I Tried Every Soup at Panera & One Can't Be Beat
What's the first restaurant you think of when you hear the word "soup"?
It could be a local cafe down the street. Maybe a French-inspired bistro or high-end steakhouse. Or, for many people—including myself—it may very well be the fast-casual eatery Panera Bread.
The combination bakery-cafe got its start in St. Louis circa 1987 with an initial hyper-focus on selling fresh-baked bread. At that time, it was known as the St. Louis Bread Company, and although there has since been a rebranding, the word "bread" still remains baked right into the name.
But, somewhere along the line, soup started to become a cornerstone menu item, gaining a great deal of popularity at the chain's nationwide restaurants—dare we say more than the bread itself? Classics like Homestyle Chicken Noodle, Creamy Tomato, and Broccoli Cheddar have remained steadfast on the bill of fare for quite some time. Others come and go with the changing seasons or as Panera undergoes menu overhauls. For example, we just recently bid adieu to the Ten Vegetable Soup, Turkey Chili, and Autumn Squash soups this spring as the eatery ushered in a totally revamped menu that they described as a "new era of Panera."
This weighty transformation also gave rise to four fresh new salads, four meaty new sandwiches, a special bacon mac and cheese, and revisions to plenty of other recipes. Plus, the chain decided to whet our appetites by bringing the Mexican Street Corn Chowder back to the soup lineup.
No matter what bowls are currently available on the menu board, I know from personal experience that soup is something Panera generally does very well. But, when pitted against each other, which one reigns supreme?
To find out, I recently paid a visit to my nearest Panera in Columbus, Ohio, to conduct a soup taste test. I ordered a cup of every single soup on the menu for $7.29 each, with the exception of the new Mexican Street Corn Chowder for $7.99 (plus my free side, of course). With every spoonful, I formed opinions on each steamy soup and found one clear winner. Let's jump into the rankings in order from least to most adored.
6. Homestyle Chicken Noodle Soup
Nutrition (Per 1 Cup):
Calories: 100
Fat: 2 g (Saturated Fat: 0.5 g)
Sodium: 1,040 mg
Carbs: 11 g (Fiber: 0 g, Sugar: 3 g)
Protein: 10 g
Soup, as a category, is the quintessential comfort food, and chicken noodle is likely the most comforting of them all. It strikes a perfect balance of warm broth, nourishing chicken, tender noodles, and other flavors—all thrown together in a way that warms the soul and cures just about anything.
Any bakery, café, or bistro worth its salt has its own version of this established classic sloshed on its menu, and Panera Bread is no different. The chain's Homestyle Chicken Noodle Soup is one you can order year-round and consists of a standard mix of white meat chicken, egg noodles, carrots, celery, onion, and herbs.
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The look: Sad and oily. I wasn't impressed when I popped the lid off this one. The broth is a light yellow shade, and it somehow looks both translucent and murky. Beads of oil can also be seen forming in the stock—something that is fairly normal but still a little off-putting. The chicken is standard white meat that comes in good-sized hunks and is surrounded by yellow-tinted egg noodles, bright orange carrots, and specks of herbs like pepper, thyme, and parsley. I'd say the soup as a whole is a little light on ingredients—a ratio of about 50/50, broth to other elements.
The taste: I didn't feel soothed by this soup at all. The base is thin, watery, and dull as dishwater. Veggies are scarce. And the chicken is nearly tasteless and dry, despite soaking in its briny bath. One highlight is the egg noodles. They are firm yet easily chewed, and I have an admitted soft spot for them as they're one of my favorite kinds of noodles. This small win isn't enough to save the rest of this soup, and overall, it's not one of the cafe's best showings. I would recommend sticking to your grandma's recipe next time you're feeling under the weather.
