Copycat Panera Bread Broccoli Cheese Soup
I don’t know about you all, but one of my favorite restaurants for soup is definitely Panera Bread. I particularly have a fetish for their yummy Broccoli Cheese Soup.
My sister Mandy has a yummy AND super easy Copycat Panera Bread Broccoli Cheese Soup recipe that I wanted to share with you. This is perfect served in bread bowls or just right in a bowl. Either way, you are sure to devour every single bite!
INGREDIENTS:
1 package frozen Broccoli florets (Green Giant steamers work super for this recipe)
*you could use fresh and cook in water then add to soup! but this is MUCH easier
1 grated carrot
1 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped celery
3 1/2 cups chicken broth/or bullion with water added
3 T. Butter
1 tsp oil
3 T. Flour (can use rice flour or cornstarch too)
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups milk
1 cup cheddar (she uses Cabot Seriously Sharp)
DIRECTIONS:
Cook broccoli in microwave according to lowest time increment given on package.
While that’s cooking, add tsp of oil to cooking pot, and sauté onion, carrots, and celery for a few minutes, until they’re starting to get soft.
Add your chicken broth to the cooking pot.
The broccoli should be done by now. Chop it up into smaller pieces and add to the pot. Simmer on low.
In smaller pot, melt butter and add flour to make a paste. Add milk to paste mixture, and stir or whisk until there are no lumps. It should start to thicken.
Add the milk mixture to the larger pot that has the veggies and broth in it.
Mix well.
Add cheddar cheese and stir until melted.
Simmer for about 20 minutes.
You can add more broth if you want to thin it out, but I prefer it nice and thick.
Enjoy! 🙂
-thanks to my wonderful sister Mandy for the yummy recipe!
