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Panera Bread Creamy Tomato Soup Copycat

ByCatalina Castravet September 23, 2026September 23, 2026

Panera Bread Creamy Tomato Soup is a renowned classic favorite at the familiar restaurant, but making it at home is easy and even more delicious. It is full of rich and tangy tomato flavor with hints of garlic, basil, and oregano. It’s so quick and easy to make that you can do it in less than an hour.

homemade panera bread creamy tomato soup in a white bowl topped with croutons

My husband usually gets his Baked Potato Soup or Chicken Wild Rice Soup, with an apple and organic yogurt, and I always get tomato soup. This delicious homemade soup tastes just like the original, if not better! Soul-warming, flavorful, and so creamy, you will make it over and over again!

Why you will love it
What you will need
How to prepare
Expert tip
Recipe variations and add-ins:
Serving suggestions:
How to store:
Frequently asked questions
More creamy soup recipes:

We even have a family tradition: every time we go on a road trip, we check the map and plan to stop for a bite at Panera Bread. I was all smiles when a location opened two blocks from my house, and now I love taking my son there for after-school dinner dates. When I first tasted the creamy tomato soup at Panera Bread, I was blown away. After about a dozen different combinations of flavors and amounts, I found the perfectly creamy, incredibly tasty version. I think it is very close to the original.

a bowl of panera bread creamy tomato soup topped with croutons

Why you will love it

Quick and easy: If you have never made tomato soup at home, start with this recipe. You only need a handful of ingredients and about 40 minutes to have it on the table, and you can serve it with grilled sandwiches for dinner tonight.
Comfort food: I love creamy, hearty, and satisfying food, and this one is one of my favorites. Nothing beats a rainy day and the smell of tomato soup coming from the kitchen. If you are wondering what other soups my family likes, this Taco Soup and Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup have been on rotation lately.
Frugal: This recipe is easy on the budget and bank account, so I like to double it and have enough leftovers for the next day.
Meal-prep: This easy soup recipe is ideal for meal prep. I like to save it in Ziploc bags, lay it flat in my freezer, and when a craving hits, I can quickly reheat it.

panera bread creamy tomato soup ingredients in bowls on a wooden table

What you will need

Canned peeled tomatoes – I always use San Marzano tomatoes for the best flavor.
Olive oil – Just a little to sauté the garlic and onion.
Sugar – White granulated sugar adds a sweet taste like the authentic Panera Bread soup.
Garlic cloves – Freshly minced for a sweet kick and robust flavor.
Yellow onion – Peeled and diced onions add bite and sweet flavor.
Vegetable stock – This gives your soup the most intense flavor while keeping it vegetarian.
Heavy cream – Adds creaminess and a bit of sweetness.
Dried basil – This adds a spicy, sweet, and pungent taste. I like using dried because it has more flavor.
Dried oregano – Adds an earthy, minty flavor profile with a robust, mouthwatering aroma.
Salt and pepper

How to prepare

Heat the oil: I heat the oil in the Dutch oven over medium-high heat. When it is hot, add the garlic and onion and cook, stirring frequently, for five to eight minutes, until the onion is translucent.

collage of steps of how to make panera bread creamy tomato soup

Add the rest: I add the tomatoes, including the juice, along with the vegetable stock, oregano, basil, and sugar. Then season the soup to taste with salt and pepper, bring it to a simmer, stir occasionally, and cook uncovered for 12 minutes, or until thick.

Add the cream: I let the soup cool slightly, then stir in the cream.

adding sugar, cream, and blending panera bread creamy tomato soup

Puree the soup: Then, I use an immersion blender to puree the soup until there are no large chunks. Serve with your favorite bread or salad.

Expert tip

The best tomatoes for tomato soup

For this recipe, I recommend San Marzano tomatoes. The brand also matters to me for the best tomato flavor. After all, it is the main ingredient! I prefer using Cento or Bianco DiNapoli tomatoes, but you may have your favorite. Plum or Roma tomatoes are essential for the right flavor and texture in creamy tomato soup. I like organic because it means no pesticides to worry about. For the smooth, silky texture you get from Panera Bread, use peeled tomatoes. It also makes the soup a little sweeter. If you like the textured tomato look, using tomatoes with the peel is fine.

