Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup (Easy Slowcooker Recipe)

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Easy Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup starts off on the stove and finsihes in the slow cooker for a delicious dinner that's perfect for the colder months! 

Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup

Oh my stars. This Broccoli Cheese Soup recipe at home is divine. Better than Panera. And Mrs. Potts will do most of the work for you.  My husband and I loved this recipe, even the kids enjoyed it – I call that success!

How to Make Copycat Panera Broccoli and Cheese Soup

This soup truly couldn't be any easier to pull together! Taking the time to make the buttery, creamy roux at the beginning is so important in this recipe for the best flavor and consistency. (Seriously, don't skip this step)

The magic with the butter, onions, garlic and evaporated milk all happen on the stove. Or if you have a slow cooker that also has a saute function, you can prep all of those ingredients first and then switch to slow cook when the other ingredients are added! The rest of your ingredients are going to come together in your favorite slow cooker.

The ingredients included are basic staples we always have in the house: chicken broth, frozen broccoli (or you can use fresh if you like), seasonings, cheese and lots of cheese! I will buy cheese and freeze it so I always have it on hand (and usually get it while it's on sale).

Menu Planning Note: You can also find this recipe in our Slow Cooker Menu Planning Made Easy Set!

The soup will cook in the crockpot between 2-3 hours on high or 6 hours on low. This is one that you could prep before work, and if you have a programmable slow cooker, have it start so it's ready right before you get home. There's nothing better than a hot bowl of soup after a long and cold day!

Print Recipe

Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup

This yummy cheesy copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese soup comes together in the slow cooker for a tasty supper with little work! Serve in bread bowls or with bread on the side.

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Keyword: copycat, soup, slow cooker recipe, broccoli cheese soup, panera

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 1/2 cups diced yellow onion
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• 6 tablespoons all purpose flour
• salt and pepper
• 2 12 oz cans evaporated milk
• 5 cups low sodium chicken broth
• 5 cups broccoli florets I substituted with frozen broccoli which I cooked in the microwave and drained well - to make sure there wasn't too much liquid I reduced the chicken broth by 1/2 cup as frozen veggies are usually packed with water when they cook
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 12 oz sharp shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 oz parmesan cheese

Instructions

• In large skillet melt butter over medium heat.
• Saute onions until they become transparent, about 3-4 minutes.
• Add garlic and flour, as well as a little salt and pepper to flavor.
• Cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Using a whisk, slowly add in evaporated milk and stir well to make it smooth.
• Cook mixture until it begins to thicken, then pour into slow cooker with chicken broth, broccoli & thyme.
• Cover and cook 2 1/2 - 3 hours on high or 6 hours on low.
• Turn heat off (or warm if you have that option), and add in heavy cream, shredded cheddar cheese and parmesan cheese.
• Season with salt and pepper and enjoy!

Is Broccoli Cheese Soup Keto?

This recipe can be easily modified it to make it keto-friendly! In place of the flour, use 3-4 tablespoons of cream cheese. It gives the soup a rich creamy flavor too.  A keto-approved thickener like Arrowroot Powder would be another replacement to use. The arrowroot powder would be a 1:1 replacement for the flour.

What Goes with Broccoli Cheese Soup

I highly recommend you include a side of homemade bread or make yourself an easy bread bowl. Both are the perfect cozy side to enjoy with this recipe!

I always tend to eat a good salad with dinner, and this Apple Spinach Salad would be a perfect side to enjoy! The warm vanilla bean dressing is yummy!

Looking for more yummy meals? This recipe is from week seven of our slow cooker menu plans, including this meal + 59 other AMAZING recipes (and 12 desserts too)! You'll also get lifetime membership in our private Facebook group, full of other families encouraging one another to make dinner each night together too.

These are the BEST MENU PLANS on the planet (and, the only menu plan that ship all the grocery lists, menu plans and recipe cards right out to you ~ no downloading or hunting down recipes on your phone at dinnertime ever again!) Go HERE to learn more. I know you're going to love these!

If you need a little more menu inspiration, go HERE.