There’s nothing more comforting than a warm bowl of this Copycat Panera Tomato Soup recipe. Rich and flavorful, it tastes just like the recipe you would get from the eatery. It's easier to make than you realize and a more frugal answer to eating out!
You can never go wrong with a classic bowl of tomato soup on a cold winter day. Pair it up with a grilled cheese sandwich - and you have comfort food heaven.
Canned tomato soup isn’t terrible if you doctor it a bit, but it doesn’t compare to homemade tomato soup in the slightest. And this Panera-inspired version is just perfection!
This Copycat Panera Tomato Soup is:
- Simple to make with just a handful of ingredients!
- Rich and savory.
- An easy, family friendly meal.
- Vegetarian friendly too!
If you love this soup, you'll want to check out my other copycat Panera recipes too!
Or go check out all my soup recipes and choose your own favorites (like this Spicy Chicken Poblano soup!) for some winning dinners for those upcoming winter nights.
How to Make Panera Tomato Soup
- Saute - Saute onions and garlic in a skillet for 3–5 minutes.
- Simmer - Add tomatoes, broth, and sugar. Simmer.
- Blend - Add the rest of the ingredients, stir, then blend.
- Simmer again - Allow to simmer for another 15 minutes. Garnish and enjoy!
Tips and Variations
Storage - Store in a sealed container, in the fridge, for up to 1 week. Store in an airtight container, in the freezer, for up to 3 months.
Reheating - Reheat using the stove, microwave, instant pot, or slow cooker. Simply heat until warmed through, and serve.
Pair with a sandwich - Tomato soup is always a big win paired with a sandwich. Some of my go-to choices for sandwiches are Heirloom Tomato Gourmet Grilled Cheese Sandwich, Caprese Sandwich, Loaded Pizza Grilled Cheese Sandwich, or Grilled Three Cheese And Tomato Sandwich.
Add more herbs and spices - You can swap out the dried herbs for fresh ones, if you have them available. You can also feel free to add your own favorite herbs and spices to suit your preferences.
Topping ideas - Tomato soup goes well with countless toppings! You can add cornbread, crumbled bacon, parmesan cheese, fresh herbs, a swirl of sour cream, a dollop of thick cream, oyster crackers, etc. Be creative!
Make it mild - If this tomato soup recipe is a little too spicy for your needs, you can remove the crushed red pepper for a milder option.
Keep it chunky - If you want a chunkier soup, simply blend only half of the soup. Add the blended and unblended soup together, stir, and enjoy!
Use other broth options - Panera's tomato soup is made with vegetable broth. But you can also use chicken or beef broth if you prefer.
Heavy cream substitute - You can use full fat coconut milk in place of the heavy cream if desired. This will make the recipe vegan friendly too!
FAQs
Is the Tomato Soup at Panera Healthy?
Unfortunately, it’s not as healthy as you would hope. It’s definitely much healthier than most fast food or restaurant food options. However, it’s not near as healthy as homemade tomato soup.
Since it’s so processed, the sodium levels are off the charts. If you make this copycat tomato soup recipe at home, though, it’s definitely a healthy choice. And you have more control over the ingredients.
Prep your own tomatoes to make it even healthier and reduce sodium levels. Fresher ingredients and less processing is always a better choice!
Where Can I Buy Panera Tomato Soup?
If you don’t have Panera Bread nearby and you’re not up for making your own, you can pick up some from a large grocery store chain. You can buy it in a pre-packaged containers at places such as Walmart, Kroger, Hyvee, etc. Of course, I think the homemade version is well worth the effort!
If you decided to give this Copycat Panera Tomato Soup Recipe a try, please let me know in the comments below or on social media!
More Recipes You Might Like:
Be sure to check out these other copycat Panera recipes, or these other tasty ideas:
- 15+ Copycat Soup Recipes
- 55+ Copycat Restaurant Recipes
- Copycat Cracker Barrel Hash Browns
- Red Lobster Copycat Cheddar Biscuits
- Copycat Texas Roadhouse Fried Pickles
Recipe
Copycat Panera Tomato Soup
Ingredients
- 28 oz Diced Tomatoes canned
- 1 Cup Vegetable Broth
- ½ Onion chopped
- ¼ Cup Heavy Cream
- 1 Tablespoon Garlic minced
- 1 Tablespoon Sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Fresh Basil minced
- 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- 1 Teaspoon Oregano
- ½ Teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper
- 1 Teaspoon Sea Salt
- 1 Teaspoon Black Pepper
Instructions
- Heat oil in a pot over medium/high heat. Saute garlic and onions until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Add tomatoes, stock, and sugar. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium/low, and simmer for 15–20 minutes.
- Add the rest of the ingredients, stir, and blend until smooth, using an immersion blender or normal blender.
- Let simmer for another 15 minutes, then enjoy!
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