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This Panera Bread copycat Broccoli Cheese Soup is a thick, rich, and creamy soup with tender broccoli, shredded carrots, and a hint of nutmeg, all cooked together with melted cheese. It’s so delicious and easy to make!
Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to Make: This soup is easy to make. Get your ingredients in the pot and let it do its thing.
- Convenient: I love getting this soup when I go to Panera Bread, but I don’t like what it does to my wallet! This way, I can make a big batch that doesn’t break the bank.
- Comfort Food: There isn’t much better than eating a warm bowl of soup with homemade rolls and a crisp salad on a cold day.
Ingredients in Broccoli Cheese Soup
This soup is so easy and delicious. Try topping your soup with extra cheese, crumbled bacon or ham, and some chives for a full broccoli cheese soup experience.
- Butter: I used unsalted butter in this recipe.
- Onion: You can use a white or yellow onion for this soup.
- Flour: The flour is used along with the butter to create a roux. The roux is what will make your soup thick and creamy.
- Half-and-half: The half-and-half makes your broccoli cheese soup ultra-thick, rich, and creamy. You can also use heavy whipping cream instead.
- Chicken Stock: This adds flavor to the base of the soup.
- Broccoli: I use fresh broccoli for this recipe. If you use frozen, cook it in the microwave first and add it to the soup once the veggies are done sauteing.
- Carrot: I buy shredded carrots to save myself time!
- Nutmeg: This secret ingredient adds so much flavor!
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese: This adds color and flavor to this classic soup.
- Salt and Pepper: Just a pinch is enough.
How to Make Broccoli Cheese Soup
This broccoli cheese soup comes together super easily, and it’s a great meal to make ahead of time and eat for lunch or dinner.
- Make a Roux: Sauté the onion in 1 tablespoon melted butter and set aside. In a large pot, stir the melted butter and flour over medium heat for about 3-4 minutes.
- Whisk: Slowly whisk in half and half of the chicken stock. Let it simmer for about 20 minutes.
- Add Vegetables: Add the broccoli, carrots, and onions. Let them simmer on medium-low for about 25 minutes until the broccoli and carrots are tender.
- Add Seasonings and Cheese: Add nutmeg, salt, pepper, and sharp cheddar cheese. Let the cheese melt, and then serve. For a smoother soup, puree the soup.
Can I Use Different Cheeses
Yes! You can try out all sorts of varieties of cheese in this recipe, depending on your taste preference. Here are a few that I recommend:
- Cheddar Cheese
- Colby Jack Cheese
- Swiss Cheese
- American Cheese
- White Cheddar Cheese
- Velveeta Cheese
- Parmesan Cheese
Variations and Substitutions
This copycat Panera Bread Broccoli Cheese Soup is so delicious; there are ways to change it up to fit your needs!
- Fresh or Frozen Broccoli: Fresh broccoli is preferred, but frozen broccoli will also work. Frozen tends to cook faster because it is already blanched.
- Change the Broth: If you want to make this recipe vegetarian or don’t have chicken broth, vegetable broth also works well.
- Want some heat? Add in a pinch of cayenne or red pepper flakes to the broccoli cheese soup recipe.
- Cream Substitute: You can substitute the half and half for heavy cream or even whole milk. Heavy cream will make the soup a bit thicker, and whole milk will make it a bit thinner.
- Shred Cheese from the Block: Pre-shredded cheese has a coating on it that makes it more difficult to melt. When you shred your cheese directly from the block, it gives the soup a very creamy and smooth consistency with no lumps.
Can I Make Broccoli Cheese Soup in the Slow Cooker?
Yes! Sometimes, this is the best option when you aren’t around to make this right away. The soup can heat up, and it’s ready to serve whenever you need it to be!
- Make a Roux: Make a roux by whisking together the flour and butter.
- Combine: Add all of the ingredients to your slow cooker, but leave out the cheese and milk.
- Cook: Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 5-6 hours.
- Add in Dairy Ingredients: About 20 minutes before the soup is done, add in the milk and cheese to the slow cooker. Cook everything together for about 20 minutes. It’s ready to serve when the cheese is all melted.
Storing Leftover Brocolli Cheese Soup
Leftover broccoli cheese soup is so delicious (almost better!) the next day. Here is how you can properly store it for as long as possible.
- In the Refrigerator: Let your soup cool, and then place it in an airtight container and store it in your fridge. It will last 4-5 days.
- In the Freezer: Let the soup cool and pour it into a ziplock bag. Label it with the date and lay the soup flat in the freezer. It will last about one month.
- Reheating: To reheat your broccoli cheese soup, place it in a saucepan over low to medium heat for about 4 to 5 minutes or microwave it in 1 to 2-minute increments. Stirring slowly each time until it is warmed through.
Serve it with Bread
Serve up your delicious broccoli cheese soup with any of these breads. They are perfect for dipping, and then you have the most delicious meal on any cold, wintery day!
