If there’s one thing Ryan and I talk about constantly, it’s how much we miss certain “American” foods. Things like Chipotle bowls, Buffalo sauce, Hershey’s products, and Diner food are all topics of conversation that come up at least once a day in our house. And by “once a day” I really mean like 50 times a day. What can I say…we’re fat kids at heart! Another food item that we found ourselves craving quite often was Panera Bread’s Broccoli Cheddar Soup. Of course, we can find Broccoli Cheddar Soup in Germany. But, that’s not the point! We wanted the one from Panera Bread because it’s the best, right? So, we started on a quest to find the best copycat recipe so we could fulfill our cravings while in Europe.
I am happy to report that we found a winner here people! Below you will find the full list of ingredients and the directions on how to nail this copycat recipe. Enjoy!
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup of butter
- 1/2 cup of onions, diced
- 1 cup of shredded carrots
- 2 1/2 cups of broccoli florets, chopped
- 1 1/2 cup of chicken broth
- 1 cup of milk
- 1 cup of heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 cup of flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
- 2 cups of cheddar cheese, shredded
Directions:
- In a large pot over medium heat, melt the butter. Add in onions, carrots, and broccoli. Cook until softened (about 5 minutes).
- Slowly add in broth, milk, and cream. Sprinkle with flour. Add in salt and pepper. Continue stirring and heating over medium heat until thickened (about 10-15 minutes).
- Once thick, add the cheese and stir until melted and smooth.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes:
- We usually eat this with a loaf of French bread, but if you want to really feel like you’re at Panera Bread, serve this inside of a bread bowl. YUM!
- Don’t be concerned about the lack of carrots in my photos. I personally omit them from my own batches because of an allergy. But, if you’re making this yourself, I can only imagine how good they must taste!
I hope you enjoy this soup as much as we did (aka eating the entire batch in one sitting). Have you ever wished you could recreate your favorite restaurant meal at home? Which food item would you want a copycat recipe for? Let me know in the comments below!
