Copycat Panera Recipes (!!) featuring creamy soups like chicken and wild rice, fresh salads, and homemade bread. Cause all we do is win win win no matter what! You’re gonna love it.
When that bowl of soup and a warm Kitchen Sink cookie lands on the table, in a moment of transformation you go from regular person to full blown BOSS.
You have just made cooking history with your skills. You might be the most domestically gifted person alive right now.
1. Panera Bread Cobblestone Muffins
Let’s talk about these muffins, because they are not your average breakfast treat. They’re packed with a cinnamon-raisin and spiced apple filling, a fantastic streusel on top, and a perfect icing drizzle. YUM.
If you’re going to treat yourself to a muffin, this should absolutely be the one. It’s so loaded with flavor and texture that it’ll keep you happy all the way to lunchtime.
These are made with a yeast-based dough, which basically makes them a cinnamon roll in muffin’s clothing. You’ll need to prep the dough ahead of time to let it rise, but it is so, so worth it.
2. Copycat Panera Bread Green Goddess Cobb Salad
I’m not always in a salad mood, but I will order this one from Panera on repeat. It’s packed with so many amazing ingredients and is unbelievably filling.
You’ve got sweet and sour notes from the pickled red onions, which are just perfect with the chicken, bacon, avocado, boiled egg, tomatoes, and feta. And that green goddess dressing? It’s everything.
If you don’t have time to pickle the red onions, you can just toss them in raw. They give the whole thing a fantastic peppery crunch.
3. Panera Creamy Tomato Soup Copycat Recipe
I could probably eat soup every single day. I once had a job at a bakery that served two new soups daily, and I was in absolute heaven!
My biggest issue with canned tomato soup is that it’s often way too acidic for me. That’s why I’m obsessed with making my own, and this Panera version is the one.
Here’s a little secret: use vine-ripened tomatoes and roast them with the onion and garlic before you add them to the pot. The flavor will completely blow your mind.
Also, don’t skip the sugar! It might seem weird, but it balances everything out perfectly. You’ll taste the difference if you leave it out.
4. Copycat Panera Turkey Chili
For me, the start of fall means two things: all the pumpkin spice and all the chili!
The second I feel a little chill in the air, my slow cooker comes out, and I whip up the first chili of the season. Chili is just so versatile, and I love using turkey to keep it on the healthier side.
I follow this recipe pretty closely, but sometimes I’ll throw in some chunks of pumpkin or squash for extra color and texture. It’s so good!
5. Copycat Panera Squash Soup
With squash, carrot, and pumpkin all in one bowl, this soup just has to be good for you, right? YES.
Looking at the ingredients, this is definitely one of the most flavorful and healthy soups on the list. It is pure gold.
You can easily keep it vegan by leaving out the butter and cream cheese. Or, if you want to make it extra rich and cozy, a splash of heavy cream is amazing. Coconut cream would also be a fantastic middle ground!
6. Baja Grain Bowls
If you’re a big fan of burrito bowls, then this recipe is for you. The combination of quinoa and rice gives it such a great textural contrast, plus a bonus boost of protein.
That zesty dressing is just perfect for the mix of tomatoes, corn, and beans. You can keep it totally vegetarian-friendly by leaving off the meat, and it’s still just as satisfying. This is what we call the bowl life!
7. Panera Bread Baked Potato Soup
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I love the humble potato. It is, without a doubt, the most versatile vegetable in the world.
And in this soup? It’s pretty much addictive. Plus, it’s so inexpensive to make!
This recipe uses a chicken base, which is like a super-concentrated chicken stock that’s absolutely brimming with flavor. I like my soup to have some nice texture, so I usually mash about half of the potato and leave the other half in diced chunks.
8. Panera’s Thai Chicken Salad
This salad has it all! It’s spicy, it’s crunchy, and it is completely packed with extras. That Thai chili vinaigrette and the spicy peanut sauce are so good, they’re reason enough to make this right now.
I love that it has edamame, which is so underrated if you ask me. I also always add some sliced mango to give the dish a pop of freshness.
If you really want to boost the flavor, make a little extra vinaigrette and let the chicken marinate in it for a few hours before grilling. It’s a total flavor explosion!
9. Strawberry Chicken Salad With Poppy Seed Dressing
I am a huge fan of adding fruit to salad. It just makes the whole dish so much brighter and adds a wonderful sweetness that goes perfectly with salty meat or a savory dressing.
This recipe also includes blueberries, making it extra fruity, and the pecans give it a fantastic crunch.
The poppy seeds add such a unique flavor to the dressing, and I love seeing the little black flecks throughout the salad. But if you can’t find them, it’s still delicious without!
