Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup is ready in less than 30 minutes! The perfect bowl of comfort food without leaving your house!
I created this recipe many years ago, and you’ll see by the recipe reviews how loved it’s become. I hope it becomes a staple in your weeknight dinner rotation too!
This recipe was originally published in January 2017. The recipe notes have been updated in February 2025.
Aimee’s Recipe Notes
Taste & Texture – Creamy, cheesy, and loaded with tender broccoli, just like the Panera favorite.
Ease of Making – Quick and easy, ready in under 30 minutes.
Cooking Method – One-pot stovetop soup for a simple, comforting meal.
Aimee’s Top Tip – Use an immersion blender for a smoother texture, or keep it chunky for more bite. Frozen broccoli works too!
My family doesn’t love traditional fast food. Which I suppose is a good thing, except when I’m looking to just pick up a quick, on the go meal I’m limited by their taste buds!
Fortunately (or not) for us, our Panera Bread has a drive through, and it’s one of the “fast food” choices we all love. Except it’s pricey. They don’t have a dollar menu!
My goal with my blog has been to create a database of recipes that my family loves.
Things like Starbucks Lemon Loaf, Panera Mac and Cheese, and Hostess Cupcakes. If my kids are craving it, I can probably recreate it!
With today’s Broccoli Cheese Soup recipe, we may never have to actually go to Panera again.
When I can make Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup at home, I know I’m saving us some money and a trip out.
Love easy soup recipes? Be sure to try my Chicken Taco Soup for a family favorite dinner. Or try my hearty Lasagna Soup recipe!
Featured Review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“My picky son finally let me make him this soup for him and he loved it!” -Corrie
Easy Ingredient List
From start to finish, this Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup recipe takes less than 30 minutes.
Real talk: It will probably take less time to make this soup at home than it would to get everyone in the car and drive to Panera. Not to mention the drive back home!
Broccoli: You can always use fresh broccoli to make Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup, but it’s ok if you want to reach into the freezer for a bag of frozen broccoli florets.
Broth: Keep this soup vegetarian by using vegetable broth in place of the chicken broth.
My Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup recipe makes 3-4 decent sized bowls of soup…but you can easily double the recipe if you have hungry eaters, and this is your main dish.
You could also serve this soup as a side alongside sandwiches. Try my Turkey Cheddar Sliders or, if you want to mix favorites from different restaurants, Copycat Chick-fil-A Chicken Salad Sandwiches.
How to Make Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup
Want less chunks in your soup? Use an immersion blender to smooth it out! Our family loved this soup, it’s a great recipe for busy weeknights!
Instant Pot: Today’s Broccoli Cheddar Soup can also be made in the Instant Pot! Dinner in under 30 minutes! Loaded with vegetables and cheese, you’ll love this easy, creamy Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup Recipe!
Slow cooker: Use my slow cooker broccoli cheddar soup recipe for a great, fix it and forget it meal!
More Copycat Panera Recipes
Does your family love Panera as much as mine does? Lucky for you, I have a whole list of recipes I’ve recreated from Panera.
In addition to the Broccoli Cheese Soup, our family loves
Serving Suggestions
Easy, buttery Beer Bread goes perfect with this soup! Also great to cube into bite sized pieces and use for dips!
Of course my 5 minute Artisan bread is a great side for this soup.
Are you looking for a fluffy, delicious Dinner Roll? These No Knead Garlic Parmesan Dinner Rolls will please the whole family!
Easiest side dish ever. Whip up a batch of these Puff Pastry Bread Sticks to dunk in your soup!
You can also go to most bakery sections in the grocery store and find a great homemade bread bowl!
More Easy Dinner Ideas
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Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup diced onions yellow or white
- 1 cup shredded carrots I used matchsticks that I cut into half inch pieces
- 2 1/2-3 cups broccoli florets chopped small
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth
- 1 cup milk I use skim/fat free
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- pinch of crushed red pepper flakes or more as desired
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- In a large pot over medium high heat, melt butter. Add in onions, carrots and broccoli. Cook to soften about 5 minutes (may be more or less depending on the size vegetables you cut).
- Slowly add in broth, milk, and cream. Sprinkle with flour and add salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Continue stirring and heating over medium heat until thickened. This will take about 10-15 minutes.
- Once thick, add cheese and stir until melted and smooth. Serve soup and enjoy!
