Enjoy one of your favorite restaurant menu items at home with my version of Panera's Broccoli & Cheese Soup.
How do you make broccoli and cheese soup?
Start by melting ¼ cup of butter in a large saucepan over medium heat, add flour; then whisk to form a roux. Gradually whisk in half and half until the roux has dissolved; then add some chicken broth. Allow the soup to simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
While the liquid is simmering, melt 1 teaspoon of butter in a small pan; then stir add onions and carrots. Sauté 2-3 minutes until the onions start to soften; then remove from heat and set aside.
Next, add broccoli, onions and carrots to the liquid mixture, cover the pot with a lid and simmer over low heat for an additional 15 minutes; stirring occasionally. Remove the soup from the heat.
Use either an immersion blender or a blender to puree the ingredients until smooth; then return the soup to the pan. Stir in the cheese and nutmeg until the cheese has melted.
This Panera copycat Broccoli and Cheese Soup was deliciously creamy and certainly warmed me up on a cold day. I did make a few adjustments to the original recipe by using low fat half and half and reduced fat cheddar cheese instead of the regular versions.
I also used frozen broccoli florets instead of fresh to save some time. The family really loved this soup; though they complained mentioned they would have preferred it better if I served it in a bread bowl. Maybe next time~Enjoy!
Get my weekly newsletter and receive a FREE eBook!
Copycat Panera Broccoli and Cheese Soup
Ingredients
- ¼ c . Butter
- ¼ c . All-Purpose Flour
- 2 c . Low Fat Half & Half
- 2 c . Fat Free Chicken Broth
- 1 teaspoon . Butter
- ¼ c . Chopped Red Onion
- ½ c . Chopped Carrots
- 12 oz . Frozen Broccoli Florets
- 2 c . Reduced Fat Shredded Mild Cheddar Cheese
- ¼ teaspoon . Ground Nutmeg
Instructions
- Melt ¼ cup of butter in a large saucepan over medium heat; then whisk in the flour forming a roux.
- Gradually whisk in the half and half until the roux has dissolved; then whisk in the chicken broth. Allow to simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- While the liquid is simmering, melt the 1 teaspoon of butter in a small pan; then stir in the onions and carrots. Saute 2-3 minutes until the onions start to soften. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Add the broccoli, onions and carrots to the liquid mixture, cover the pot with a lid and simmer over low heat for an additional 15 minutes; stirring occasionally.
- Remove the soup from the heat. Use either an immersion blender or a blender to puree the ingredients until smooth; then return the soup to the pan.
- Stir in the cheese and nutmeg until the cheese has melted.
Nutrition
Visit the recipe index to search for more recipes by category.
Related Recipes
Chicken Gnocchi Soup (Olive Garden Copycat)
Kmac says
This was great, even without the onion which I realized too late that I didn't have! Thank you!
Carrie Farias says
I'm so glad you liked it! Thanks for stopping back to let me know. Happy Holidays!
Brianna says
This soup is delicious.! I added kale and red potatoes in mine and tripped the recipe (big hungry family) and it came out perfect.!!!
carrieexpktchn@optonline.net says
What a great way to add more substance. I'm so glad you and your family enjoyed the recipe. Thanks for coming back to let me know I truly appreciate it. 🙂
Lclair says
How many servings does this make & what size are they?
Carrie's Experimental Kitchen says
This soup makes eight 1-cup servings.
Mary Czerczyk says
I love Panera's Broccoli & cheese soup. I will try this recipe . Thank you!
Carrie's Experimental Kitchen says
You're welcome Mary, I hope you enjoy it!
Frank Markham says
Is this the original Panara Bread broccoli cheddar? I loved that soup, but they changed the recipe to " make it cleaner". I do not care for the new version, and have met no one that does. For all those who loved the original soup, you can get one just as good if not better at Sprouts Market, only buy the fresh version. They usually have it at least one day a week. How about a copy cat version of that soup? Love it!
Carrie's Experimental Kitchen says
Hi Frank, I live on the East Coast (NJ) and we don't have a Sprouts Market in the area. I made this soup four years ago so I guess it would be the old recipe. I haven't had it at Panera in a while so I can't say how the new version tastes, but we LOVE this one. I hope you enjoy it as well!