Broccoli Cheddar Soup (Panera Bread Copycat)
This broccoli cheddar soup is a spot on copycat of the Panera favorite with rich, creamy texture and plenty of cheesy flavor. It’s an easy homemade comfort food recipe that’s perfect for chilly days and cozy dinners at home.
Servings: 6
Calories: 483kcal
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 small yellow onion peeled & diced
- 1 large carrot peeled & diced
- 1 stalk celery diced
- 4 tsp garlic paste
- 4 cups fresh broccoli chopped into small florets
- 6 1/2 cups chicken broth
- pinch ground nutmeg
- 3 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 tbsp flour
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add the butter to a Dutch oven, or other heavy bottomed soup pot, set over medium low heat.1 tbsp butter
- Once melted add the onion, carrot, and celery stirring until evenly combined. Saute just until the veggies have softened slightly.1 small yellow onion, 1 large carrot, 1 stalk celery
- Stir in the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.4 tsp garlic paste
- Add the broccoli and broth to the pot stirring until evenly combined.4 cups fresh broccoli, 6 1/2 cups chicken broth
- Bring the mixture to a boil then immediately reduce the heat and simmer for 15 - 20 minutes.
- Add the nutmeg and cheese to the soup, stirring until completely melted and smooth.pinch ground nutmeg, 3 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- In a small bowl whisk the flour, cornstarch, and cream together until evenly combined then stir the mixture into the soup. Simmer, on low, just until the soup's thickened slightly.2 tbsp flour, 2 tsp cornstarch, 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- Season with salt and pepper, to taste.salt & pepper to taste
- Ladle into bowls, serve warm, and enjoy!
Notes
- I recommend using freshly shredded cheese for the best results. You can use preshredded, but it's often coated in starch to prevent clumping which can also prevent it from melting completely and smoothly.
- For a chunkier soup, serve as is. If you prefer a smoother soup then use an immersion blender to puree to your preference.
- Make sure to simmer the soup on low heat while melting the cheese. Higher heat can cause the cheese to become grainy when melting.
- Serve with hunks of crusty baguettes for the full authentic copycat experience.
Nutrition
Calories: 483kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 23g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 121mg | Sodium: 1435mg | Potassium: 409mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 3708IU | Vitamin C: 55mg | Calcium: 546mg | Iron: 1mg