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5. Creamy Tomato Soup
Nutrition (Per 1 Cup):
Calories: 260
Fat: 16 g (Saturated Fat: 9 g)
Sodium: 760 mg
Carbs: 25 g (Fiber: 0 g, Sugar: 11 g)
Protein: 4 g
Tomato is a real workhorse of a soup. It does its job quietly, never attracting too much attention. But it's reliable and never too far away when those cravings hit or when you need something warm on a chilly fall or winter day. Panera's recipe starts with vine-ripened pear tomatoes—a type of sweet heirloom tomato—and features whipping cream, extra virgin olive oil, butter, onions, and an array of subtle spices to round it out.
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The look: A muted orange-red color—much less vibrant of a hue than fresh tomatoes. The whole soup looks uniform, and flecks of spice or other add-ins don't stick out. Black pepper and sea salt croutons come as embellishments and sit atop the soup without sinking due to its high viscosity.
The taste: Like a big serving of pasta sauce. I know tomato soup and pasta sauce are similar (they're both puréed tomatoes when it comes down to it). Something about this cup reads very sauce-like to me. It could be the consistency. It's smooth and somewhere in between thin and thick, but it also has juicy tomato chunks throughout. I think a touch more cream and an extra sprinkling of spices like oregano and red pepper would be the perfect remedy. I do think the croutons help to zhuzh it up a bit and add a welcome layer of added texture.
All in all, it is what it is: a basic and straightforward tomato soup. It would pair well with melty grilled cheese—and Panera serves a rather tasty one.
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4. Mexican Street Corn Chowder
Nutrition (Per 1 Cup):
Calories: 190
Fat: 12 g (Saturated Fat: 7 g)
Sodium: 900 mg
Carbs: 16 g (Fiber: 4 g, Sugar: 4 g)
Protein: 6 g
Mexican Street Corn Chowder was originally added to Panera's menu in 2022, bringing new international flavor to the lineup. It has become a warmer weather trend at the chain ever since (an interesting choice for chowder, but hey, we're not here to judge) and it just resurfaced this year in April. The chowder consists of sweet corn, fire-roasted poblano peppers, red bell peppers, and russet potatoes in a thick broth. Chile powder, lime juice, and cilantro join the party for a bolder, more authentic taste. Plus, it comes with a helping of blue corn tortilla strips to sprinkle on top. Since the soup doesn't include meat, chicken, or beef stock, it is a great vegetarian option. (However, it's not vegan as it contains both cream cheese and butter.)
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The Look: Chunky and certainly chowder-like. The thick broth gives off a pale orange hue, and fixins are abundant. Yellow corn kernels are the most pronounced. But, green poblano peppers, red bell peppers, cilantro, and spices also surface at the top of the cup for a colorful display. Skinny blue-grey strips add to the fun.
The Taste: Soothing and filling–it could replace a meal, no problem. But I couldn't help thinking I was lapping up a bowlful of straight queso. The cheesy, buttery base, along with Mexican-style spices, lime juice, and cilantro, all coalesce into something very similar to the popular dip. That's not to say it's a bad soup, though, and I'm not detracting from the flavor at all. It's creamy, the corn is sweet, potato chunks are tender albeit sparse, and a kick of spice arises at the end of each bite. So, while it may be better suited for tortilla chip dipping rather than ladling and scooping, it still provides a fiesta of flavors and is a dish I would gladly indulge in again.
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3. Bistro French Onion Soup
Nutrition (Per 1 Cup):
Calories: 190
Fat: 8 g (Saturated Fat: 3.5 g)
Sodium: 1,300 mg
Carbs: 22 g (Fiber: 2 g, Sugar: 11 g)
Protein: 7 g
When it comes to cuisine, the French do a lot of things right, and this breed of soup is one shining example. Its rare combination of affordability, simplicity, and savoriness are what make it so universally sought-after and why it's one of my personal favorites. I order a crock almost every time I see it listed on a restaurant menu and have indulged in Panera's rendition more times than I can remember.
