Description

This homemade Panera’s Broccoli Cheddar Soup recipe delivers a rich, creamy, and comforting experience with tender broccoli florets, smoky turkey bacon, and luscious plant-based cheddar cheese in a velvety broth. Perfect for warming up on chilly days, it uses fresh, simple ingredients and natural gelling agents to achieve the ideal thick and smooth texture without dairy cream.

Ingredients

Scale

Vegetables

2 cups fresh broccoli florets
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1 cup carrots, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced

Proteins & Cheese

4 slices smoked turkey bacon
1 cup plant-based cheddar cheese, shredded

Liquids & Sauces

4 cups vegetable broth
1 cup whole milk (plant-based)
1 tablespoon vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural)
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar (natural)
1 tablespoon olive oil

Other

1 teaspoon natural gelling agent
Salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste

Instructions

Prepare the Vegetables: Wash and chop the broccoli into bite-sized florets. Dice the yellow onion and carrots finely. Mince the garlic cloves to release maximum flavor during cooking.
Cook the Bacon and Vegetables: In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the smoked turkey bacon and cook until crispy. Remove bacon and set aside. In the same pot, sauté the diced onion and carrots until softened, about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
Build the Soup Base: Add the broccoli florets and vegetable broth to the pot. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook until the vegetables are tender, approximately 10 minutes. Stir in the vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural) and apple cider vinegar (natural) to enhance the savory and tangy flavors.
Blend for Creaminess: Use an immersion blender to partially blend the soup, leaving some broccoli chunks intact. This texture creates a creamy but chunky consistency similar to the signature Panera soup.
Add Cheese and Thicken: Whisk the plant-based cheddar cheese and natural gelling agent into the simmering soup, stirring gently until fully melted and thickened. Gradually pour in the whole milk (plant-based) while stirring to achieve a rich, smooth consistency.
Season and Serve: Return the crispy smoked turkey bacon to the soup or reserve it as garnish. Taste and adjust seasoning by adding salt and pepper as needed. Serve the soup warm for the best comforting experience.

Notes

Use fresh broccoli for the best color, flavor, and texture.
Smoked turkey bacon adds a smoky richness essential to the flavor profile.
Slowly melt the plant-based cheddar to prevent clumping or separation.
Use the natural gelling agent to achieve perfect thickness that clings well to a spoon.
Partially blending the soup preserves some broccoli chunks, giving an authentic rustic texture.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Appetizers
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bowl (about 1 1/2 cups)
Calories: 250
Sugar: 6g
Sodium: 600mg
Fat: 15g
Saturated Fat: 5g
Unsaturated Fat: 8g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 18g
Fiber: 4g
Protein: 8g
Cholesterol: 0mg

Keywords: Broccoli Cheddar Soup, plant-based cheddar, smoked turkey bacon, creamy soup, vegetarian Worcestershire sauce, natural gelling agent, healthy soup