Description
This copycat Panera broccoli cheddar soup is the perfect comfort food. Serve it in a bread bowl for a filling meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/4 cup butter, cubed
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 cups fresh broccoli florets (about 8 ounces)
- 1 large carrot, finely chopped
- 3 cups chicken stock
- 2 cups half-and-half cream
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/4 cup water or additional chicken stock
- 2–1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 6 small round bread loaves (about 8 ounces each), optional
- Optional toppings: smoked plant-based bacon bits, additional shredded cheddar cheese, ground nutmeg and pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: In a 6-quart stockpot, heat butter over medium heat. Saute the onion and garlic until tender, about 6 to 8 minutes.
- Step 2: Stir in the broccoli, carrot, stock, cream and seasonings and bring to a boil. Simmer, uncovered, until the vegetables are tender, about 10 to 12 minutes.
- Step 3: Mix the cornstarch and water until smooth and stir the slurry into the soup. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Cook and stir until the soup is thickened, about 2 minutes. Remove the bay leaves. Stir in the cheese until melted.
- Step 4: If using bread bowls, cut a slice off the top of each loaf. Hollow out the bottoms, leaving 1/4-inch thick shells. Fill with soup just before serving.
- Step 5: You can serve the soup as is, or add toppings like shredded cheddar cheese, freshly cracked pepper, ground nutmeg and smoked plant-based bacon bits.
Notes
Avoid a gritty texture by allowing the soup to cool slightly before you add cheese. Stir in a little at a time until it melts in.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 422 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 904 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 19 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 17 g
- Cholesterol: 107 mg
Keywords: broccoli cheddar soup, copycat Panera, creamy soup, bread bowl, comfort food