The weather is getting chilly and I’ve been craving soup like crazy! And when that craving hits, what I really want is this Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup.
When I was in college, the only type of soup I ate at home came from a can. As I got older, I started going out whenever I wanted a fabulous cup of soup.
One of my favorite soups is Broccoli Cheese Soup from Panera Bread. It’s perfect for filling your belly on a cold day.
Unfortunately, it’s not exactly budget friendly to spend $5 on a cup of soup when my soup cravings hit. And if I want a bowl, it’s even more! Thankfully this Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup is just as good as the restaruant’s but at a fraction of the price.
Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon melted butter
- 1 medium chopped onion (you can chop an onion yourself and you’ll save money, but this is one of those splurges that I think is worth it)
- 1/2 cup melted butter
- 1/2 cup flour
- 4 cups half-and-half (I’ve also made this using 2 cups heavy cream and 2 cups milk)
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 1 lb fresh broccoli or 2 10 oz bags frozen broccoli)
- 2 cup carrot, julienned (I used a food processor on pulse for nice slices)
- 1/3 teaspoon nutmeg
- 16 ounces grated sharp cheddar cheese (I like to use a rotary cheese grater)
- salt and pepper to taste
Broccoli Cheddar Soup Recipe
In a large pot, sauté the onion in 2 tablespoons melted butter until onions are soft and slightly see-through. Set aside.
In the same pot you cooked the onions in, mix the 1/2 cup of melted butter and the 1/2 cup of flour and stir until you have a smooth consistency. Add the onions back in and stir over medium heat for about 3-4 minutes.
Slowly whisk in the half and half and chicken stock. Let it simmer for about 20 minutes. While it’s simmering, chop the remaining veggies.
Now, add the broccoli, carrots, and onions. Let them simmer on medium-low for about 25 minutes until the broccoli and carrots are tender. Then add nutmeg and sharp cheddar cheese and stir well. You can also add salt and pepper to taste.
Let the cheese melt and then serve.
If your kids don’t like the texture of the soft vegetables, you can puree the soup instead. We like it chunky at our house!
Enjoy!
Make sure to pin this Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup for later!
This is literally the only thing I ever order when I go to Panera! I am going to have to try your recipe – I will save a fortune by making it myself 🙂
I love the Broccoli Cheddar Soup from Panera! I totally wanna try this recipe!!!
I have never tried this at Panera, good to know it’s super easy to make I like having an arsenal of soup recipes to get through winter! 🙂
I can’t wait to give this a try! This is the only soup I order when I go to Panera. It’s sssooo good.
So excited for this recipe! My fav soup is the broccoli cheese at Panera!!
I love Panera’s broccoli cheese soup! It’s so good on a cold fall or winter day. Or really, it’s just good whenever. Can’t wait to make it myself.
That looks awesome, and SO MUCH like the real one. I always pick this as my soup at Panera.
Oh yum, I could actually go for this soup right about now. We’ve been having some chilly days and this seems comforting!
I have enver had broccoli cheese soup. This looks like a pretty straight forward recipe.
I haven’t had Panera’s version before, but this recipe sounds like a real winner! Broccoli and cheese are one of my favorite food combos!
Bookmarking this! I love eating soup in the fall and winter and Panera is one of my faourite places to eat. This soup looks so tasty.
Mmm that sounds so amazing! It’s totally soup weather, but not wanting to leave my house weather. Best of both worlds being able to bring yummy Panera recipes home.
I loveeeeee Panera and haven’t been to one in ages so this is something I really need to have in my life. Can’t wait to try it!
My daughter is a big fan of broccoli cheese soup. I need to make this for her.
I love, love, love this soup! Thanks so much, I’m going to the store to try it now. This is going to get me in trouble.
This sounds so good! Its very cold right now in fact we were suppose to get a dump of snow last night. All I want to eat right now is soup and this sounds so flavorful
I actually had Panera soup before. i love copycat recipes and cant wait to recreate this!