Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup Simple Recipe

Name: Cheesy Broccoli Delight Soup
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 4 cups fresh broccoli florets; 1 cup shredded carrots; 0.5 cup chopped onion; 3 cups vegetable broth; 1 cup heavy cream; 1.5 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese; 0.25 cup all-purpose flour; 4 tablespoons butter; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 0 Salt and pepper to taste

by Sophia on August 11, 2025

Craving the creamy goodness of Panera’s Broccoli Cheddar Soup? You’re in luck! This easy copycat recipe brings that warm, savory flavor right to your kitchen. With simple ingredients and step-by-step directions, you can whip up a bowl of comfort in no time. Perfect for rainy days or cozy nights, this soup satisfies all ages. Let’s dive into the recipe and impress your friends and family with your culinary skills!

$- 4 cups fresh broccoli florets - 1 cup shredded carrots - 1/2 cup chopped onion - 3 cups vegetable broth - 1 cup heavy cream - 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese - 4 tablespoons butter - 1 tablespoon olive oil - 1 teaspoon garlic powder - Salt and pepper to taste - 1/4 cup all-purpose flour To make this soup, you need fresh and quality ingredients. The broccoli gives it a nice green color and crunch. Carrots add a sweet touch, while onions bring depth to the flavor. You will also need vegetable broth and heavy cream to make it rich and creamy. For cheese lovers, sharp cheddar is the star here. It melts beautifully and gives the soup that amazing cheesy flavor. Butter and olive oil help sauté the veggies and add richness. The garlic powder, salt, and pepper round out the taste. Finally, flour thickens the soup to a velvety texture. Getting these ingredients ready makes the cooking process smooth. You can find most of these at your local grocery store. Freshness is key for the best taste! {{ingredient_image_1}} - Heat oil and butter in a large pot. - Sauté onion until translucent. - Add broccoli and carrots, cook for 5 minutes. Start by heating a mix of olive oil and butter in your pot. This helps build flavor. Once the oil is hot, add the chopped onion. Cook it until it turns a clear color. This should take about 5 minutes. Next, add in the fresh broccoli florets and shredded carrots. Stir them well and let them cook for another 5 minutes. This step brings out their natural sweetness. - Sprinkle flour over vegetables and stir. - Slowly add vegetable broth while stirring. Now it’s time to make the soup base. Sprinkle the flour over the cooked veggies. Stir it in well to coat everything evenly. Cook for about 2 to 3 minutes. This helps get rid of the raw flour taste. After that, slowly pour in the vegetable broth. Keep stirring to avoid lumps. Bring your mixture to a gentle simmer. - Stir in heavy cream and simmer. - Add garlic powder, salt, and pepper. - Mix in cheddar cheese until melted. Once your soup is simmering, reduce the heat. Now, pour in the heavy cream. Let it simmer for about 5 minutes. This makes the soup rich and creamy. Next, add garlic powder, salt, and pepper to taste. Finally, stir in the shredded cheddar cheese. Keep stirring until the cheese melts and the soup is smooth. If you want it creamier, use an immersion blender to blend some of the soup. This gives you a nice balance of texture. - Use fresh ingredients for the best taste. Fresh broccoli and cheese make a big difference. - Experiment with different types of cheese. Try gouda or pepper jack for new flavors. - Use an immersion blender for creaminess. Blend part of the soup for a smooth texture. - Leave some chunks for added texture. This keeps the soup hearty and fun to eat. - Serve with extra cheddar cheese on top. A sprinkle of cheese makes it look gourmet. - Pair with a crusty baguette. The bread is great for dipping and adds crunch. Pro Tips Use Fresh Ingredients: Always opt for fresh broccoli and carrots for the best flavor and texture in your soup. Cheese Variations: Experiment with different cheese types, like Gruyère or Monterey Jack, for unique flavor profiles. Make it Vegan: Substitute heavy cream with coconut milk or a cashew cream for a dairy-free version, and use vegetable broth. Storage Tips: This soup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to a month. Reheat gently on the stove. {{image_2}} You can easily change the base of this soup. - Swap vegetable broth with chicken broth for a richer flavor. - Use plant-based milk, like almond or oat milk, for a lighter version. These swaps keep the taste fresh and fun. Feeling adventurous? Add some extra ingredients. - Include cooked chicken for a protein boost. This makes it heartier. - Try adding different vegetables like cauliflower for a twist. This adds more color and taste. Mixing in these extras can make your soup unique. Want to add some heat? Here’s how. - Incorporate red pepper flakes to give it a kick. Just a pinch can change the game. - Experiment with fresh herbs like thyme. They add depth and fresh flavor. These spices and herbs elevate your soup to the next level. Store the soup in airtight containers. It will stay fresh for up to 4 days. This way, you can easily enjoy it again without losing flavor. For longer storage, freeze the soup in portions. This makes reheating quick and easy. Always thaw the soup before reheating it on the stove. This helps keep the texture just right. When it's time to eat, reheat the soup on the stovetop. This method gives the best results. If the soup seems too thick, add a splash of broth. This will adjust the consistency and make it smooth again. Yes, you can make this soup dairy-free. Use dairy-free cheese made from nuts or soy. For cream, try coconut cream or cashew cream. Both choices work well and keep the flavor tasty and rich. This soup takes about 30 minutes to cook. You need 15 minutes for prep and 15 minutes for cooking. It's quick and easy, perfect for a weeknight meal. Pair this soup with a crusty baguette or a fresh salad. You can also add some crackers for a nice crunch. These sides enhance the soup's creamy taste and make the meal more filling. This blog post covered how to make a delicious vegetable soup. We explored fresh ingredients like broccoli and carrots, used vegetable broth, and added cheddar cheese for flavor. You learned simple steps to create the soup and tips for enhancing taste and texture. Remember to store leftovers properly for future meals. With a few tweaks, you can make it your own. Enjoy experimenting with different flavors and enjoy your perfect bowl of soup!$

