Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Panera’s Broccoli Cheddar Soup is comfort food at its best and tastes just like Panera. This soup is an easy dinner that hits the spot and quick enough for a weeknight. This broccoli cheese soup competes for the #1 soup recipe on this blog with this crockpot potato soup.

BROCCOLI CHEDDAR SOUP

I know this Panera’s Broccoli Cheddar Soup recipe has made the rounds around the blogs but my job is to share recipes that I really love and this is one of them.

The reason I know that this recipe tastes just like the delicious Broccoli Cheddar soup at Panera is because I ate this at least once a week during my last pregnancy.

It was the ONLY thing that I looked forward to eating and I’m sure the peeps at Panera knew me by name. They serve this Panera’s Broccoli Cheese Soup with a warm crusty baguette. Oh my goodness.

It almost makes me want to get pregnant again.

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup melted butter
  • 1/2 medium chopped onion
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 2 cups half-and-half cream
  • 2 cups chicken stock or broth
  • 1/2 lb broccoli, (about 3 cups), chopped into bite size pieces
  • 1 cup carrot, , julienned (can buy matchstick carrots in produce section)
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, (optional but brings out the flavor)
  • 8 ounces grated sharp cheddar cheese, (2 cups)
  • salt and pepper

Instructions:

  1. Melt the 1/4 cup butter and sautee the onions in it until soft. Sprinkle the flour over the mixture. Cook and stir over medium heat for 1-2 minutes.
  2. Whisk in the half & half and chicken stock.
  3. Add the broccoli and carrots. Cook over low heat for 20-25 minutes or until the broccoli and carrots are tender.
  4. Add salt and pepper. You can leave the soup chunky or blend about 1 cup of the soup and stir it in for a smoother soup (that’s what I do). Return to low heat and add the cheese. If your heat is too high your soup can get grainy. Stir in the nutmeg if desired.
  5. Serve with crusty bread.

Enjoy!

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