As is the case with most French onion soups, the chain's version consists of caramelized onions in a broth of sherry wine vinegar gastrique and stock—specifically chicken in this case. Ground puréed tomatoes, tomato sauce, and soy sauce are also included. Fontina and mozzarella cheeses and croutons are the icing on top.
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The look: This isn't the most attractive of soups. While some French onion soups come with a bubbly and delicious cheese layer on top, Panera's looks less put together—a cup of brownish liquid and onions. The croutons do improve its presentation.
The taste: What this soup lacks in looks, it makes up for in taste 100 times over. The onions have perfectly cooked down, with no trace of bitterness. They were a tad on the crunchier side compared to what I've had in the past, but it's a minor slip-up in the grand scheme of soup. I could drink the broth straight up, and it offers a flawless balance of vinegary, garlicky, savory, and sweet flavors. I'm a sucker for a good cheese pull, and the mozzarella blend delivers a few–they were understated but present.
Pro tip: Make sure to forgo the apple or chips and add a French baguette as your side. French bread with your French soup only makes sense, right? The broth soaks into the crusty bread, creating a heavenly pairing that does more favors for the soup than the seasoned croutons.
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2. Cream of Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
Nutrition (Per 1 Cup):
Calories: 190
Fat: 10 g (Saturated Fat: 5 g)
Sodium: 940 mg
Carbs: 18 g (Fiber: 2 g, Sugar: 5 g)
Protein: 5 g
Along with Autumn Squash, this Cream of Chicken and Wild Rice is one of Panera's few soups that deviate from the other more well-known staples. It's a healthier choice on the menu—despite its inclusion of heavy cream—and is chock-full of white meat chicken, celery, onion, carrots, and cabbage. Both long grain and wild rice come together in the dish, giving the soup not only its name but also its body and robustness.
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The look: A deep cream color and unbelievably dense. It barely wiggled at all when I shook it lightly in the cup. Once stirred, I could see a hearty amount of chicken and other ingredients. Stinginess is not at play here.
The taste: I think this may be one of Panera's most underrated menu items. It has the rich creaminess of the chain's Broccoli Cheddar soup. It includes both chicken and rice, so it eats more like a meal and provides a higher level of nutrition. It was difficult to decipher exactly what was in each bite, but that didn't matter because every taste was delicious. The chicken is fresh and plump, and the consistency resembles chicken and dumplings, which I adore. I enjoyed every bit of it, and can confidently say it is miles ahead of the other chicken-based soup Panera offers (looking at you, chicken noodle).
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1. Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Nutrition (Per 1 Cup):
Calories: 230
Fat: 15 g (Saturated Fat: 12 g)
Sodium: 980 mg
Carbs: 16 g (Fiber: 1 g, Sugar: 6 g)
Protein: 8 g
If there's one Panera soup that is unlikely to slip off the menu anytime soon, it's the Broccoli Cheddar. The fusion of cheesy sauce with chopped broccoli and shredded carrots is an instant favorite. The dish now has something of a cult following in the U.S. Did you know you can flaunt your broccoli cheese obsession outwardly through the chain's cheesy swimsuit collection? That's right. "Pick two" takes on a whole new meaning with mix-and-match bathing suit separates for men and women.
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The look: Akin to the Cream of Chicken and Wild Rice Soup. It comes in nearly the same light yellow to cream color and shares a similar level of thickness. Its distinguishing factor is the green broccoli heads and florets peeking out from below the surface.
The taste: It's a fan favorite for a reason. Digging into the cup is like accepting a warm, cheesy hug. The soup is velvety and buttery, and the broccoli is so nice and soft that it practically melts in your mouth. There is also plenty of it—something that has held for all of my Panera soup indulgences. The chain does not skimp on that front. Top everything off by dipping a baguette into the smooth liquid, and you're golden.
This Broccoli Cheddar soup never seems to miss. It's the first item I think of when I think of Panera, and it will forever hold a special place in my heart.
This story has been updated to include new information and remove outdated information.
