If you love eating at Panera as much as I do, I’ve got some great recipes for you! We’re counting down Panera’s most popular menu items (starting with number 22!), complete with easy copycat recipes you can whip up at home with common ingredients. As someone who’s spent countless hours in restaurant kitchens, I kept the recipes quick and easy so they’re perfect for a weeknight! Some of these are soups and others are sandwiches, and my number one recipe at the end surprised me! Scroll on through to check them all out. I hope you’ll find a new favorite here.
22. Bacon, Egg & Cheese on Ciabatta
Crispy bacon, fluffy scrambled eggs, and melted white cheddar cheese get stacked on a chewy ciabatta roll, which makes you wonder what’s not to love about this deliciously simple breakfast sandwich? While we highly recommend grabbing ciabatta rolls with a chewy exterior and soft interior from your local bakery, if you prefer your breakfast sandwiches on a softer, slightly sweeter roll, try this one out on brioche. Either way, it’ll beat a trip to the drive-thru!
Bacon, Egg & Cheese on Ciabatta
Ingredients
Method
- Toast the rolls cut side down in a skillet. Set aside.
- Whisk the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper.
- Melt the butter over medium-low heat.
- Add the eggs. Stir gently until just set.
- Pile the eggs on the bottom rolls.
- Top with cheese and bacon.
- Add the top rolls and serve warm.
21. BBQ Chicken Salad
Think of this BBQ chicken salad as a trip to the cookout minus the heat. It features crispy romaine lettuce, a black bean and corn salsa, juicy tomatoes, and tender chicken tossed in a tangy barbecue sauce, and it’s all topped with delicious fried onions and a creamy barbecue ranch. Need dinner in a jiffy? Grab a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store, and you’ll be well on your way to dinner in 15 minutes!
BBQ Chicken Salad
Ingredients
Method
- Toss the chicken with 1/4 cup barbecue sauce.
- Mix the beans, corn, red onion, cilantro, and lime juice.
- Stir the remaining barbecue sauce into the ranch.
- Divide the romaine between bowls.
- Top with chicken, bean salsa, and tomatoes.
- Drizzle with the barbecue ranch.
- Finish with fried onions.
20. Bacon Turkey Bravo
What makes the Bacon Turkey Bravo a favorite at Panera for so many years? We’re sure it’s the tomato basil bread! If you can’t find it at your local grocery store, you can try using sourdough instead. Packed with smoked turkey, smoked gouda, lettuce, tomato, and bacon, the sweet and tangy sauce is what brings it all together. Be sure to make extra sauce and save it to use on all of your sandwiches throughout the week!
Bacon Turkey Bravo
Ingredients
Method
- Stir the mayo, ketchup, honey, and paprika for the sauce.
- Spread the sauce on each bread slice.
- Layer the turkey, gouda, and bacon on 4 slices.
- Add the lettuce and tomato. Season with salt and pepper.
- Top with the remaining bread. Slice in half.
19. Toasted Frontega Chicken
One of the most recreated sandwiches from Panera’s menu, it’s no wonder since it’s stuffed with pulled chicken, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, red onion, and basil, all sandwiched between two pieces of black pepper focaccia bread and served toasted with a chipotle mayo spread on the bread. Don’t have black pepper focaccia bread? Use focaccia and add some cracked black pepper! And don’t fret if you don’t own a panini press, as you can simply toast the sandwich in a hot skillet with a heavy pan placed on top.
Toasted Frontega Chicken
Ingredients
Method
- Mix the mayo, adobo, and lime juice.
- Spread on the cut sides of the focaccia.
- Sprinkle the bread with pepper.
- Layer the chicken, mozzarella, tomato, onion, and basil.
- Add the tops. Butter the outsides.
- Press and cook 3 to 4 minutes per side, until crisp.
18. Asian Sesame Salad
This is one of the most re-created Panera dishes on the internet for good reason, fans love this Asian sesame salad and want to know how to make it at home! It’s got crunchy romaine lettuce, chopped up chicken, cilantro, almonds, sesame seeds and wonton strips that’s tossed in a sweet, tangy sesame dressing. We love that the dressing comes together in a jar using mostly ingredients you probably have on hand already! It’ll last about one week in the fridge.
Asian Sesame Salad
Ingredients
Method
- Dressing: Shake all the dressing ingredients in a jar.
- Salad: Toss the romaine and chicken with the dressing.
- Add the cilantro and almonds.
- Top with sesame seeds and wonton strips.
17. Grilled Cheese
You don’t need fancy cheese or even fig jam to make this copycat Panera grilled cheese, just soft white bread and melty American cheese! Toasted to golden perfection in butter, we recommend serving this up with a side of Panera’s creamy tomato soup. The trick to a perfectly toasted grilled cheese sandwich is making sure to cook it on low and slow so the bread doesn’t burn before the cheese has a chance to get melty.
