Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup

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This Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup recipe tastes just like the original! Save money by making this soup at home! It serves 4 and costs just $6.40 to make! 

I recently moved to Utah and we are in the middle of winter. The snow has been a little bit of a shock to our systems for my family seeing that we’ve spent the last few years in a temperate climate. We love it but goodness it is cold! I do not love driving in it though. 

I have found that we have been eating A LOT of soup this winter. We have some favorites that we love to get when we’re out and about. One of them being the Broccoli Cheese Soup from Panera. But remember how I just said I do not love driving in the snow? What am I to do when I have a craving for one of my favorite soups and it is snowing outside? 

Well, I decided to come up with a copycat recipe of my favorite Broccoli Cheese Soup from Panera. The best part of this soup is that it takes less time to make this recipe than it takes to actually drive to Panera and come home, score!

My love of this soup is what led me to create a recipe with my own spin on it to share with my family and now with you. I really do love creating recipes that my family will enjoy. I hope you will make this version of Panera’s Broccoli Cheese Soup for you and your family and friends to share the love with them. 

Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe Questions Answered:

What goes good with broccoli cheese soup?

• Bread Bowls
• Copycat Panera Mac and Cheese
• Cobb Salad
• Garlic Cheese Breadsticks
• Spinach Salad

Is broccoli cheddar soup vegetarian?

You would at first glance think the Broccoli Cheddar Soup is vegetarian but it actually is not. The recipe calls for chicken broth which is not vegetarian. You can make it vegetarian by using vegetable broth. 

Can you freeze broccoli and cheese soup?

Yep! After you have cooked the soup let it cool to room temperature and then pour it into an airtight container or freezer storage bag that you will lay flat. When you are ready to use the soup and defrost it, just stir in some cheese and some additional salt and pepper.

How do you make Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup?

1. First, melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. 
2. Next, add onions and cook for about 4-5 minutes. 
3. Then make a roux by stirring in the flour. Stir until the roux turns the color of peanut butter. 
4. Next, slowly whisk in the chicken broth and half-and-half while whisking constantly. Bring the soup to a slow bubble and then reduce the heat to simmer. 
5. Then stir in the broccoli florets and carrots and simmer for 15 minutes. Be sure to stir the soup every few minutes.
6. Finally, stir in the cheese and salt and mix until the cheese is melted. Season with additional salt to taste and serve.  

How much will this Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe cost?

RECIPE COST: $6.40

PER SERVING COST: $1.60

NOTE: The recipe prices are used calculating name brand products from Walmart’s website. The actual cost of the recipe will vary depending on what your pantry is already stocked with and current grocery prices. 

• 5 Tablespoons salted butter – $0.50
• 1/2 cup chopped yellow onion – $0.31
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour – $0.08
• 1 3/4 cups chicken broth – $0.84
• 2 cups half and half – $0.88 
• 3 cups broccoli florets – $2.08
• 1 cup julienned carrots – $0.42
• 1 teaspoon salt – $0.01
• 8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese – $1.28

Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links. 

Cook’s Note: 

• Make sure you don’t heat the broth and half and half too quickly because you run the risk of the half and half curdling. 
• This recipe doubles nicely. 

Cook’s Tools:

• Cutting board
• Chef’s knife
• Large heavy-bottomed pot
• Wooden spoon
• Whisk
• Cheese grater 

Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup

This Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup tastes just like the original! Save money by making this soup at home! It serves 4 and costs just $6.40 to make!

5 from 6 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: America

Keyword: broccoli, copycat, soup

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Servings: 4 people

US Customary - Metric

Calories: 501kcal

Author: Jillian - a Food, Folks and Fun original!

Ingredients

• 5 Tablespoons salted butter
• ½ cup chopped yellow onion
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 ¾ cups chicken broth
• 2 cups half and half
• 3 cups broccoli florets cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 cup julienned carrots
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 8 ounces cheddar cheese shredded (about 2 cups)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

• Melt butter to a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat.
• Add onions and cook until lightly golden brown on the edges and the onions are translucent about 4-5 minutes.
• Make a roux by stirring in the flour. Continue to stir and cook the flour mixture until the roux turns the color of peanut butter. This will take about 4 minutes.
  
• Grab a whisk and slowly pour in the chicken broth and half and half while whisking constantly. Turn the heat up to medium-high and bring the soup to a slow bubble. Once bubbling, reduce the heat to simmer.
  
• Stir in the broccoli florets and carrots. Simmer the soup for 15 minutes, stirring every 3-4 minutes.
  
• Stir in the salt and cheddar cheese until the cheese is nice and melted. Season the soup to taste with additional salt. Serve.
  

Nutrition

Serving: 2cups | Calories: 501kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Cholesterol: 103mg | Sodium: 1598mg | Potassium: 728mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 6827IU | Vitamin C: 72mg | Calcium: 580mg | Iron: 2mg

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This Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup recipe tastes just like the original! Save money by making this soup at home! It serves 4 and costs just $6.40 to make!