I Tried Every Soup At Panera And Here’s 8 Best Ones And 2 You Need To Avoid
Last winter, I embarked on a cozy, steamy adventure through Panera Bread’s entire soup menu. Armed with nothing but a spoon, an empty stomach, and a deep love for warm, comforting meals, I set out to taste every bowl they had to offer.
From creamy classics like Broccoli Cheddar to limited-time seasonal creations, I slurped my way through the good, the bad, and the surprisingly bland.
Some soups had me scraping the bowl clean and craving a second helping, while others left me unimpressed and reaching for water. Here’s my honest, no-hype breakdown of Panera’s liquid comfort lineup, spoon by spoon.
1. Broccoli Cheddar: The Crown Jewel
Velvety rivers of cheddar cheese embrace tender broccoli florets in this iconic soup that’s become Panera’s calling card. My first spoonful transported me back to childhood comfort, but with grown-up flavor complexity.
The balance strikes perfection, not too thick or thin, with just enough veggie chunks to remind you it’s somewhat nutritious despite the cheese-forward indulgence. When my friend caught a cold last month, I skipped traditional chicken noodle and brought her this instead.
Pro tip: Order in a bread bowl and thank me later.
2. Creamy Tomato: Simple Perfection
Nostalgia hits hard with this silky tomato masterpiece. Unlike the watery cafeteria versions from school days, Panera’s take delivers rich depth without overwhelming acidity, a delicate balance that’s harder to achieve than you might think.
The soup’s velvety texture coats your spoon (and later, your soul) with each satisfying dip. I’ve attempted countless homemade versions but never matched this level of creamy goodness.
Paired with their grilled cheese, it creates the ultimate comfort food duo that makes even the gloomiest Tuesday feel like a warm hug.
3. Cream of Chicken & Wild Rice: Hearty Heaven
Stumbling in from a blizzard last December, this soup saved my day, possibly my entire winter. The robust combination of tender chicken chunks, nutty wild rice, and vegetables swimming in creamy broth delivers a meal-worthy experience that satisfied my hunger for hours.
What impressed me most was the texture contrast between the firm rice grains and the velvety base. Each spoonful offers a different experience depending on what treasures you catch.
The subtle herb seasoning elevates it beyond basic cream soup territory without overwhelming the delicate chicken flavor.
4. Vegetarian Autumn Squash: Fall in a Bowl
Sunshine captured in soup form! This seasonal favorite combines butternut squash and pumpkin into a golden elixir that tastes like autumn leaves crunching underfoot. The natural sweetness gets balanced perfectly with a hint of curry spice that dances on your tongue.
My skeptical husband, who typically avoids “fancy” soups, requested seconds and then asked if we could recreate it at home. We tried. We failed. Some magic belongs exclusively to Panera.
The garnish of roasted pumpkin seeds adds a wonderful textural crunch that prevents the creaminess from becoming monotonous.
5. Turkey Chili: Spicy Satisfaction
Surprise winner alert! I wasn’t expecting much from this menu underdog, but it delivered knockout flavor. Generous chunks of lean turkey mingle with kidney beans and chickpeas in a tomato base that packs just enough heat to wake up your taste buds without setting them ablaze.
The texture hits that perfect middle ground, substantial enough to feel like a meal, yet still definitively soup-like. My fitness-focused sister now makes this her post-gym reward.
A sprinkle of fritos on top adds the perfect salty crunch, transforming an already excellent chili into something truly crave-worthy.
6. Ten Vegetable: Garden Fresh Goodness
Health in a bowl! When my body needed vegetable redemption after a weekend of indulgence, this colorful medley came to the rescue. The clear, tomato-tinged broth hosts a farmers’ market worth of veggies, from tender green beans to sweet bell peppers.
What makes this soup special isn’t fancy technique but rather the quality of ingredients and perfect cooking time. Nothing mushy here! Each vegetable maintains its distinct texture and flavor.
The light seasoning lets the natural sweetness of the vegetables shine through. Even my vegetable-averse nephew managed to empty his bowl.
7. Thai Chicken Soup: Unexpected Flavor Explosion
Who knew Panera could nail Thai flavors? This coconut milk-based soup delivers a lightning bolt of flavor with lemongrass, ginger, and just enough chili to make things interesting. The tender chicken pieces and colorful vegetables add substance to what could otherwise be just a flavor-forward broth.
During a particularly nasty cold, this soup cleared my sinuses better than any medicine. The aromatic steam alone is therapeutic!
Fair warning: it’s polarizing. My adventurous friends adore it while my meat-and-potatoes dad found it too “exotic.” I personally believe it’s the most underrated item on Panera’s entire menu.
8. Baked Potato Soup: Comfort in a Bowl
Imagine your favorite loaded baked potato transformed into silky soup form. Chunks of tender potato swim in a rich, creamy base that’s been enhanced with bacon bits, chives, and a generous helping of cheese.
The soup achieves that rare balance of being hearty enough to satisfy without leaving you feeling weighed down. On a particularly rough Monday, I paired this with half a Mediterranean sandwich and suddenly the workweek seemed manageable again.
While seasonal at some locations, it’s worth tracking down during its availability window. I’ve been known to check the app weekly when potato soup season approaches.
9. AVOID: New England Clam Chowder: Disappointing Depths
Oh, how I wanted to love this one. As a New England native, I have high chowder standards, but I approached with an open mind and empty stomach. Unfortunately, this soup missed every mark that makes a chowder special.
The consistency wavered between watery and oddly grainy, with too few clams to justify the name. Those precious few shellfish pieces lacked the briny freshness that defines good seafood soup.
The potato chunks remained undercooked while the overall flavor profile tasted predominantly of salt rather than the sweet, complex seafood base a proper chowder requires. Save your money for the other options.
10. AVOID: Low-Fat Vegetable Soup: Flavor Wasteland
Sometimes health-conscious options require taste sacrifices. This soup, however, demands total flavor surrender. My first spoonful tasted like warm water that had briefly met some vegetables in passing.
The broth lacks depth or seasoning, while the vegetables themselves seem to have been stripped of personality during cooking. Even adding salt at the table couldn’t resurrect this bland bowl.
When my server asked how everything tasted, I awkwardly mumbled “fine” while discretely pushing the bowl away. If you’re seeking healthy options, the Ten Vegetable soup delivers actual flavor without calorie overload. This one simply isn’t worth your time or money.