More tips to consider:

Wait a few minutes after heating the tomatoes before adding the cream so it does not curdle.
Always use the best quality tomatoes. They are the star of the recipe, after all.
You can use a regular blender instead of an immersion blender to puree the soup.
Do not skip the basil and oregano. Even though you are only adding a teaspoon, they are essential to this dish’s flavor.
Using heavy cream makes a big difference, too. If you use milk, it won’t have that thick, creamy flavor and texture.
If you’re cutting back on sugar, you can leave it out, but it won’t taste as much like Panera Bread’s classic tomato soup.
This recipe originally uses vegetable stock. However, for more flavor, you can use chicken stock, but the soup won’t be vegetarian.

overhead shot of a pot of homemade panera bread creamy tomato soup topped with croutons

Recipe variations and add-ins:

Meat: For meat lovers, add shredded rotisserie chicken.
Add cheese: Freshly shredded or shaved Parmesan on top right before serving would be amazing.
Add noodles: Add egg noodles or minestrone to this dish and cook them in the soup for extra flavor and texture.
Spicy: Make your Panera Bread creamy tomato soup spicy with some red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper.
More veggies: To make the soup more filling, add your favorite veggies. Some ideas I love are corn, peas, bell peppers, celery, carrots, and zucchini.

Serving suggestions:

Creamy tomato soup pairs well with a grilled cheese sandwich, cheesy quesadillas, or mac and cheese casserole. This soup is even more delicious with some garlic and cheese croutons served in homemade bread bowls. I also like to serve a salad on the side, like this wholesome chopped Mediterranean salad or this hearty Mexican bean salad.

A side of freshly baked Amish bread or bread rolls for dipping and wiping the bottom of the bowl is mandatory. Another fun way to serve this dish is with stuffed peppers for dinner. It’s so good with my perfect stuffed pepper recipe, piled with rice, your favorite meat, and aromatics. My kids lick their plates clean when they have fried mozzarella sticks to dip into the soup. For something crunchy, sprinkle some pepitas, sesame seeds, or sunflower seeds on top.

How to store:

Refrigerate: After letting your soup cool completely, pour it into an airtight container and store it in the fridge for several days.
Freezing: To freeze, pour the cooled soup into quart-sized freezer bags so you can thaw them out as needed. Sometimes, you just want one bowl of soup for yourself. Eat it within three months for the best flavor.
Defrost: To get the best texture and taste, defrost leftovers in the fridge overnight.
Reheating: Reheat in a pot on the stove for five minutes or in the microwave for one minute.

Frequently asked questions

Does Panera Bread creamy tomato soup contain cream?

Yes, Panera Bread uses real fresh heavy cream to make its creamy tomato soup. That is why I add cream to this recipe too. It adds the extra thickness and creaminess you can’t get from milk. If you want to substitute the cream with something lower in sugar and fat, try plain Greek yogurt instead. The other ingredients in Panera Bread’s creamy tomato soup are cornstarch, bread’s oil, garlic, onion, sugar, and salt.

What is the difference between tomato soup and creamy tomato soup?

As the name suggests, creamy soup is tomato soup with cream added. It’s also cooked longer and at a lower temperature, so the cream doesn’t curdle. Any creamy or “cream of” soup has heavy cream whipped into it during the creaming process. This gives it a thicker texture with a smoother taste.

Why is my creamy tomato soup so runny?

You may have covered the pot while the soup was cooking. Condensation can build up inside the lid and make the soup watery. Making a slurry with cornstarch and water and adding it to the soup will help thicken it up. Or you can add flour or cornstarch to the veggies when cooking them.

Can I use fresh tomatoes for this recipe?

You can use fresh tomatoes instead of canned ones. However, even the best chefs at high-end restaurants use canned tomatoes for a reason. First, fresh tomatoes take more time because you have to peel them and cook them longer. Also, good canned tomatoes can taste even better than fresh ones because they are slow-cooked with a variety of seasonings.

homemade creamy tomato soup topped with croutons in a white bowl

More creamy soup recipes:

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