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Instant Pot Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup Recipe

Everyone knows that the best Panera soup is their broccoli cheese soup. This Instant Pot Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup makes the delicious, comforting and hearty soup an easy weeknight dinner.

Instant Pot Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup is one of the easiest recipes you’ll ever make. This easy instant pot broccoli cheese soup is guaranteed to become a family favorite.

I must admit that Panera Bread is a weakness of mine.

If I’m out running errands around lunch time, there’s a high probability that I’m going to swing by Panera, even if it would take the same amount of time to just go home and grab something from the fridge. It’s also my go-to place for lunch dates with friends and colleagues.

My order is the same, every time – a big, steaming bowl of Broccoli Cheddar Soup. Sometimes I’ll get it as a side with a sandwich but usually, especially in the winter, I just go all-in and get only Panera soup.

Make sure you PIN Broccoli Cheddar Soup!

Either way, I never leave Panera without my broccoli cheddar soup. Or French Onion- their French Onion Soup is surprisingly delicious too!

I’m a big soup person. My favorites include chicken noodle soup, butternut squash bisque, beef stew, cauliflower soup and of course, this broccoli and carrot mixture. The ultimate of vegetable soups without it just being floating pieces of veg.

I love the Broccoli Cheddar Soup so much that I found myself craving it even when Panera was nowhere in sight so I decided to try making my own copycat version at home. Hello, SOUP!

I don’t have the time or patience for a soup that takes all day to simmer and cook so I decided to give it a try in my current kitchen obsession, my Instant Pot. If you are just getting used to yours, make sure to check out my Instant Pot for Beginners!

The result? This Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Soup tastes exactly like the real deal!

And… it is ready, from prepping the veggies to your first steaming mouthful, in 30 minutes. It’s now one of my favorite easy instant pot recipes.

What makes this one of the best instant pot soup recipes? Well, first and foremost, because it’s easy. Just a handful of ingredients, most of which you probably already have on hand.

And, well, it’s cheesy. What’s better than a deliciously cheesy soup, especially an extra cheesy version of your favorite Panera soup?

There’s no denying that broccoli and cheddar soup is pure comfort food. I particularly like curling up with a bowl of this on a dreary, gray dear.

If you’re feeling in need of an additional dose of comfort food, try serving this in a bread bowl. Or at least with a few crusty slices of sourdough bread. Delicious.

Oh, and for those of you with kids, this Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup is a great way to sneak in an extra serving of veggies! (Though, really, that’s a good trick for adults too!)

Please note that you can easily double this soup by doubling the amount of ingredients, but you do not need to change the cooking time.

However, this depends on the size of your pressure cooker. This fits perfectly into a 6 quart IP, use a larger IP to double up.

Generally speaking, never fill your pressure cooker more than 1/2 to 2/3 full, although with raw broccoli, there is a ton of air between, so this is hard to judge. You should be fine in a 6qt or larger pressure cooker.

Since you like this instant pot soup recipe, you’ll probably like these other easy instant pot recipes:

• Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
• Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs
• Instant Pot Chili
• Instant Pot Beer Cheese Soup

Tools for making Instant Pot Panera Broccoli Cheddar Cheese:

Instant Pot – You’ll need one of these to make Instant Soup!

French Onion Soup Crocks– these are oven safe bowls perfect for serving any soup!  I personally like the old school brown porcelain with a handle. It makes it easier to transfer from the baking sheet to a serving plate.

Questions you might have about Broccoli Cheddar Soup:

Can I freeze my Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup? You sure can! Just like freezing any soup, place it in an airtight container or plastic bag and freezer for up to 3-4 months.

Is Broccoli Cheddar Soup gluten-free? Not the way I have made it because it contains flour. If you’d like to make it gluten-free you can use a GF thickener like cornstarch or arrowroot.

Is broccoli cheddar soup vegetarian? It sure is! But it isn’t vegan since it uses cream. I’ve never experimented with using a non dairy creamer, but if you have, I’d love to hear how it turned out!

Is broccoli cheddar soup good for a cold or sore throat? Only you can be the judge of that. It will not cure illness, for sure, but sometimes a nice comfort soup recipe makes you feel better inside.

Is broccoli cheddar soup keto friendly? I am not a keto expert, but I do know you shouldn’t have flour, so sub that out for a keto friendly thickener and you should be all good. However, I do not suggest using almond flour in those one.

Can I make this soup in a crock pot or slow cooker? You sure can! Follow the directions, but instead of putting it on manual pressure for 15 minutes, put it on high for 2-3 hours and then resume the instructions.

Can I make this broccoli cheese soup on the stove? Yep! You can follow the same directions, but in a Dutch oven or large stock pot over medium heat. Allow to simmer for about 1 hour.

Can I use chicken broth instead of vegetable broth? You sure can! Chicken stock or vegetable stock are acceptable. I would refrain from using beef or seafood broth.

If you have any more questions, send on on over!

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4.19 from 32 votes

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Instant Pot Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

15 mins

Pressure Building

5 mins

Total Time

25 mins

 

An easy instant pot recipe that tastes even better than the original Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup. Ready in just 30 minutes! 

Course: Main Dish, Soup

Cuisine: American

Keyword: broccoli cheddar soup, panera soup

Servings: 6

Calories: 516 kcal

Author: Jessica Formicola

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/2 cup onion , chopped
• 1/4 cup flour
• 2 cloves garlic , minced
• 1 cup carrot , grated
• 1 head broccoli , florets only, cut into small bunches
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 2 cups vegetable stock
• 2 cups cream
• 2 cups cheddar , grated
• Fine sea salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Set Instant Pot to saute function. Add butter and chopped onion, saute for 2 minutes.
2. Add flour and garlic, saute for an additional 2 minutes.
3. Add carrots, broccoli, nutmeg and vegetable stock.
4. Change setting to manual, high pressure and set for 15 minutes.
5. Use quick release method.

6. Stir in cream and cheddar. Season to your liking fine sea salt and freshly ground pepper. Broccoli will easily break into small pieces. 

7. Serve hot with crusty bread.

8. If you’ve tried this recipe, make sure to come back and let us know how you liked it! 

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

Please note that you can easily double this soup by doubling the amount of ingredients, but you do not need to change the cooking time. However, this depends on the size of your pressure cooker.

Generally speaking, never fill your pressure cooker more than 1/2 to 2/3 full, although with raw broccoli, there is a ton of air between, so this is hard to judge. You should be fine in a 6qt or larger pressure cooker. 

Nutrition Facts

Instant Pot Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Amount Per Serving

Calories 516 Calories from Fat 396

% Daily Value*

Fat 44g68%

Saturated Fat 27g169%

Cholesterol 153mg51%

Sodium 643mg28%

Potassium 504mg14%

Carbohydrates 18g6%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 4g4%

Protein 14g28%

Vitamin A 5965IU119%

Vitamin C 93.4mg113%

Calcium 383mg38%

Iron 1.3mg7%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.