Grilled Cheese
Ingredients
Method
- Butter one side of each bread slice.
- Place 2 slices butter side down in a skillet.
- Layer 3 slices of cheese on each.
- Top with the remaining bread, butter side up.
- Cook over medium-low heat 3 to 4 minutes, until golden.
- Flip. Cook 3 minutes more, until the cheese melts.
16. Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich
With flavors reminiscent of the Mediterranean, you won’t even know you’re missing the meat with this veggie sandwich! Crisp tomato basil bread, loaded with sweet peppadew peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes, red onion, feta, and greens with a thick spread of cilantro jalapeño hummus make for a flavorful lunch. Season it all with salt, pepper, and lemon before devouring it all! This comes together in just 10 minutes with no cooking required, making it perfect for making ahead!
Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich
Ingredients
Method
- Stir the cilantro and jalapeño into the hummus.
- Spread on all 8 bread slices.
- Layer the feta, cucumber, tomato, peppers, and onion on 4 slices.
- Add the greens.
- Sprinkle with lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
- Top with the remaining bread.
15. Turkey Chili
Lighter than your typical chili, Panera’s turkey chili is still just as classic and full of flavor. Made with lean ground turkey simmered in a tomato broth with kidney beans, chickpeas, edamame, carrots, and red peppers, this chili is so full of flavor, many thanks to spices like cumin and chili powder. It takes just 45 minutes to make this one-pot dinner, and it’s even tastier the next day, which is perfect for meal prep!
Turkey Chili
Ingredients
Method
- Heat the oil in a large pot. Brown the turkey.
- Add the onion, carrots, and pepper. Cook 5 minutes.
- Add the garlic, chili powder, cumin, and salt. Cook 1 minute.
- Stir in the tomatoes, broth, kidney beans, and chickpeas.
- Simmer 30 minutes.
- Add the edamame. Simmer 5 minutes.
14. Orange Scone
Made with fresh orange zest and topped with a sweet glaze that is also made with fresh orange, these orange scones are tender, buttery, and bursting with orange flavor. Just be sure not to overmix the dough and use cold butter to ensure tender scones. The glaze hardens as it cools, so your scones will have a crackly top! These freeze well before glazing and make the perfect accompaniment to a steaming cup of coffee in the morning.
Orange Scone
Ingredients
Method
- Heat the oven to 400F.
- Scones: Mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and zest.
- Scones: Cut in the butter until crumbly.
- Scones: Whisk the cream and egg. Stir in just until combined.
- Scones: Pat into an 8-inch circle. Cut into 8 wedges.
- Scones: Bake 15 to 18 minutes, until golden. Cool 10 minutes.
- Glaze: Whisk the powdered sugar, juice, and zest.
- Glaze: Drizzle over the scones.
13. Oatmeal Raisin with Berries Cookie
Think classic oatmeal raisin cookies meet dried cranberries and cherries for a fruity twist. Brown sugar and chewy oats make up the cookie dough, which has cinnamon sprinkled in for a cozy, fall aroma in your kitchen. Take these oatmeal raisin with berries cookies out of the oven when the edges are golden and the centers look a tad underdone, this will help ensure they stay nice and chewy for days to come!
Oatmeal Raisin with Berries Cookie
Ingredients
Method
- Heat the oven to 350F.
- Beat the butter and sugars until fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs and vanilla.
- Mix in the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
- Stir in the oats and dried fruit.
- Scoop 1/4 cup balls onto lined baking sheets.
- Bake 12 to 14 minutes, until golden at the edges.
- Cool 5 minutes on the pan.
12. Green Goddess Cobb Salad
With tender chicken, bacon, avocado, hard boiled eggs, pickled onions, tomatoes, romaine, and kale, this twist on Panera’s green goddess Cobb salad is bursting with flavor! But let’s be real, the star of the show here is the green goddess dressing. Made with Greek yogurt, fresh herbs, and lemon, it’s tangy, herby, and creamy. Double the recipe since you will want to use the extra as a dip with veggies all week long!
Green Goddess Cobb Salad
Ingredients
Method
- Dressing: Blend all the dressing ingredients until smooth.
- Salad: Toss the romaine and kale with half the dressing.
- Arrange the chicken, bacon, egg, avocado, and tomatoes on top.
- Add the pickled onions.
- Serve with the extra dressing.
