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Thursday, December 5, 2013

Panera Bread Broccoli Cheddar Soup Copycat Recipe


Seriously you guys. This is exactly like Panera Bread's broccoli soup. It is so thick, rich, creamy, and cheesy. The bread bowl is so crackly on the outside and tender and soft on the inside. It brings a tear to my eye. 



You know how whenever you walk into a restaurant and you're trying to decide what to order, the first thing you always do is inspect the plates of those who are already happily consuming their meal? And as you swoop from table to table like a vulture, trying to decide what looks best, you're always trying your hardest to resist the urge to faceplant into their perfect piles of mashed potatoes or ravenously demolish their mountains of french fries?


Well, when you do this at Panera Bread, you will discover a very interesting phenomenon: over half of the people are feasting on big, fat, crispy bread bowls filled to overflowing with broccoli cheese soup. 

There is a reason for this.


Everyone knows that this is obviously the best broccoli soup on the face of the Earth. And now, you can make it at home. Any time you want. 

And guess what else. IT'S NOT EVEN HARD. Even the bread bowls are easy. You can make them in like an hour. I'm so serious it's not even funny.


This soup was especially easy to make because I had a little helper. Cookie was very eager to dump and stir ingredients and eat the extra bits of cheese that my careless hands scattered on the table. Then when I took it away to photograph it (harassed by many angry cries of hunger from my ravenous family, I might add), Cookie decided she was going to prepare a fruit salad.


She brought it in so that I could photograph it with the rest of the meal. Isn't it lovely?


I'm going to tell you about the bread bowls early next week. I just thought they deserved their own post.

Okay, okay. So I actually was just too lazy to edit all the photos of the bread-making process. But you will have bread bowls soon. I promise.


I actually made this soup before, only I have modified the recipe since then. And guess what, this version is actually gluten free (really just because I think using corn starch as a thickener is closer to the real thing). Enjoy!

    • Panera Bread Broccoli Cheddar Soup Copycat Recipe
    • Makes about 4 servings

    • 1/2 stick of butter (1/4 cup)
    • 1/2 of a medium yellow onion, chopped
    • 2 cloves garlic, minced
    • 2 cups half and half (or 1 cup of milk and 1 cup of heavy cream)
    • 3 cups chicken stock
    • 1/4 cup corn starch
    • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
    • 2 bay leaves
    • 1 large carrot, peeled and chopped small
    • 4 cups broccoli florets (about 1 head)
    • 2 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese (about 8 ounces)
    • Salt and Pepper to taste
    • Bread Bowls (Recipe Here!)
    •  
    • Cook the butter, onion, and garlic on about medium heat until tender. 
    • Slowly add the half and half and chicken stock. Mix the corn starch with a little bit of water until there are no clumps and add it to the rest. Add the nutmeg and bay leaves and cook on medium low until thickened.
    • Add the carrot and broccoli and simmer until tender. Discard the bay leaves. Add the cheese and stir until melted. Season with salt and pepper and serve in bread bowls. 
    • Note: In the old post, I pureed it. You can do that if you want.
    •  
    • (Recipe adapted from Food Network Kitchens)


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25 comments:

  1. I've been buying broccoli cheese soup a lot at Costco thos season and everytime I think... I should be making this homemade! Can't wait to try it! Panera is one of my favs too!

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  2. Made this tonight was yummy and all but next time gonna leave out the bay leaves

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  3. Gross! Nothing like panera! The nutmeg was disgusting

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  4. Really good, although will not use nutmeg next time. Would have been much better without.

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  5. I tried this out and it was AMAZING. entire family loved it. Although I only put in a pinch of nutmeg because of all the negative comments about it. It turned out delicious and flavorful. Will for sure make again!

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  6. Love love love this recipe. I've made it a couple times now, and every time its phenomenal (especially with homemade paninies.) Made on Christmas and the whole family loved it. The nutmeg is the best part I think, though my mother hates it. Thanks for this!

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  7. So good! I kept in the bay leaves and the nutmeg and it was amazing!

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  8. Does it matter what type of Cheddar?

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  9. Really wish I would have read these comments before I made this, nutmeg kinda killed it, like someone else said, just do a pinch...not bad but NOTHING like panera bread

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  10. Absolutely delicious. I made the soup and the bread bowls. It all turned out great. Next time I might not add as much nutmeg. Other than that, it was a huge hit and easy to make.

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  11. Is chicken stock and broth the same for this recipe?

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  12. Good recipe try one bay leaf remove before you add the veggies. Also add a little white wine. One more thing, less nutmeg and add a little paprika.

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  13. Really wish I had read all the reviews first about the nutmeg, but we were still happy with it! Thanks for sharing.

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  14. Definitely leave the nutmeg out!

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  15. Does the nutmeg add anything to this recipe? I'm a newbie in the kitchen!

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  16. Can I cook in the crockpot?

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  17. I left out the nutmeg and the soup was awesome! My dad ate it and he doesn't like anything but fried potatoes and gravy.

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  18. I also left out the nutmeg after reading so many negative responses.

    I thought it was great!!! Tasted just like panera. Thanks for the recipe!

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  19. I doubled the recipe , and call me crazy...I doubled the nutmeg as well and we all thought it was very yummy and I'm pretty picky. Will be making this again, it was super easy too!

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  20. I loved this soup and my family (including two toddlers) loved it as well. Have you ever frozen it? Does it freeze well?

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  21. I love this soup! It's always my go-to recipe.

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  22. BOMB!! So I made this recipe for 25 kids and young adults at my church a few weeks ago...they toooore it up!! I'm going to make a double batch tonight (cold and rainy calls for it) and I can't wait to eat!! :) awesome recipe!

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  23. This recipe turned out so good!! I did take the recommendation of adding just a pinch of nutmeg, everything else the same. Loved it and so did my kids, thank you!

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  24. I saw your recipe at Taste of Home and said that's what's for dinner tonight, modified by the offerings from my pantry. These types of recipes go back to at least the 1980's; the breadbowl idea, too (My Mom used to make alot of breadbowl dips in that time period, as I recall -- and she was always a hit with her food!)

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  25. This was delicious and so good in the breadbowl!

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