Panera Copycat Broccoli Cheese Soup
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Delicious, healthier Panera Copycat Broccoli Cheese soup. Fresh broccoli, shredded carrots, in a flavorful, beautifully balanced, all-natural, creamy broth; with delicious, melted, gooey, sharp cheddar cheese. And it’s SO easily converted to be gluten free and/or vegetarian.
I love a delicious soup just about any day, but copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese soup – YES! All day long! My family also loves this soup using real cheese, nothing fake in this soup!
If you are a soup lover, you might enjoy these other reader favorites: Creamy Chicken Poblano Soup, a spring favorite, Instant Pot Potato Leek Soup, or this hearty and healthy Cheeseburger Soup!
Nothing gets me going like a great soup! What about you? I think you are either a soup person…or not. I am soup people, I could eat it every night; brothy, creamy, tomato based — all types, I just don’t do seafood.
I have never been a fan of “bottom-dwellers.” A few years ago after taking Krill Oil as my omega for 6 months, I ended up in the doctor’s office with a “classic shellfish” rash, it wasn’t pretty!
While not a huge allergy, it was all I needed to hear to steer clear of shellfish. My poor, shellfish loving, New England raised husband; he loves all shellfish! Sorry honey!
Ah, but I digress…back to this amazing Better-than-Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup (with no shellfish) ;-).
I’ve had this recipe sitting around for awhile, I was inspired to make this soup to bring to my dear friend who had surgery. I made a pot to bring to their family earlier this week, only to find out she hadn’t been released from the hospital.
The docs were having a hard time controlling her pain; so along with making this soup, I sent texts to my prayer-warrior friends. Never, ever underestimate the power of prayerful petitions to our great, loving and compassionate God! So our family ate the soup instead, and I made her family a fresh pot later in the week.
Ingredients & Substitutions
It hit “the spot” that’s for sure! I even dished it out in these cute little to-go soup cups, I’m a sucker for anything fun in the paper goods department. Great to bring to work for a quick, hot, nutritious, heat and serve lunch — or store in the fridge at home during a busy week, pop in the micro for a few seconds and presto, you have lunch!
- Butter or Oil | used to caramelize the onions and make a roux to thicken the soup.
- Onion | Your friendly simple flavor booster!
- Flour | Use all purpose flour or Gluten Free All Purpose Flour, both work great!
- Half-and-half | whole milk can also be used, this is what gives it that beautiful creaminess!
- Chicken stock | If making vegetarian broccoli cheese soup, then please you a good veggie broth.
- Fresh Broccoli | I used organic fresh broccoli, you can use frozen as well, but it will have a slightly different texture.
- Carrots | Yes! These will actually help give the soup that beautiful orange tinted color, naturally
- Nutmeg | a little fresh grated (or bottled) nutmeg will enhance the cheese and the flavors mightily!
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese | The real stuff, best if off the block as there are not fillers, white or yellow your choice.
I hope you give it a try, it’s better than any soup using condensed soups or Velveeta cheese, no fake cheese in this soup!! I wanted a soup where you could taste the cheese, not just tint it orange. The orange tinting actually comes from the carrots instead! And seriously, it’s was pretty darn easy!
Steps to making the best cream soup
- In a medium-sized soup pot, heat a tablespoon of butter over medium high heat. Toss in onions, browning or caramelizing, stirring occasionally.
What’s a Roux and how do you make it?
- Remove the onions to a plate or bowl while you prepare the roux (roo)…
noun. 1. a cooked mixture of butter or other fat and flour used to thicken sauces, soups, etc. Origin of roux. Latin.
Gluten-Free Panera Broccoli Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe
Melt 1/4 cup of butter in the same pot used to brown your onions. Then add all-purpose flour (or sub with Gluten Free All-Purpose flour) and whisk or stir it until it thickens and turns a golden brown, about 2-3 minutes.
- Slowly pour in half and half, whisking while you do, until the roux and fully incorporated with the cream, creating a nice, thick creamy base.
- Next add your chicken stock or veggie broth. Whisking to combine.
- Increase heat slightly to bring it all to a simmer (watch closely, once it boils it can easily rise and boil right out of your pot, you don’t want to lose any of this deliciousness).
- Simmer for 10 minutes. It will thicken slightly, but not be too thick, the rest of the ingredients will helps to thicken it up.
- Meanwhile, chop the broccoli into bite size pieces and grate the carrots (one large carrot did the trick) or use shredded carrots* from the grocery store, which are a great stand-by for soups and stews!
- Add broccoli florets and carrots into soup and return caramelized onions to the pot as well.
- When veggies are tender, blend using an immersion blender, or remove 1-2 cups of the soup and pour into blender, blend until smooth, add back to the soup for a creamier soup.
- You are not blending the entire pot of soup, but want to leave some chunks. Make it as smooth or chunky as you desire.
CARROT TIP | *Pre-shredded carrots from the grocery store are a bit thicker than home shredded, so be prepared to simmer your soup a bit longer, making sure your carrots are tender before blending.
- Next, add the grated sharp cheddar cheese, sea salt and pepper and stir to combine. Taste before adding salt, it might be salty enough.