Why I Love This Recipe

Comforting Flavor: This cheesy broccoli soup is the ultimate comfort food, making it perfect for chilly days and cozy nights.
Nutritious Ingredients: Packed with fresh broccoli and carrots, this soup is not only delicious but also loaded with vitamins and minerals.
Quick and Easy: With a prep time of just 15 minutes, this recipe is perfect for busy weeknights when you need a hearty meal in a hurry.
Creamy Texture: The combination of heavy cream and melted cheddar cheese creates a rich, velvety texture that’s simply irresistible.

Ingredients

Fresh Produce

– 4 cups fresh broccoli florets

– 1 cup shredded carrots

– 1/2 cup chopped onion

Liquids and Broth

– 3 cups vegetable broth

– 1 cup heavy cream

Dairy and Seasoning

– 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

– 4 tablespoons butter

– 1 tablespoon olive oil

– 1 teaspoon garlic powder

– Salt and pepper to taste

– 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

To make this soup, you need fresh and quality ingredients. The broccoli gives it a nice green color and crunch. Carrots add a sweet touch, while onions bring depth to the flavor. You will also need vegetable broth and heavy cream to make it rich and creamy.

For cheese lovers, sharp cheddar is the star here. It melts beautifully and gives the soup that amazing cheesy flavor. Butter and olive oil help sauté the veggies and add richness. The garlic powder, salt, and pepper round out the taste. Finally, flour thickens the soup to a velvety texture.

Getting these ingredients ready makes the cooking process smooth. You can find most of these at your local grocery store. Freshness is key for the best taste!

Step-by-Step Instructions

Preparing the Vegetables

– Heat oil and butter in a large pot.

– Sauté onion until translucent.

– Add broccoli and carrots, cook for 5 minutes.

Start by heating a mix of olive oil and butter in your pot. This helps build flavor. Once the oil is hot, add the chopped onion. Cook it until it turns a clear color. This should take about 5 minutes. Next, add in the fresh broccoli florets and shredded carrots. Stir them well and let them cook for another 5 minutes. This step brings out their natural sweetness.

Creating the Soup Base

– Sprinkle flour over vegetables and stir.

– Slowly add vegetable broth while stirring.

Now it’s time to make the soup base. Sprinkle the flour over the cooked veggies. Stir it in well to coat everything evenly. Cook for about 2 to 3 minutes. This helps get rid of the raw flour taste. After that, slowly pour in the vegetable broth. Keep stirring to avoid lumps. Bring your mixture to a gentle simmer.

Final Touches

– Stir in heavy cream and simmer.

– Add garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

– Mix in cheddar cheese until melted.

Once your soup is simmering, reduce the heat. Now, pour in the heavy cream. Let it simmer for about 5 minutes. This makes the soup rich and creamy. Next, add garlic powder, salt, and pepper to taste. Finally, stir in the shredded cheddar cheese. Keep stirring until the cheese melts and the soup is smooth. If you want it creamier, use an immersion blender to blend some of the soup. This gives you a nice balance of texture.

