Panera Bread Broccoli Cheddar Soup Copycat is the perfect recipe of your favorite creamy and cheesy soup, that you can now easily make at home.

Nov 26, 2022

Panera Bread Broccoli Cheddar Soup [VIDEO]

Name: Panera Bread Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 6 tablespoon butter (unsalted); 1 onion (diced); 1/4 cup flour; 2 cups heavy cream or half-and-half; 2-4 cups vegetable broth (add as needed); 3 cups fresh broccoli (chopped into bite size pieces); 1 1/2 cups carrot (julienned); 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg; 2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese; Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)

Panera Bread Broccoli Cheddar Soup Copycat is the perfect recipe from your favorite restaurant chain to easily make at home. This is a super easy and creamy soup for the whole family to enjoy during the fall or winter season.

We love Panera Bread Soups. Their meals taste homemade and are perfect for cold winter days for families to enjoy. During cold weather, a bowl of soup goes a long way. We also enjoy the Slow Cooker Baked Potato Soup and Tuscan Chicken Tortellini Soup.

Panera Bread Broccoli Cheddar Soup

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 have your dinner fix anytime you want. Seriously, guys, this is one of the easiest recipes you can make at home.

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

This broccoli cheddar soup recipe is also loaded with extra cheddar cheese and is very rich and flavorful. The perks of making your own soup are you can make it extra, extra cheesy! But don’t worry, it also has broccoli and carrots, so you get a good veggie intake too. That is how I balance all that cheese!

Ingredients needed:

Fresh broccoli stalks: I use about 3 cups of broccoli chopped into smaller pieces.
Heavy cream or half and half: This is the secret ingredient. It makes the texture extra rich and creamy.
Butter: Use unsalted butter.
Yellow onion and large carrot
All-purpose flour: This is used to thicken up the soup.
Broth: I mostly use vegetable broth here. However, feel free to use unsalted chicken stock as an alternative.
Nutmeg
Shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Salt and ground black pepper.

How to make Broccoli Cheddar Soup?

First, add 2 tablespoons of butter to a medium skillet over medium heat. Then, add diced onion and saute onion for about 3-4 minutes, until translucent. Stir a few times. Once done, remove the skillet from heat and set it aside.
Next, place a large pot or Dutch over medium heat. Once the pot is warm, add 4 tablespoons of butter and melt it.
Once melted, add the flour and cook over medium heat for 2-3 minutes. Stir constantly with a whisk or wooden spoon. While still whisking, add the chicken broth. Stir to combine.
Next, add the heavy cream, stir to combine, and simmer for about 10 minutes.
Then, add the broccoli, carrots, and cooked onion.
Add nutmeg and salt and pepper to taste. Cook over low heat for 20-25 minutes. Stirring occasionally.
Once done, you can leave the soup chunky or blend about 1/2 of it, by adding it to a blender or using an immersion blender. After blessing it, stir it in for a smoother texture.
Return to low heat and add the cheddar cheese.
Serve warm with extra cheddar cheese.

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

Slow cooker version:

Making it in the slow cooker or crockpot is even easier. You simply dump the ingredients in the crockpot and let it cook for hours. The aromas will fill your house instantly.

Here is the Crockpot Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe.

Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Soup:

In addition, you can make this dish in the pressure cooker. Follow this Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup.

How to serve this creamy soup?

This is a full and hearty meal on its own. So, most of the time, I simply serve it in a homemade bread bowl, or with some crusty bread on the side.

Also, you could serve it with some shredded chicken, a salad, or some roasted veggies.

Homemade broccoli cheddar soup in a Dutch oven.

How to store leftovers?

First, let the soup completely cool at room temperature. Then, transfer it to an airtight container, and refrigerate it for up to 3 days.

Can you freeze Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Soup?

Yes. I recommend using quart bags for this thick soup.
Use a cup to transfer it from the pot into the bag.
Next, squeeze out excess air and seal the bags. The bags can nicely be stored in the freezer for up to 3-4 months.
To thaw the dish, remove it from the freezer the night before serving, or put the sealed soup bag in warm water to thaw it faster.

Ho to reheat frozen broccoli cheddar soup?

First, thaw the soup overnight in the fridge or add the frozen bag to a large casserole dish and place it under running warm water.
Then, transfer it to a dutch oven or saucepan over low-medium heat.
Also, when reheating, you may need to add a bit of milk or cream, add a ¼ cup at a time.
Lastly, stir to combine and simmer for 2-3 minutes.

Looking for more comforting soup recipes? Check these out!

Recipe Tips:

I like to use heavy cream in this recipe, you can also use half-and-half, whole milk, or light cream.
Also, I used vegetable broth, but you could also use chicken broth.
When melting the butter, be careful not to burn it.
When adding the flour, stirring constantly to combine it.
To make it even creamier, you have to puree half of it, either by adding it to a blender or using an immersion blender.
Add as much cheddar cheese as you like, this is the best part of this homemade version.
Also, for more flavor, feel free to add your favorite seasonings. Some great addition would be mustard powder, cayenne pepper, onion powder, ranch seasoning, etc.

Tools I used to make the Panera Bread Broccoli Cheddar Soup Copycat Recipe:

Immersion Blender – so convenient, makes it easy to puree food without having to add it to a blender.
Dutch Oven – mine is from Le Creuset, but I also like this one and it’s reasonably priced.