Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Make your own Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup at home. It's super simple (less than 30 minutes!) and tastes just as delicious.

Make your own Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup at home. It’s super simple (less than 30 minutes!) and tastes just as delicious.

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Who else loves Panera’s broccoli cheddar soup?! It’s my favorite soup to enjoy there so it’s about time to have a delicious dupe here.

Because you all LOVE a copycat recipe and I’m here to please. I promise you, this homemade version is just as good and ridiculously easy to make.

Make your own Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup at home. It's super simple (less than 30 minutes!) and tastes just as delicious.

Ingredients for Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup

The ingredient list for this delicious broccoli cheese soup is pretty simple. Here’s what you’re going to need:

  • Butter: To saute the veggies and make a roux.
  • All-purpose flour: Whisked with melted butter to make a roux for the soup. The roux will thicken the soup as it simmers.
  • Fresh broccoli: You need fresh for this recipe. Otherwise, it will get weird and mushy. Chop the broccoli finely.
  • Onion: Adds flavor to the soup. Mince them finely so you don’t have any crunch throughout the soup.
  • Shredded carrots: Just a little to make sure it’s like the original.
  • Chicken stock: Adds lots of rich flavor to the soup.
  • Half and half: For richness and creaminess.
  • Shredded cheddar cheese: It’s not broccoli cheddar soup without a healthy dose of cheddar cheese. I prefer using sharp cheddar because it provides more flavor.
  • Kosher salt
  • Black pepper
Make your own Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup at home. It's super simple (less than 30 minutes!) and tastes just as delicious.

How to Make Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Heat a medium to large pot or dutch oven over medium heat. Add butter and allow it to melt.

Once the butter is melted, add the onion, broccoli and carrot to the pot. Season with salt and pepper. Saute for 5 minutes, until the veggies are starting to soften.

Stir in the flour and cook an additional minute. Add chicken stock and half and half to the pot and whisk until smooth.

Bring the soup to a simmer and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, until slightly thickened.

How do you tell it’s thick enough? Dip your spoon into the soup then drag your finger across the spoon. If the soup slowly starts to come back together, it’s ready.

If it comes back right away, it’s not thick enough yet. You can see what it should look like in the video below.

Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the cheddar cheese. Serve with crusty bread.

Make your own Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup at home. It's super simple (less than 30 minutes!) and tastes just as delicious.

30 Minute Dinner

One of my favorite things about this recipe is that it’s faster to make it at home than it is to run out and grab a bowl from Panera.

From start to finish, it will only take you 30 minutes to prepare. That’s some weeknight perfection if you ask me.

Make your own Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup at home. It's super simple (less than 30 minutes!) and tastes just as delicious.

Reheats Like a Dream

If you’ve been around for awhile, you know I’m not a big fan of leftovers. They very rarely taste as delicious.

Lucky for me (and you all), this soup taste just as good and maybe even better when reheated the next day. So make a big batch to have a warm, cozy lunch all week long.

Keep refrigerated for up to 5 days.

Make your own Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup at home. It's super simple (less than 30 minutes!) and tastes just as delicious.

Soup Tips

Use a block of good quality cheddar cheese. Grate it yourself. The pre-grated stuff is super convenient but it doesn’t melt as nicely and doesn’t yield that smooth, creamy texture.

If you want or need to keep this recipe vegetarian, substitute vegetable stock for the chicken stock. It will still taste just as delicious.

Chop the onions very finely. You don’t want the crunch of the onion, just the flavor. Chopping them super small will almost melt them into the soup.

My Favorite Restaurant Copycat Recipes:

Make your own Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup at home. It's super simple (less than 30 minutes!) and tastes just as delicious.
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5 from 3 votes

Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Make your own Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup at home. It's super simple (less than 30 minutes!) and tastes just as delicious.
Prep Time5 minutes
Active Time25 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: copycat panera broccoli cheddar soup
Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 4 Tbsp. butter
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
  • 3 cups finely chopped broccoli
  • 1/4 cup shredded carrot
  • 1 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp. black pepper
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups chicken stock
  • 2 cups half and half
  • 3 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (I prefer sharp for more flavor)

Instructions

  • Heat a dutch oven or pot over medium heat. Add butter and allow to melt. Add onion, broccoli and carrot to the pot, stir to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for about 5 minutes, until veggies have started to soften.
  • Sprinkle flour into the pot and stir until vegetables are well coated. Cook another minute, stirring a few times. Add chicken stock and half and half to the pot and stir. Bring to a simmer and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, until slightly thickened.
  • Remove pot from the heat and stir in the shredded cheddar. Serve.

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