11. Fuji Apple Salad with Chicken
Sweet, tangy, and full of flavor, it’s no wonder this Fuji apple salad from Panera is a customer favorite all year long! Loaded with crunchy apple chips, gorgonzola cheese, pecans, tomatoes, and grilled chicken atop mixed greens and tossed with apple vinaigrette, you can recreate it at home any time of year! The apple chips are my favorite part, though in the fall we use fresh Fuji apple slices, and the vinaigrette can be shaken together in a mason jar in under five minutes.
Fuji Apple Salad with Chicken
Ingredients
Method
- Dressing: Shake all the dressing ingredients in a jar.
- Salad: Toss the greens with half the dressing.
- Top with chicken, tomatoes, and red onion.
- Add the gorgonzola and pecans.
- Finish with apple chips.
- Serve with the extra dressing.
10. Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad Sandwich
This is one of the most copycatted Panera sandwiches on the internet, and we think the reason why is pretty darn clear: tender bits of chicken meet tangy dried cranberries, toasted walnuts, diced celery and mayo to make the most flavorful chicken salad sandwich ever. Soft bread and fresh, crunchy lettuce round out the sandwich. With the help of rotisserie chicken, you can make this easy lunch recipe in just about 15 minutes! The chicken salad mixture lasts about four days in the fridge.
Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad Sandwich
Ingredients
Method
- Stir the mayo, honey, and mustard in a bowl.
- Add the chicken, celery, cranberries, and walnuts.
- Season with salt and pepper. Mix well.
- Chill 30 minutes if you have time.
- Layer lettuce and chicken salad on 4 bread slices.
- Top with the remaining bread.
9. Kitchen Sink Cookie
Equal parts sweet, salty and chewy, this is the boldest cookie on the Panera menu and probably the first cookie to sell out in the bakery case. Loaded with pretzel pieces, chewy caramel bits and semisweet chocolate (and don’t forget that flaky sea salt!), these copycat kitchen sink cookies have crispy edges and soft centers. Just be sure to chill the cookie dough for at least 30 minutes before you bake to avoid overly-flat cookies!
Kitchen Sink Cookie
Ingredients
Method
- Beat the butter and sugars until fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs and vanilla.
- Mix in the flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Fold in the chocolate, caramel bits, and pretzels.
- Chill the dough 30 minutes.
- Heat the oven to 350F.
- Scoop 1/3 cup balls onto lined baking sheets.
- Sprinkle with flaky salt.
- Bake 13 to 15 minutes, until golden at the edges.
- Cool 10 minutes on the pan.
8. Baked Potato Soup
Like a loaded baked potato in soup form, this copycat Panera baked potato soup recipe has tender russet potato pieces simmered in a rich, creamy broth, and topped with green onions, bacon and cheddar cheese. You can also mash just half of the potatoes to get the perfect chunky, hearty texture. It makes a hearty enough meal for a cold night’s dinner, and tastes just as good (if not better!) the next day for lunch.
Baked Potato Soup
Ingredients
Method
- Cook the bacon until crisp. Set aside.
- Cook the onion in the drippings 5 minutes.
- Stir in the flour. Cook 1 minute.
- Whisk in the broth and milk.
- Add the potatoes, salt, and pepper. Simmer 20 minutes.
- Mash about half the potatoes in the pot.
- Stir in the sour cream and 1 cup cheddar.
- Top with bacon, remaining cheese, and green onions.
7. Chicken Noodle Soup
It’s the ultimate sick day cure, and that’s exactly how you should imagine this copycat Panera chicken noodle soup recipe: Tender shredded chicken, egg noodles, carrots and celery simmered in a flavorful broth that’ll remind you of a home-cooked meal. This soup is so great for sick days and weeknight dinners alike! Just cook the noodles in the pot if you plan on eating it right away, or cook them separately if you anticipate having leftovers!
Chicken Noodle Soup
Ingredients
Method
- Melt the butter in a large pot.
- Cook the onion, carrots, and celery 6 minutes.
- Add the garlic. Cook 1 minute.
- Add the broth, thyme, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Simmer 15 minutes.
- Add the noodles. Cook 6 to 8 minutes.
- Stir in the chicken. Heat through.
- Remove the bay leaf. Top with parsley.
6. Four Cheese Soufflé
This copycat recipe of four cheese soufflé by Panera may be a bit of work, but we promise it’s worth it! The combination of tender, fluffy egg mixture with sharp white cheddar, Monterey Jack, Parmesan and Asiago cheese wrapped in flaky, buttery puff pastry is next-level yum. Use a jumbo muffin tin to get the same height as Panera’s version. These will make great, quick (reheated in the oven!) breakfasts throughout the week, just make a big batch on Sunday!
Four Cheese Soufflé
Ingredients
Method
- Heat the oven to 400F. Grease a jumbo muffin tin.
