Brian Nagele
Panera Bread is a favorite among many people, and its menu is continuously changing to accommodate everyone’s taste. But, even if you don’t see something you’d like to eat, you can create your own meal through the secret menu.
Yet, secret menus aren’t necessarily a secret. They are, essentially, a menu full of dishes that a restaurant can make but does not advertise.
So, if you want something that isn’t on the menu, some restaurants will gladly make it for you as long as you pick from ingredients that the kitchen has.
Panera Bread is one of those places, as they offer customization options to their customers. If their secret menu is something new to you, it might be hard to figure out what the best items are.
To make your decision easier, here are some of the best Panera Bread secret menu items for you to try out.
Power Breakfast Egg White Bowl Served With Roasted Turkey
To start your day, you’ll need a lot of protein to keep you full until lunchtime.
I find this tasty breakfast bowl perfect for the morning, as it has about 28 grams of protein due to the egg whites and roasted turkey.
Besides, I love how it’s packed with vitamins from spinach, which provides high amounts of vitamins A and C.
Spinach can increase your antioxidant levels, help keep your eyes healthy, aid in cancer prevention, and even reduce blood pressure.
The addition of basil pesto and roasted red peppers completes this breakfast bowl, making it one of my favorites.
Check out other Panera breakfast favorites.
Power Breakfast Egg Bowl Served With Steak
If you’ve ever had steak and eggs as a meal, the power breakfast bowl with steak is essentially the same.
However, this option has more flavor, thanks to some fresh vegetables, like avocados and tomatoes.
It has about the same amount of protein as the roasted turkey breakfast bowl, offering plenty of protein to keep you full.
The eggs come with yolks rather than just whites. So, you’ll get a little extra protein and vitamins from this addition alone.
I recommend getting your eggs cooked over easy, so you get that gooey yolk mixed in with your steak. It’s delicious and a delight to have!
Power Chicken Hummus Bowl
This power bowl has plenty of healthy ingredients. There’s protein-filled chicken, hummus, and multiple delicious vegetables.
Hummus and chicken are excellent protein options to keep your stomach full, and your brain focused throughout the day. I’ve had this bowl for lunch, but it would be just as perfect for dinner.
Hummus is a great plant protein that typically has about 2.0 grams of protein per tablespoon service (of 30 grams). It’s also rich in B vitamins, iron, and folate.
With this bowl, you’ll also get to sample red onions, jalapenos, spinach, tomatoes, and cucumber.
I like to dip the crunchy vegetables into the hummus, almost like a little side snack. This bowl keeps me full for hours, and it’s so healthy!
Power Mediterranean Chicken Salad
This salad reminds me somewhat of a Cobb salad with the addition of hard-boiled eggs and various healthy vegetables, including romaine lettuce and tomatoes.
But, the dressing is much more simple with just lemon juice and olive oil. Although, I’m sure you could ask for a different salad dressing if that isn’t something you’re interested in.
With various sources of protein such as eggs, chicken, and bacon, this salad bowl makes a complete meal.
I find salads sometimes aren’t filling, but I was pleasantly surprised by this secret menu option.
It has about 35 grams of protein! This entry is the highest amount of protein among the Panera Bread secret menu items on this list.
You will also get spinach, which provides you with plenty of vitamins and nutrients. This salad was so delicious, and I’m glad I decided to try it. I had it for dinner and was full for the entire night afterward.
Power Mediterranean Roasted Turkey Salad
Next up is the power Mediterranean roasted turkey salad. While similar to the chicken Mediterranean salad, it’s a little simpler, and the meat is different.
It focuses heavily on vegetables (romaine lettuce, spinach, red, and tomatoes) and has some tasty roasted turkey on top.
The dressing is the same as the chicken salad, so it’s rather light. This salad has a little less protein compared to the chicken salad at about 27 grams, but I still recommend it as a lunch option.
I particularly enjoyed the addition of the Kalamata olives, which gave this salad an extra little Mediterranean flare. They go great with olive oil and I happen to love Kalamata olives.
Power Steak Lettuce Wraps
These steak wraps are like little handheld salads or lettuce tacos.
Red meat, such as the seared steak included in these wraps, has about 25 grams of protein per three-ounce serving.
So, although the majority of this dish is vegetables, you’re still getting a good amount of protein.
While I would never think to combine steak and cucumbers, I’m glad I tried it. The cucumbers (and onions!) add a nice crunch to these wraps, as the steak is soft.
Moreover, the basil pesto and lemon juice bring in a fresh-tasting flavor.
I don’t recommend filling the lettuce wraps to the brim, as the leaves are fragile. Unfortunately, I made this mistake with my first wrap, and the lettuce ripped.
Chili Mac
Mac and cheese is probably one of Panera’s most famous menu items.
It’s rich, creamy, and always tastes delicious. The turkey chili has multiple bean variations, vegetables, and turkey.
It adds a more savory flavor to the mac and cheese. Not only this, but your stomach will be full by the time you finish this meal. Pasta, cheese, and chili are very filling foods.
I find that this meal is best for the fall or winter because it comes out steaming hot, and chili seems more like a cold-weather option.
I’m a fan of mac and cheese and chili, so this was the perfect combination for me.
You can also go for a bacon mac and cheese by asking them to add chopped bacon!