- Finally, add nutmeg, why? The subtle nuttiness of it blends so beautifully with the cheese and milk, enhancing all of the flavors of the soup. Fresh grated is best, but ground is fine too!
What Can I Serve with Soup
- Warm chunk of crusty bread, you might try a delicious French or Italian Bread, or even this Irish Soda Bread or easy Copycat Cheddar Bay Biscuits.
- Or if you are feeling really adventurous, make these AH-Mazing Oatmeal Dinner Rolls, Copycat Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread, Easy Beer Bread but you’ll have to start these much earlier if you want to eat them with your soup.
Even More Great Soup Recipes:
- Easy Ham, Mac & Cheese Soup | A great use for leftover ham
- Beer Cheese Soup | creamy, delicious, no fake cheese here either!
- Italian Wedding Soup | a traditional chicken noodle soup, slightly varied Italian style!
- Best Old Fashioned Chicken Noodle Soup | heals what ails ya!
- Bacon Beef Minestrone | another winner, this is a clean out the fridge kind of soup!
- Creamy Cauliflower Soup | sooooo good!
Sharing this week on Weekend Potluck!
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon butter divided
- 1/2 medium chopped onion
- [1/4 cup all-purpose flour or swap out All-Purpose Gluten Free Flour]
- 2 cups half-and-half whole milk can also be used
- [2-4 cups chicken stock or vegetable broth]
- 1/2 lb fresh broccoli about 3 cups chopped into bite size pieces
- 1 cup carrot grated/shredded (about 1–2 large carrots)
- [1–1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt to taste, watch this, taste before adding salt, cheese can be salty]
- [1/4 teaspoon nutmeg or fresh ground nutmeg]
- black pepper to taste
- 8 oz grated sharp cheddar white or yellow cheese (about 2 cups)
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, saute onion in 1 tablespoon of butter until caramelized (browned), remove from pot and reserve. About 5-7 minutes.
- Place remaining 1/4 cup of butter in the same saucepan, melt completely, whisk in flour, whisking constantly over medium heat until thickened and golden brown, about 2-3 minutes. Slowly, while whisking pour in half-and-half, will thicken up very quickly, keep adding until combined.
- Add chicken broth (start with 4 cups) and whisk well to combine, bring to simmer (it’ll take 3-5 minutes, watch closely, it will rise up quickly). Add broccoli, carrots and reserved caramelized onions, cover, simmering about 15-20 minutes until tender. If too thick, add more broth, up to 2 cups.
- Add salt and pepper to taste. Remove 1-2 cups of the chunky mixture and blend in blender or lightly blend directly in the pot using an immersion blender. Return to soup pot and stir to combine. This will yield a smoother, creamier soup, but it’s not necessary. Return to low heat and adding shredded cheese, stirring until completely melted.
- Serve with a green salad and some bread or rolls;, like these, beer bread, Russian Black Bread, or oatmeal rolls!
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About Kathleen Pope
Recipe Innovator | Food Photographer | Food Writer
Hi, I’m Kathleen Pope. Here at The Fresh Cooky you will find easy, mostly from-scratch, trusted recipes for all occasions. From speedy dinners to tasty desserts, with easy step-by-step instructions. I am here to help teach you how to make mouthwatering recipes without spending hours in the kitchen. Read more about Kathleen here.
I love this soup!
It is a rainy day here on the East Coast and this sounds soooo good! May have to make a run to the grocery store.
The perfect meal for a rainy day!
I made this soup without the carrots and used gluten free flour. It was so delicious and thick and creamy. I will definitely make this again.
Excellent recipe! Everyone in my family couldn’t get enough! I added some cooked rice to mine. I didn’t blend. Such great flavor. I will definitely make this again. I give this recipe a 10+! Thank you for sharing.
Awe, Jen, thank you! Love the idea of adding cooked rice, fills up tummies even more! THank you for sharing!
I made this tonight and it was absolutely delicious! I blended half of it and used 4 cups of stock. My husband insists on having meat with all dinners so I added rotisserie chicken to it at the end. Again, it was soooo good! My husband loved it.
Oh I love that you added chicken to it!! So glad you enjoyed it Megan, thanks for sharing!
I made this today for my parents who are visiting from CA and who eat at Panera often. THEY LOVED IT! My mom, who is a great cook, agreed that it is WAY better than Panera’s version. They were dipping french bread into it and devouring it. My kids loved it too! Thank you, Kathleen!
Yay!!! Thanks Kristen! You just made my Monday!
This looks so good! I’m bookmarking this page to try the recipe sometime soon.
YAY! I’m excited to hear what you think, when you do make it! Thanks Debby!
Made this on Sunday. LOVED it. It’s so nice. So creamy. Just perfect. We will make this again and again. It’s our new fave
I’m so tickled to hear this Lana!! Enjoy your new fave!
Delicious!!! Did not need to blend it cause it appeared thick enough for us. Great recipe thanks for sharing.
Hi Lisa, that is wonderful to hear! Yes, blending is certainly a matter of preference!! So glad you enjoyed the soup!