- Pastry: Roll the pastry slightly. Cut into 4 squares.
- Pastry: Press each square into a muffin cup.
- Filling: Whisk the eggs, milk, cream, salt, and pepper.
- Filling: Stir in the cheeses.
- Pour the filling into the pastry cups.
- Fold the pastry corners over the filling.
- Brush the pastry with beaten egg.
- Bake 20 to 25 minutes, until puffed and golden.
5. Creamy Tomato Soup
With rich, sweet canned tomatoes simmered with aromatic garlic and onions and a touch of sugar, then whipped smooth with creamy heavy cream, we don’t think there could be an easier way to make this copycat Panera creamy tomato soup recipe! It’s just as perfect with grilled cheese sandwiches as the real deal, just remember to top with Parmesan cheese (or croutons if you’ve got ’em!). This soup comes together in about 30 minutes and can be frozen to enjoy during a busy weeknight.
Creamy Tomato Soup
Ingredients
Method
- Melt the butter in a large pot. Cook the onion 5 minutes.
- Add the garlic. Cook 1 minute.
- Add the tomatoes, broth, sugar, salt, and basil.
- Simmer 20 minutes.
- Blend until smooth.
- Stir in the cream. Top with croutons.
4. Chicken & Wild Rice Soup
People have been trying to recreate this soup at home for years, and we finally figured it out! Tender shredded chicken, tender carrots and celery and tender long grain and wild rice simmers in a creamy, savory broth flavored with dried thyme. It’s rich but not too rich, hearty but not too hearty… we can go on. It’ll definitely fill you up! Grab a rice blend to make this wild rice soup so you don’t have to figure out the right ratio yourself!
Chicken & Wild Rice Soup
Ingredients
Method
- Cook the rice according to the package. Set aside.
- Melt the butter in a large pot.
- Cook the onion, carrots, and celery 6 minutes.
- Add the garlic. Cook 1 minute.
- Stir in the flour. Cook 1 minute.
- Slowly whisk in the broth. Simmer 10 minutes.
- Add the rice, chicken, thyme, salt, pepper, and cream.
- Simmer 5 minutes.
3. Autumn Squash Soup
Fans of Panera’s fall menu know this soup is only around for a few short months, which is exactly why we were determined to find (and share!) the perfect recipe for this creamy, comforting butternut squash soup. Silky-smooth pumpkin and butternut squash puree is flavored with apple cider, honey and warm spices, then made even more creamy with a splash of cream. Top with pumpkin seeds for a fun crunch! With canned pumpkin and cubed butternut squash, you can make this any time of year.
Autumn Squash Soup
Ingredients
Method
- Melt the butter in a large pot.
- Cook the onion and carrots 5 minutes.
- Add the squash, pumpkin, broth, cider, honey, and spices.
- Simmer 25 minutes, until the squash is soft.
- Blend until smooth.
- Stir in the cream. Top with pumpkin seeds.
2. Mac & Cheese
Made with shell pasta and a tangy white cheddar cheese sauce, this copycat recipe for Panera’s mac and cheese tastes just like the real thing. Instead of using a cheese powder like in boxed mac and cheese, this recipe uses real cheese to make a creamy sauce that clings to the tender shells. Plus, a little dry mustard helps bring out the flavor of the sharp cheddar (without actually tasting like mustard!). This mac and cheese takes about 25 minutes to make and is perfect as a side dish or as the main dish of a satisfying meal.
Mac & Cheese
Ingredients
Method
- Cook the pasta until al dente. Drain.
- Melt the butter in a large pot.
- Whisk in the flour. Cook 1 minute.
- Slowly whisk in the milk and cream.
- Simmer 5 minutes, until thick.
- Turn off the heat. Stir in the cheeses until smooth.
- Add the salt, mustard, and pepper.
- Stir in the pasta.
1. Broccoli Cheddar Soup
This copycat recipe for Panera’s broccoli cheddar soup tastes just like the original. Tender broccoli and shredded carrots are simmered in a rich and creamy soup base and loaded with sharp cheddar cheese. A little bit pinch of nutmeg takes this soup over the top and makes it taste just like the Panera’s original version when you taste it! Serve this broccoli cheddar soup in a bread bowl or with a hunk of crusty baguette for dipping.
Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Ingredients
Method
- Melt the butter in a large pot. Cook the onion 5 minutes.
- Whisk in the flour. Cook 2 minutes.
- Slowly whisk in the half and half and broth.
- Simmer 15 minutes, until thickened.
- Add the broccoli, carrots, salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
- Simmer 20 minutes, until tender.
- Turn off the heat. Stir in the cheese until melted.
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