Tips & Tricks

Achieving Restaurant-Quality Flavor

– Use fresh ingredients for the best taste. Fresh broccoli and cheese make a big difference.

– Experiment with different types of cheese. Try gouda or pepper jack for new flavors.

Textural Adjustments

– Use an immersion blender for creaminess. Blend part of the soup for a smooth texture.

– Leave some chunks for added texture. This keeps the soup hearty and fun to eat.

Presentation Ideas

– Serve with extra cheddar cheese on top. A sprinkle of cheese makes it look gourmet.

– Pair with a crusty baguette. The bread is great for dipping and adds crunch.

Pro Tips

Use Fresh Ingredients: Always opt for fresh broccoli and carrots for the best flavor and texture in your soup.
Cheese Variations: Experiment with different cheese types, like Gruyère or Monterey Jack, for unique flavor profiles.
Make it Vegan: Substitute heavy cream with coconut milk or a cashew cream for a dairy-free version, and use vegetable broth.
Storage Tips: This soup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to a month. Reheat gently on the stove.

Variations

Alternative Ingredients

You can easily change the base of this soup.

– Swap vegetable broth with chicken broth for a richer flavor.

– Use plant-based milk, like almond or oat milk, for a lighter version.

These swaps keep the taste fresh and fun.

Add-Ins

Feeling adventurous? Add some extra ingredients.

– Include cooked chicken for a protein boost. This makes it heartier.

– Try adding different vegetables like cauliflower for a twist. This adds more color and taste.

Mixing in these extras can make your soup unique.

Spice It Up

Want to add some heat? Here’s how.

– Incorporate red pepper flakes to give it a kick. Just a pinch can change the game.

– Experiment with fresh herbs like thyme. They add depth and fresh flavor.

These spices and herbs elevate your soup to the next level.

Storage Info

Refrigerating Leftovers

Store the soup in airtight containers. It will stay fresh for up to 4 days. This way, you can easily enjoy it again without losing flavor.

Freezing Instructions

For longer storage, freeze the soup in portions. This makes reheating quick and easy. Always thaw the soup before reheating it on the stove. This helps keep the texture just right.

Reheating Tips

When it’s time to eat, reheat the soup on the stovetop. This method gives the best results. If the soup seems too thick, add a splash of broth. This will adjust the consistency and make it smooth again.

FAQs

Can I make this soup dairy-free?

Yes, you can make this soup dairy-free. Use dairy-free cheese made from nuts or soy. For cream, try coconut cream or cashew cream. Both choices work well and keep the flavor tasty and rich.

How long does it take to cook?

This soup takes about 30 minutes to cook. You need 15 minutes for prep and 15 minutes for cooking. It’s quick and easy, perfect for a weeknight meal.

What can I serve with this soup?

Pair this soup with a crusty baguette or a fresh salad. You can also add some crackers for a nice crunch. These sides enhance the soup’s creamy taste and make the meal more filling.

This blog post covered how to make a delicious vegetable soup. We explored fresh ingredients like broccoli and carrots, used vegetable broth, and added cheddar cheese for flavor. You learned simple steps to create the soup and tips for enhancing taste and texture. Remember to store leftovers properly for future meals.

With a few tweaks, you can make it your own. Enjoy experimenting with different flavors and enjoy your perfect bowl of sou

Cheesy Broccoli Delight Soup

A creamy and cheesy soup filled with fresh broccoli and carrots, perfect for a comforting meal.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 15

Total Time 30

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 4

Calories 300 kcal

Ingredients

4 cups fresh broccoli florets
1 cup shredded carrots
0.5 cup chopped onion
3 cups vegetable broth
1 cup heavy cream
1.5 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
0.25 cup all-purpose flour
4 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

In a large pot, heat the olive oil and 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes.
Stir in the broccoli florets and shredded carrots. Cook for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir well to coat. Cook for 2-3 minutes to eliminate the raw flour taste.
Slowly pour in the vegetable broth, stirring continuously to avoid lumps. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
Once simmering, reduce the heat and stir in the heavy cream. Continue to cook for an additional 5 minutes.
Add the garlic powder, salt, and pepper to taste.
Gradually stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until melted and smooth, adjusting the consistency with more broth if desired.
If you prefer a creamier texture, use an immersion blender to blend a portion of the soup, making it thicker while leaving some chunks of broccoli and carrots.
Remove from heat and stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter to enhance the richness of the soup.

Notes

Serve in warm bowls with extra cheddar cheese on top and a side of crusty baguette for dipping.

Keyword broccoli, cheesy, soup, vegetarian