10. Ham & Cheese Breakfast Soufflé
This meaty version of the crescent roll soufflé is absolutely worth a try. That salty ham with the melty cheese is just such a great way to kick off your day, and it’s so simple to put together.
This recipe is a fantastic base, and it’s super easy to change it up. I’ve made a version with caramelized onions and garlic, and another one with leftover rotisserie chicken and a little rosemary. A total winner!
11. Napa Almond Chicken Salad (Panera Copycat)
Chicken salad is one of those meals I find myself craving all the time. Tender chicken with creamy mayonnaise and onion is just such a perfect sandwich filling.
But let me tell you, this version is on another level! The dressing is ridiculously good, made with mayo, honey, apple cider vinegar, mustard, and rosemary. Plus, it has toasted almonds and grapes mixed in.
Those sweet and crunchy additions totally make the dish. You’ll want to find some nice sturdy bread so you can pile that filling high!
12. Copycat Panera Macaroni and Cheese Recipe
I just adore a good white mac and cheese. I think it looks so much more appetizing than the orange kind, and you just know the cheese flavor is going to be amazing.
Plus, the bacon I always add on top just pops against that beautiful light sauce!
The secret to getting the absolute best cheese sauce is to buy a good block of cheese and grate it yourself. The pre-shredded kind has a coating on it that keeps it from melting into that perfectly smooth, creamy sauce we’re all looking for.
13. Panera’s Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Before I ever tried this soup, I was a little worried it would feel like eating a bowl of queso or dipping a spoon straight into a fondue pot.
I have never been so happy to be wrong. Yes, it’s a thick soup, and that cheese flavor is front and center (as it should be!), but it just totally works.
When you mix it with the carrot, broccoli, and chicken stock, it becomes such a deeply satisfying bowl of soup. I love to mix and match my cheeses to get a slightly different flavor each time.
Last time I made it, I used a sharp cheddar with something a little smoky, and it gave the soup a whole new vibe.
14. Spinach and Cheese Egg Soufflé
Did you just get a little nervous seeing the word ‘soufflé?’ Don’t worry, this isn’t something you need to stress over.
Honestly, this is less of a traditional soufflé and more like a baked egg pastry or even a quiche. No need to whip any egg whites here!
Just use some ready-made crescent roll dough for the crust and pour that delicious filling right inside. I like using smaller, shallow dishes for these, but if all you have is a larger pie plate, that will work just fine.
15. Watermelon Mint Salad
Okay, I’ll be honest, this one isn’t my all-time favorite. But I know it’s incredibly popular, so I just had to include it for all the fans out there!
This simple summer salad comes together in just 20 minutes, and besides the mint leaves, you probably have all the ingredients in your kitchen already.
The dressing is so easy to make, and I like to use honey instead of sugar. Sometimes I’ll even add a pinch of chili flakes for a little extra kick.
16. Instant Pot Panera 10 Vegetable Soup
One thing is for sure with this soup: it is not lacking in nutrients. It’s a nutritional powerhouse!
It’s got peppers, corn, carrots, peas, onion, celery, spinach, and barley, and it can be ready to go in just 15 minutes. It’s a total lifesaver on a busy weeknight.
Of course, you can always switch up the veggies to whatever you like. And maybe cut back on the garlic if you’re not a huge fan. The recipe calls for eight cloves, which is a lot even for me!
17. Panera Bread Bistro French Onion Soup
Just like potato soup, this humble dish is so inexpensive to make but tastes incredibly rich and delicious. The base is a simple onion and beef broth, which might sound plain, but it packs a serious flavor punch.
The beef flavor is a huge part of what makes this soup so good, but if you want a vegetarian-friendly option, you can definitely use vegetable stock. Just know that the flavor won’t be quite as deep and rich.
I highly recommend making your own croutons from leftover bread and using the cheeses the recipe suggests. They melt so beautifully and add a flavor you just won’t get from a mild cheddar.
18. Copycat Panera Wild Blueberry Muffins
I love that you can use frozen blueberries for this recipe, but if you have fresh ones on hand, definitely use those!
These muffins are so big and tender, with a wonderfully moist crumb and bright pops of blueberry in every single bite. They are pure magic.
You can leave off the sugar topping, but I personally love the little bit of crunch it adds to the super soft muffin.
19. Panera Honey Walnut Cream Cheese
The very first time I tried this, I was completely blown away. It’s just such a wonderfully different and delicious way to jazz up your daily bagel breakfast.
If you have the time, don’t skip toasting the walnuts! It only takes a few minutes, and it really brings out all their amazing flavor.
After that, you just need to blend the rest of the ingredients until they’re nice and smooth, and then stir in your chopped nuts. So easy!