Copycat Panera® Broccoli Cheddar Soup

  • 8
  • 15 mins
  • 65 mins

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1/2 onion, chopped
  • 1/4 cup melted butter
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 2 cups milk
  • 2 cups chicken stock
  • 1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped broccoli florets
  • 1 cup matchstick-cut carrots
  • 1 stalk celery, thinly sliced
  • 2 1/2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
  • salt and ground black pepper to taste

Preparation

Step 1

Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Saute onion in hot butter until translucent, about 5 minutes. Set aside.

Whisk 1/4 cup melted butter and flour together in a large saucepan over medium-low heat; cook until flour loses it's granular texture, adding 1 to 2 tablespoons of milk if necessary to keep the flour from burning, 3 to 4 minutes.

Gradually pour milk into flour mixture while whisking constantly. Stir chicken stock into milk mixture. Bring to a simmer; cook until flour taste is gone and mixture is thickened, about 20 minutes. Add broccoli, carrots, sauteed onion, and celery; simmer until vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes.

Stir Cheddar cheese into vegetable mixture until cheese melts. Season with salt and pepper to taste.