium, stirring constantly, until it is thickened. Remember though, it thickens as it cools.

Why won’t my cheese melt?

If you use pre-shredded cheese, it is the additives and wax that prevent it from melting properly. Use freshly bought high-quality cheese and make sure you do not shred it until you are ready to use it. It may also be that it was not cooked long enough. Try heating it some more, stirring constantly.

How to store:

• Refrigerate: The broccoli cheddar soup can be refrigerated for 3-4 days in a sealed container.   
• Freezing: If you have more than you can eat in a few days, pack your soup into quart-sized freezer bags. They will stay fresh for three months. 
• Defrost: The night before serving, thaw frozen soup in the fridge for the best results.
• Reheating: After it thaws, your soup can be reheated in a pot on the stove or the microwave. 

More comforting soup recipes:

Recipe tips:

• Instead of a potato masher, use an immersion blender or mash the potatoes in a blender or food processor.
• Be sure to get the highest quality cheese since it is the main ingredient.
• If you are freezing your soup, use a measuring cup to scoop it up and pour it into freezer bags.
• For less fat, you can also use half-and-half, light cream, or Greek yogurt.
• When adding the flour, stir constantly to combine it.
• Add as much cheddar cheese as you like because it is the star of the show.