Broccoli Cheese Soup ~ creamy, loaded with tender fresh broccoli and plenty of cheddar cheese. Delicious Panera Bread copycat recipe – ready in 30 minutes!

bowl of broccoli cheese soup garnished with shredded cheese

Please tell me you’ve had Panera Bread’s Broccoli Cheese Soup. If not, you’re still going to love this recipe but if you have – you’ll instantly recognize how much this one tastes like it!

I even serve it up at home with a couple slices of crusty baguette – a much needed accessory to dunk or sop up every last drop.

overview view of bowl of broccoli cheese soup garnished with shredded cheese

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS BROCCOLI CHEDDAR SOUP:

  • It’s for soup lovers – like me! It hits all the right notes – creamy, cheesy, comforting, irresistible!
  • Skip the long lines at Panera. This version is way less expensive too!
  • It’s the ideal cozy weeknight meal all winter long.
  • Simple, fresh ingredients. Ready in just 30 minutes!
  • It’s a dead ringer for Panera’s version. I highly recommend eating it out of a bread bowl or serving it with some thick sliced bread to go with it.

WHAT’S IN BROCCOLI CHEESE SOUP?

  • butter
  • onion
  • celery
  • carrots
  • all purpose flour
  • half and half
  • chicken stock (can sub vegetable stock)
  • fresh broccoli cut in bite size pieces
  • grated sharp cheddar cheese
  • salt and pepper

HOW TO MAKE BROCCOLI CHEESE SOUP:

Melt butter in a soup pot then drop in onions, celery and carrots. Season with salt and pepper.

Cook over medium heat 2-4 minutes or until the onions are soft then.

Sprinkle flour over the top. Stir to combine and cook one minute.

Whisk in the chicken stock then add half and half and broccoli. Cover and cook over low heat 15-18 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.

Blend in cheese and season with salt and pepper. Note: I start with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper (add more to your taste).

The soup is ready to eat at this point but if you like it smoother like you see in the photos, use an immersion blender to pulse in several areas of the pot to your preferred consistency.

If you don’t have an immersion blender transfer about one cup of the soup to a standard blender, puree then return to the pot.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH BROCCOLI CHEESE SOUP:

2-Ingredient Homemade Bread

Focaccia

Cheesy Garlic Breadsticks

Air Fryer Grilled Ham and Cheese Sandwich

Winter Fruit Salad

Air Fryer Chicken Tenders 

CAN I USE FROZEN BROCCOLI INSTEAD OF FRESH BROCCOLI FLORETS?

Yes you can substitute a 12-16 ounce bag of frozen broccoli. Add it frozen to the soup and continue with the remaining instructions.

CAN YOU FREEZE BROCCOLI CHEESE SOUP?

Yes – you can freeze the soup up to 3 months. I store mine in individual containers (16-20 ounces each) – perfect for quick and easy lunches. Freezing may cause the soup to be a little thinner than originally, but still delicious.

HOW LONG DOES BROCCOLI CHEDDAR SOUP LAST IN THE FRIDGE?

Cool completely then store in an airtight container in the fridge up to three days.

MORE COMFORTING SOUP RECIPES:

Lasagna Soupground beef, mushrooms and spinach in a rich tomato broth topped with mozzarella and ricotta. 30 minute AND slow cooker options.

Roasted Cauliflower Soupdelicious creamy, hearty soup loaded with bites of roasted cauliflower and other veggies.

Turkey Lentil Soupmade with ground OR leftover turkey. Easy, hearty tasty healthy recipe with lentils and vegetables.

Enjoy!

pinterest pin showing overhead view of bowl of broccoli cheese soup

Tried this Broccoli Cheddar Panera Copycat recipe? Leave a comment, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and TAG ME with a photo of yours on social media! @agoudalife or #agoudalife

bowl of broccoli cheese soup garnished with shredded cheese

Broccoli Cheese Soup

Broccoli Cheese Soup ~ creamy, loaded with bites of broccoli and plenty of cheddar cheese. Delicious, comforting Panera Bread copycat recipe – ready in 30 minutes!
4.60 from 15 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Course Soup
Cuisine American
Servings 5
Calories

Equipment

  • soup pot or dutch oven

Ingredients
  

  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1 small onion diced
  • 1/2 cup celery diced
  • 1 cup carrots diced
  • 1/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 2 1/4 cups half and half
  • 2 cups chicken stock can sub vegetable stock
  • 4 cups fresh broccoli cut in bite size pieces
  • 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese freshly grated (8 ounces)
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Melt butter in a soup pot then drop in the onions, celery and carrots. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Cook over medium heat 2-4 minutes or until the onions are soft then sprinkle flour over the top. Stir to combine and cook one minute.
  • Whisk in the chicken stock then add half and half and broccoli. Cover and cook over low heat 15-18 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. 
  • Blend in the cheese a little at a time then season with salt and pepper. NOTE: I start with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper (add more to your own taste). 
  • The soup is ready to eat at this point but if you like a smoother blend (shown in photos), use an immersion blender and pulse in several areas of the pot until it’s the consistency you like then eat right away.
  • NOTE: if you don’t have an immersion blender transfer about one cup of the soup to a standard blender, puree then return to the pot. 
Keyword broccoli cheese soup, broccoli cheddar soup, panera bread copycat, panera bread broccoli cheese souip, panera broccoli cheese soup, best broccoli cheese soup
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
4.60 from 15 votes (8 ratings without comment)

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16 Comments

    1. OMG Jeannie – thank you so much for the (much needed) extra set of eyes on the recipe. How could I forget the darn broccoli?! I fixed the recipe – so glad you enjoyed it and were able to make it despite my oops! Take care ~ Bernie

  1. Just made your recipe for broccoli cheese soup and it is outstanding! Panera bread bowl worthy! So easy and delicious…..it’s a keeper. Thank you. Terry Frill

    1. Hi Terry – I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe so much! It’s one of my favorites and one my whole family can actually agree on! 🙂 I appreciate you taking the time to comment. — Bernie

    1. Thanks so much Katie! This is one of my favorite soups – always so comforting. I absolutely LOVE your idea adding crumbled bacon – will be trying next time I make it — thanks for the inspo and the kind words! — Bernie

  2. OMG.. absolutely delicious !!! Only thing I did different was I added 4 garlic cloves and a cup of diced cauliflower as well as everything else you did then I put it in blender after cooking to make it smoother and let me tell you…..I’m in 7th yummy heaven 😊👍