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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Gluten free made easy: I love adapting dishes I know and love so that they’re gluten free, dairy free, and vegan (it’s actually kinda my thing). The good news is that you can easily make Panera’s cheddar broccoli soup gluten free with just one ingredient swap.
• Full of flavor: There’s a reason you see broccoli paired with cheddar all the time: the two just work. I think it’s because the mild and slightly sweet flavor of the broccoli complements the tangy sharpness of cheddar so well.
• Create your own You Pick Two and pair your soup with a grilled cheese sandwich or a salad — so much better for you (and more affordable!) than takeout. 
• Simple recipe: Even beginners will be able to pull this one off!

Ingredients and Substitutions

These are the main ingredients and substitutions for Gluten Free Broccoli Cheddar Soup (Panera Copycat). Scroll down to the recipe card for a full list of ingredients and instructions.

Cheddar Cheese: Grab a block and shred it yourself for the best flavor and melt.

Broccoli: For color, flavor, and texture. It wouldn’t be a cheesy broccoli soup without it!

Carrots: I decided to add an extra vegetable here — carrots make the whole thing more substantial, and also add a nice color.

Butter: Starts everything off and provides a rich and creamy base for your soup.

Onion & Garlic: Simple yet flavorful aromatics get sautéed in butter to add depth and flavor.

Gluten Free Flour: The key to keeping your cheddar broccoli soup gluten free! Use your favorite 1:1 blend as a thickener.

Chicken Broth: Your liquid base. If you want to make this recipe vegetarian-friendly, you can use vegetable broth instead.

Half-and-Half: Adds creaminess and a touch of rich flavor. Coconut milk works as well.

How to Make Gluten Free Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Sauté the aromatics & make a roux

Add the butter to a large saucepan and heat over medium-low until melted. Introduce the onion and sauté until softened. Add the garlic, mix, then add the flour and mix again to coat. Slowly whisk in the broth and half-and-half and let the mixture cook and thicken.

Add the vegetables

Incorporate the carrots and cook for another few minutes before adding the broccoli. Let the soup simmer for 5 minutes.

Stir in the cheese

Lower the heat and stir in the cheddar cheese until it’s fully melted and smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper, serve, and enjoy!

Tips and Tricks

• Don’t overcook: From start to finish, it should only take about 20 minutes to make this recipe. It’s important to cook the vegetables until they’re tender-crisp, but not mushy. Anything more will make the whole thing go watery!
• Switch up the cheese: I love tangy and sharp cheddar here — it is a gluten free broccoli cheddar soup after all — but nothing’s stopping you from using Swiss, Gouda, or another type of cheese for a different flavor. 
• Blend for a smoother texture: I wanted to get my copycat gluten free Panera broccoli cheddar soup as close to the restaurant version as possible, so I don’t blend it. But if you want a smoother texture, you totally can! An immersion blender works great, otherwise, you can transfer the soup into a high-powered blender instead.
• Use a food processor: to shred your cheese and carrots. This makes the prepping portion of this recipe quick and easy!

How to Serve and Store Gluten Free Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup

After you’ve seasoned, let your gluten free broccoli cheddar soup cool a bit before serving. It’s hard to be patient if you’re hungry, but you want to avoid scorching the top of your mouth (been there).

Enjoy as is, or top with bacon crumbles for more protein, a dollop of Greek yogurt for an extra creamy texture, and/or a dash of hot sauce for some heat. YUM.

You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. For longer storage, you can freeze it for up to 3 months. I’ll usually reheat in the microwave in 30-second bursts until warm, or on the stovetop over medium-low for 5-10 minutes. Make sure to let it thaw overnight in the fridge if you’re working from frozen.

Taste And Texture

Creamy, rich, savory, tangy, subtly sweet… all of the above describe the taste and texture of this soup! And while this cheddar broccoli soup is gluten free, that doesn’t mean it isn’t hearty and comforting too. The overall texture is smooth, save for the pieces of broccoli and carrots.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Panera broccoli cheddar soup gluten free?

No, according to their website, Panera’s broccoli cheddar soup contains wheat, meaning it isn’t free of gluten. That’s why I decided to make my own cheddar broccoli soup that’s gluten free instead!

Can I use frozen broccoli instead of fresh?

Sure! Frozen broccoli would also work here so you can make this recipe any time of year. Just make sure to thaw it completely before using — a few hours at room temperature should do the trick.

Can I make this in a slow cooker?

Absolutely! Simply sauté the onion and garlic in butter as directed, then transfer the mixture to your slow cooker. Add the rest of the ingredients and cook the gluten free broccoli cheddar soup on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours.

Other Recipes You May Like:

• Olive Garden Gnocchi Soup
• 30-Minute Chicken Noodle Soup
• Lemon Turmeric Lentil Soup
• Homemade Tomato Soup
• Instant Pot Minestrone Soup

If you make this Gluten Free Broccoli Cheddar Soup (Panera Copycat), I would really appreciate a comment and rating down below the recipe card. Don’t forget to take a picture and tag me over on Instagram, TikTok, or Pinterest!

Pin Print

Gluten Free Broccoli Cheddar Soup (Panera Copycat)

5 from 3 ratings

Hannah Kling

My Gluten Free Broccoli Cheddar Soup is even better than Panera’s, plus it’s super easy to make. Featuring tangy sharp cheddar, tender broccoli, butter, and half-and-half, it’s creamy, rich, and full of flavor!

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 4 servings

Ingredients  

1x2x3x

Soup ingredients:

• 4 tbsp unsalted (grass-fed butter)
• ½ cup yellow onion (diced)
• 2 cloves of garlic (minced)
• ¼ cup gluten free 1:1 blend (such as King Arthur’s or Bob’s Red Mill)
• 2 cups low sodium chicken broth (can use vegetable broth instead)
• 2 cups half and half
• 1 cup shredded carrots
• 3 cups broccoli florets (chopped into bite size pieces)
• 1.5 cups cheddar cheese (shredded)
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp salt (more to taste)
• ¼ tsp black pepper (more to taste)

serve with

• freshly cracked black pepper
• shredded cheese
• croutons

Instructions

• To start, add the butter to a large saucepan and heat over medium-low until melted.
• Introduce the diced onion and sauté until softened, about 3 minutes.
• Add the minced garlic, mix, and then add the gluten free flour and mix again to coat.
• Slowly whisk in the chicken broth and half-and-half and let the mixture cook to thicken, about 5 minutes. 
• Incorporate the carrots and cook for another few minutes to soften, before adding the broccoli in last. Let the soup simmer for 5 minutes.
• Lower the heat and stir in the cheddar cheese until it’s fully melted and smooth. Add in the paprika and then season to taste with salt and pepper, serve, and enjoy!

Notes

• Don’t overcook: From start to finish, it should only take about 20 minutes to make this recipe. It’s important to cook the vegetables until they’re tender-crisp, but not mushy. Anything more will make the whole thing go watery!
• Switch up the cheese: I love tangy and sharp cheddar here — it is a gluten free broccoli cheddar soup after all — but nothing’s stopping you from using Swiss, Gouda, or another type of cheese for a different flavor. 
• Blend for a smoother texture: I wanted to get my copycat gluten free Panera broccoli cheddar soup as close to the restaurant version as possible, so I don’t blend it. But if you want a smoother texture, you totally can! An immersion blender works great, otherwise, you can transfer the soup into a high-powered blender instead.
• Use a food processor: to shred your cheese and carrots. This makes the prepping portion of this recipe quick and easy!

Did you make this recipe?Don’t forget to tag @lovelydelites across all social media platforms!