If I haven’t heard it once, I’ve heard it over a dozen times that the soup at Panera Bread is simply THE BEST. It’s cold here in Maryland and who doesn’t love the comfort of a delicious soup? When Panera Bread offered to let me try their Broccoli Cheddar Soup I couldn’t resist. I have one conveniently located around the corner from my job so it is literally a hop, skip and jump.
I walked into the restaurant, ordered the Broccoli Cheddar Soup with the Napa Almond Chicken Salad Sandwich. It was an excellent COMBO. I flipped out my Panera Bread Good Eater card and instantly became a hit with the Panera Bread staff because apparently each of them wants one of these cards. So keep reading to check out what I thought of their soup.
The Unhealthiest Panera Soup: Broccoli Cheddar Soup Besides its 11 grams of saturated fat, this soup is suffused with sodium. In a 1-cup serving, expect 46% of the daily recommended limit of 2,300 milligrams. “Diets high in sodium can lead to high blood pressure,” says Michelle Rauch, MS, RDN.
Broccoli Cheddar Soup Ingredients (direct from the Panera Bread site):
Broccoli Cheddar Soup (Water [Filtered], Whole Milk [Milk, Vitamin D3], Broccoli, Pasteurized Processed Cheddar Cheese Food [Cheddar Cheese {Pasteurized Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes}, Whey, Whey Protein Concentrate, Skim Milk, Sodium Citrate, Salt, Milkfat, Lactic Acid, Oleoresin Paprika {Color}, Annatto {Color}], Whipping Cream, Carrots, Corn Starch, Onions, Chicken Base [Chicken Meat Including Chicken Juices, Salt, Chicken Fat, Yeast Extract, Sugar, Flavoring, Potato Flour, Carrot Powder, Tumeric], Seasoning [Wheat Flour, Salt, Spice And Not More Than 2% Canola Oil Added To Aid Processing], Salted Butter, Dijon Mustard [Water, Mustard Seed, Vinegar, Salt, Spices], Pepper Sauce [Distilled Vinegar, Red Pepper, Salt]).
I wasn’t surprised by the ingredients of the broccoli cheddar soup. It is exactly what I expected with broccoli as the third ingredient because the size of the broccoli in the soup is excellent.
As soon as I sat down I snapped a quick pic of my soup.
This soup tasted excellent. The chunks of broccoli in every spoonful was perfect and it paired nicely with the Napa Almond Chicken Salad Sandwich (not pictured). The container is about 16 oz of straight goodness. I was satisfied after eating this for lunch and now I see why so many people rave about the Panera Bread soups.
This soup does come with a few of my warnings though. It is 350 calories which is pretty hefty for one item for lunch. Knowing that, be conscious about not overeating and instead of getting the chips (like I did as a side) request the apple that comes with their lunch pairings.
I also have to say I do not add salt to my food and after eating this soup I could feel my feet swelling. When I looked at the nutrition facts I see this soup has over 1500 mg of sodium. While that is about 3.8 grams, it is the daily recommended amount of salt for the day.
According to The Institute of Medicine’s Food and Nutrition Board the average adult woman should not consume more than 1500 mg of sodium a day so once you eat this soup you are done for the day. Since salt is one of the primary causes of hypertension and high blood pressure be mindful of how much you are eating on a daily basis.
- Delicious
- Nice chunks of broccoli
- Pairs well with a sandwich
- Fairly affordable at $5 (with tax)
- One bowl contains a daily recommended amount of salt for women.
I would rate this a 7 out of 10 stars. The soup tastes good, has nice size chunks of broccoli (better than many other soups in the market) and is filling. If you need to manage your daily salt intake due to hypertension this might not be the right food option for you.
30 Minute Broccoli Cheddar Soup (Better than Panera!)
FAQ
Is broccoli cheddar soup good or bad for you?
How many calories are in a bowl of broccoli cheddar from Panera?
Why is Panera broccoli cheddar not vegetarian?
Does broccoli cheddar soup have a lot of calories?
Is Panera Broccoli Cheddar soup bad for You?
But things head in a surprisingly poor nutritional direction with the Broccoli Cheddar Soup at Panera. Besides its 11 grams of saturated fat, this soup is suffused with sodium. In a 1-cup serving, expect 46% of the daily recommended limit of 2,300 milligrams. “Diets high in sodium can lead to high blood pressure,” says Michelle Rauch, MS, RDN.
Is broccoli healthy?
Broccoli is healthy. High intakes(several serving per week) of cruciferous vegetables have been associated with a lower risk for cancer. For example, studies have found that women with a high intake of cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli have a decreased risk of breast cancer. Although not all of the mechanisms are understood, there are several compounds in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables that likely work together. Broccoli may also help normalize blood sugar and support cardiovascular health. One-half cup of chopped broccoli florets and stalks contain approximately 3 grams of fiber. Soluble fiber supports normal blood sugar and can also lower serum LDL cholesterol. Broccoli may help in the prevention or slowing of age-related macular degeneration. It is a rich source of lutein, which is concentrated in the central part of the retina. Lutein acts to protect this part of the eye from damage. Be sure not to overcook your broccoli and consume a mix of both cooked and raw. To dispel gas, add lemon to your broccoli dish(this will discolor broccoli over time) or try Beano before meal. Also effective in reducing gas and bloating is eating one-half teaspoon of fennel seeds (toasted, raw, or candied) after a meal.
Is broccoli cheese soup healthier than Panera?
Unlike Panera, this recipe for Broccoli Cheddar Soup is much lower in fat and calories. But I promise it is still super creamy and downright delicious. This Broccoli Cheese Soup is kept lower in fat and lighter in calories yet sacrifices none of the delicious flavors.
Where can I find a copycat Panera Broccoli Cheddar recipe?
All the ingredients for this copycat Panera broccoli cheddar recipe are easy to find at any large grocery store in the U.S. You probably already have most of the ingredients. Vegetables: We used yellow onion, carrots, broccoli, and garlic. Omit carrots for keto.