Panera Bread is a popular fast casual restaurant chain known for its bakery offerings, sandwiches, and soups. One of their most popular soup offerings over the years has been the broccoli cheddar soup. This thick, creamy, cheesy soup with bites of broccoli has been a favorite of many Panera customers. However, in recent years, it has disappeared from the menu at some locations, leaving fans wondering what happened to this beloved soup.
History of Panera’s Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Panera Bread was founded in 1981 under the name St. Louis Bread Company. In the early days, they were known for freshly baked breads and bagels. Over time, they expanded the menu to include sandwiches, salads, and soups. Broccoli cheddar soup first appeared on the menu in the early 1990s. It quickly became popular due to its rich flavor and creamy texture. For years, it was a staple that customers could rely on Panera to offer.
The original broccoli cheddar soup was thick and loaded with broccoli florets and chunks of carrots. It was made with a creamy cheddar cheese base and had a perfect balance of cheese, vegetables, and seasoning. Many customers would add a bread bowl to enjoy this hearty soup in. It was consistent in flavor and quality, making it a go-to meal for both vegetarians and meat-eaters alike.
Discontinuation of the Original Recipe
In 2010, Panera revamped its broccoli cheddar soup, changing it from a seasoned cheddar base to a potato base. Customers noted the soup was thinner and not as flavorful. The new recipe used more low-fat milk and chicken stock rather than cream and butter. Additionally, the broccoli florets were much smaller. Panera likely did this to cut costs as well as appeal to health-conscious consumers looking for lower-calorie options.
However, the change was met with widespread disappointment from long-time fans who missed the original, thicker, heartier version. Many customers voiced their complaints, but the revised recipe remained on the menu. Though still labelled broccoli cheddar, it simply did not live up to the original for many.
Customer Complaints About the New Recipe
Here are some common complaints about the new broccoli cheddar soup recipe:
- Too thin and watery
- Not enough cheese flavor
- Broccoli pieces are too small
- Lacks seasoning and richness of the original
- Too low-fat and “healthy” tasting
- High sodium content
Customers vocalized on social media that the new version lacked the indulgent, creamy flavor they expected from a broccoli cheddar soup. Many would ask restaurant locations when the original recipe would come back.
Disappearance from Menus
For a few years after the 2010 recipe change, broccoli cheddar soup remained available in most Panera locations, though not to everyone’s satisfaction. However, in recent years, it has been disappearing from menus entirely in some locations. There are a few reasons this may be happening:
Lack of Popularity
The changed recipe was less popular than the original. Some customers stopped ordering it after being disappointed by the new version. This drop in popularity likely contributed to Panera deciding to remove it from some locations. If not enough customers were ordering it, it wouldn’t be worth keeping on the menu.
Seasonal Availability
Panera began listing broccoli cheddar as a seasonal soup rather than a daily staple. It is now only available for limited times throughout the year, such as fall and winter. For the rest of the year, some locations remove it from the menu.
Menu Rotation
Like all restaurants, Panera rotates soups to offer variety. With only so many soup slots on the menu, broccoli cheddar may need to go away for a while to make room for new offerings. Potato cheddar and other more popular flavors may push it off the menu temporarily.
Supply Chain Issues
With supply chain disruptions in recent years, ingredients for broccoli cheddar like quality cheese or cream may be harder to reliably source. Rather than alter the recipe further, Panera may opt to temporarily stop offering it until they can consistently make it to the current recipe’s specifications.
| Year | Menu Status |
|---|---|
| 1981-2010 | Original recipe available as regular menu item |
| 2010 | Recipe changed to lower fat version |
| 2010-2018 | Revised lower fat recipe available but less popular |
| 2018-Present | Marked as seasonal/temporary soup |
How Often Does Broccoli Cheddar Return?
Since being relegated to a seasonal soup at many locations in 2018, broccoli cheddar now makes limited-time appearances on menus. Availability varies by location, but here are some patterns:
Fall/Winter
Most locations that still offer broccoli cheddar will bring it back annually when temperatures drop, typically October through February. As a hearty, warming soup, it’s most popular when the weather turns cold.
Holiday Season
Around the holidays in November and December, broccoli cheddar often pops up as “seasonal” option. Panera seems to bring back favorites like this to cater to customer nostalgia during the gift-giving season.
Brief Month-Long Stints
Some locations will offer broccoli cheddar for a month or two at a time throughout the year, putting up signage that it’s “back for a limited time.” This may occur during promotions or to temporarily change up the soup rotation.
Sporadic Availability
A few locations still have broccoli cheddar daily, though this is less common. Beyond that, availability varies quite a bit. Checking your local cafe directly is the only sure way to know if it’s being offered.
How to Order Broccoli Cheddar When Available
Here are tips for getting your broccoli cheddar fix when you can:
Call Ahead
The best way to know if your nearby Panera has broccoli cheddar is to call that specific location and ask. That will give you definitive information for that cafe.
Check Online Orders
When ordering on the Panera website or app, broccoli cheddar will show up as a selection if it’s available at your chosen location. Add it to your order before checkout.
Ask At The Register
You can always ask the staff when you get to the register if broccoli cheddar is being offered. This will let you know if you can order it during that visit.
Try At Lunchtime
For locations with sporadic or limited availability, your best bet is often at lunchtime on weekdays when soup demand is highest. Call ahead or go in person around typical lunch hours.
Mention Your Interest
Let the staff know you’re a big fan and interested in seeing broccoli cheddar come back. Registering customer interest may help convince corporate locations to bring it back more often.
Is Broccoli Cheddar Ever Coming Back For Good?
It’s unlikely the original broccoli cheddar recipe will return system-wide permanently. Since the 2010 recipe change, Panera seems committed to keeping this soup lower in calories and fat. Bringing back the thicker, cheesier original version would go against their current marketing of lighter menu options.
However, there are a few factors that may increase long-term availability:
Customer Demand
If enough requests come in for the original version, especially around the holidays, Panera may add it to the rotation nationally for a few months every year. Nostalgia is a powerful purchasing motivator.
Localization Trends
Some trends suggest adding hyper-local items to attract customers. If certain regions show strong affinity for the original soup, bringing it back in those markets could drive sales.
Competitive Pressure
If competitors start offering popular throwback recipes, Panera may dip back into their archives to keep up. Nostalgia can set brands apart.
Recipe Re-Engineering
Technology advances may make it possible to recreate the original flavor in a lower-calorie way. New natural thickeners or non-fat dairy technology could allow for a compromise.
Best Ways to Provide Feedback to Panera
As a customer, you have a few options to provide direct feedback to Panera Bread about your broccoli cheddar preferences:
Speak To The Manager
Politely speak with the manager on duty at your local restaurant about how much you miss the original version coming back. Onsite feedback is powerful.
Use Comment Cards
Fill out the comment cards available in-cafe and select soup feedback as your topic. List broccoli cheddar as your top soup request.
Contact Customer Service
Reaching out to Panera customer service by phone or email will ensure your feedback gets logged. Be clear but polite about changes you would like to see.
Reply To Surveys
When you receive receipt surveys from Panera, note the original broccoli cheddar as something you’d like brought back. Higher survey demand can drive change.
Utilize Social Media
Politely tweeting feedback or commenting on Panera’s Instagram or Facebook asking for the original soup may help show interest. Be constructive, not aggressive.
Conclusion
While the thick, creamy broccoli cheddar Panera fans remember likely won’t return permanently, it does still make limited-time appearances. Checking your local cafe directly for availability and providing constructive feedback on your broccoli cheddar preferences are your best bet for getting to enjoy this soup when you can. With some courteous customer comments, we may see it popping back up more often in the future.