Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup

[GeorgiaXplant]

Prep time
10 mins

Cook time
50 mins

Total time
1 hour




Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

• 2 bunches broccoli; cut into small florets
• ½ medium onion; chopped
• 2 carrots; julienned (about 1 cup)
• ¼ cup butter; melted
• ¼ cup flour
• 2 cups half and half
• 2 cups chicken stock
• 8 oz sharp cheddar cheese; shredded
• ¼ tsp nutmeg
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Saute onion in 1 tbsp of melted butter until transparent.
2. In a separate pot, make a roux using remainder of melted butter and ¼ cup flour. Cook approx. 5 minutes over medium heat, stirring constantly with a whisk.
3. Slowly add in half and half, continue stirring.
4. Add in chicken stock, stir and let simmer for 20 minutes.
5. Add in broccoli florets, carrots and sauteed onions. Let cook for another 25 minutes over low heat.
6. Stir in cheese until melted, add nutmeg and salt and pepper to taste.

This tastes exactly like the broccoli cheese soup served at Panera Bread. The first time I made it, I bought bread bowls from Panera, but to tell the truth...it's just too much bread. The next time I made it, I just warmed up a loaf of French bread to serve with it.

Also, I didn't feel like fooling with fresh broccoli and used thawed frozen broccoli florets instead. It didn't make any difference in the taste.

Like most soups, it tasted better the next day

 

[SeaBreeze]

Sounds good GeorgiaX!

 

[RadishRose]

yes it does!

 

[hollydolly]

Sounds delicious Georgia....I always use frozen broccoli florets as well when I make my Broccoli and Stilton cheese soup...no shame in frozen veggies at all..