Notes
- Easily double the ingredients to make more of this delicious soup!
- Use a good quality cheddar cheese for best results. And shred the cheese yourself for the creamiest results.
- Store leftovers in refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freeze soup in airtight freezer safe container for up to 3 months. Reheat on stovetop.
- See blog post for more recipe tips and tricks and directions on how to make in slow cooker and Instant Pot.
Video
Nutrition
Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup is ready in less than 30 minutes! The perfect bowl of comfort food without leaving your house!
Very very salty. I think 0.5 teaspoons of salt would improve the recipe. 1.5 teaspoons is overwhelming. I also wasn’t sure how to whisk in the flour given the veggies – my soup turned out lumpy and salty.
Were you using kosher salt? It’s more coarse than table salt.
Made this tonight, very salty so I think next time I’ll cut the salt in half. Was still really good and will definitely make it over and over.
Make sure you’re using kosher salt, not table salt 🙂
I did use kosher salt
Absolutely agree about the salt. Maybe use just a half teaspoon next time.
I use salted butter and it replaces the salt in the recipe. Perfect amount of salt then.
Every time I make this soup I’m amazed how simple, quick and DELICIOUS it is! I have been making this soup for well over a year and will make it for many years to come. Thank you for sharing.
Made this to share. I’m sure this will be a family favorite. Easy to make with mostly on hand staples. I hade to get the heavy whipping cream. Definitely done in 30 minutes.
This is my second time making this delicious soup and its good every time It is quick and easy yes when you grate your own cheese it melts better and the taste is wonderful I did use frozen broccli and I always take my carrot and grate and freeze them so I always have them on hand and you cant tell they were frozen. And I like mine a little spicy. Thank you for this recipe.
I’m going to make this tomorrow. Should I use a bag of shredded cheese or block cheese?
Shred ur own blocked sharp cheddar and shred. Smoother than already bagged cheese.
Shred your own cheese for best texture in the soup!
Always shred your own. Bagged cheese is coated with an anti caking agent which prevents clumping in the bag. It also prevents it from a creamy melting consistency.
I would like to ‘big batch’ and freeze, will it freeze well?
I just made this soup today! It was quick, easy and so delicious! Will be making again soon!
Thanks for the great recipe Aimee! I love making a warm bowl of soup and a sandwich for meals when it is cooler weather and this soup hit the spot!! I added it to my favorites list!!
This was a great recipe! Fast, easy and delicious 😉 A great way to warm up on a cold day, I’ll
definitely be making this again and often.
I just made this recipe and it is by far a great tasting soup! Better than Panera’s. I didn’t have salt free butter but I also cut the added salt to 1 teaspoon and it was perfect!
Thank you for sharing this recipe. Definitely recommend!
What a passive aggressive, unnecessary comment.
Omg!! Im so glad I found this recipe. Luckily I had everything on hand and was craving a creamy soup. This soup was so good and just what I was looking for. Thanks for sharing!
This is a great soup recipe! Comfort food. Made for Christmas Eve— it was 0 degrees. Family loved it! Definitely added to Christmas recipe collection.
Which is best cheese to use?
Would Velveeta work? Or should I just stick with Cheddar??
I was wondering the same thing only because I had some left over from a prior recipe I had made.
Velvetta is not a cheese
Noooo. Velveeta would not be good in this imo
I always make this 😋 Will make it for Christmas dinner.Going to try make in crock pot,what is setting-how long to cook it & preparation ? Do I put all ingredients &cook together?
I’ve done it in a crocpot and tastes amazing. I usually put the crock pot on high and add the butter first and allow it to melt a bit. Then add veggies and everything else. If you keep it on high then only 4 hours of cook time. If you turn it to low then 6-8 hours. Stirring occasionally. Hope it turns out great and have a Merry Christmas!
Velveeta for me was the best
This is my favorite soup only I’ve had it at Subway as we don’t have Panera in Canada so I’ll definitely be making it soon
Made this recipe tonight and it was DELICIOUS!!! My family loved it and it will easily become a family favorite. It took me a little longer than 30 minutes, but it was easy to make. Thank you!
Yield = 4. Four cups?
Made this soup tonight,! Easy and delicious. Will make again.
Thank you for sharing, it’s my first time making this soup and my husband loves it