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Copycat Panera Bread Broccoli Cheese Soup
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1/2 medium white onion, chopped
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 3 cups half-and-half
- 3 cups chicken stock
- 2 cups fresh broccoli florets
- 1 cup carrots, shredded
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Sauté the onion in 1 tablespoon melted butter and set aside. In a large pot whisk together the melted butter and flour 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.
- Add the broccoli, carrots, and onions. Let them simmer on medium low for about 25 minutes until the broccoli and carrots are tender.
- Add nutmeg, salt, pepper, and sharp cheddar cheese. Let the cheese melt and then serve. For a smoother soup puree the soup.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
All this talk about panera is making me want it for lunch today I love there broccoli cheese soup yummy.
Best soup ever! Better than Panera. I left out the nutmeg based on all the comments. Was so delicious. Tonight I’m doing a slight variation of this recipe. I sauteed the onion with diced bacon and I am using potatoes instead of broccoli. I’m to the part where you add the cheese and it tastes fantastic already. Thank you for the recipe!
Yum! Add the cheese & some chives, top w/ a dollop of sour cream & u have loaded baked potato soup. I’m gonna make this variation too!
The simmering on my stovetop right now! Can’t wait to taste it!
Just found you, was looking up chedder Broccoli Soup can’t wait to try the recipe and then I have to try everyone’s alternate no nutmeg though. Thanks so much everyone. Fall has just gotten here in Southern Calif. I’m Praying for as much rain as we can take. Have to watch my slopes by the chickens Goya keep my girls & Toby (rooster) dry. Thanks again I’ll be back.❤️
Thank you for this, it sounds delicious!!! We love broccoli cheese soup and although it is still in the low hundreds in California I can hardly wait to try it…God Bless you and I hope you and your new baby and family are all well and healthy.
Just made this… Very yummy and my 7 and 3 year old are eating with no complaint (what a surprise). I used milk instead of half and half and left out nutmeg and added cayenne pepper and seasoned salt. I also added way more broccoli and cheese than called for but that’s how I like it. Lastly I added a can of cream of chicken to thicken it. Delicious… Will make again for sure.
I agree about ” way more broccoli”!! I use at least 4 Cups and don’t puree all of it, leave some chunks!
Can I make ahead and refrigerate?
Yes. Reheats wonderfully
Thank all your “fans” for their suggestions to even add more flavor.
I know what I’m making for dinner now! Back in a few to let you know how it turned out!
Would love the butternut squash soup receipe from Panera bread. Had some last week and it is wonderful
I completely agree! Has anyone found one? Also the squash ravioli minus the fettuccine sauce is really good as well. I wish they sold squash ravioli in the grocery store 🙂
I LOVE Panera broccoli cheese, soup. You’re right it’s expensive, at the restaurant. It’s like $4.99 for a “bowl” which is really just a bit more than a cup! I came upon your recipe and can’t wait to try it! Thank you! Will def. review also after, I’ve made it! 🙂
Hey! I just wanted to let you know that you can buy “soup for a group” and it’s cheaper. A friend of mine told me about it. When I first ordered it, the girl seemed confused, but she found the right buttons and BOOM! CHEAPER SOUP! You get about 4 cups with the soup for a group.
Thanks for the info. I am the only one that will eat soup in my home. Hate to spend time making it for myself.
I made a few changes based on what we had on hand: Used whole milk instead of 1/2 & 1/2, used water used to boil carrots instead of chicken stock (added 3 cups instead of 2 also), added 2 tsp chicken bouillon to the flour in making the liquid, sauteed the onion in olive oil instead of butter, used 13 ounces broccoli instead of 8 ounces, used less cheese (4 oz instead of 8 oz) and used medium cheddar instead of sharp. Adding the paprika, seasoned salt, and a squirt of prepared yellow mustard really brought out the flavors nicely; much better than the nutmeg did. Yum! My husband thought it was the best Broccoli Cheese soup we have made yet. Both kids (4.5 & 1.5) liked it too. Thanks for sharing!
Substituted veg broth for chicken, and 3 cups whole milk for cream. Turned out great! Thanks for the recipe!
Hi there.. fall is in the air here in wisconsin. Football season has began and the leaves are getting ready to go. This soup was a perfect fit today. I followed the recipe , but used reduced fat options and omitted the nutmeg. This is divine and thank you for the recipe. I’ll be making it again for sure!!!! I’ll also be stalking the rest of your blog..just found you!!
Brandy..a texas girl stuck in wisconsin
My daughter made this soup on the weekend. It was absolutely delicious. Just wondering if it freezes well as she made a double batch. Thanks.
Can I use chicken broth instead of stock? (im new at cooking) lol
yes. both would work. 🙂
Chicken broth=chicken stock
incorrect.. chicken broth and chicken stock are two different things, both in appearance and taste. both can be homemade, or both are available in the same section of your grocery store. chicken stock has much more flavor than just broth, but broth is preferable over water any day