29+ Panera Copycat Recipes

Skip the trip to Panera and make your favorite soups, salads, sandwiches, drinks, and bakery treats right at home! These Panera copycat recipes are inspired by some of the restaurant’s most popular menu items, from creamy soups and fresh salads to sandwiches, bagels, and refreshing drinks.

If you’ve ever wanted to recreate Panera copycat recipes at home, this list is a great place to start. You’ll find favorites like Broccoli Cheddar Soup, Cinnamon Crunch Bagels, Fuji Apple Chicken Salad, Frontega Chicken Sandwich, Tomato Soup, Chicken and Wild Rice Soup, Strawberry Poppyseed Salad, and plenty more.

Making restaurant copycat recipes at home is also a great way to customize your meal. Add extra chicken, leave off an ingredient you don’t like, adjust the seasoning, or make enough for leftovers.

Whether you’re craving a cozy bowl of soup, an easy lunch, or a homemade version of your favorite bakery treat, these copycat Panera recipes have you covered.

What Is Panera Bread?

Panera Bread is a popular bakery-café restaurant known for its soups, salads, sandwiches, breads, bagels, pastries, and drinks. Its menu is particularly popular for lunch, with plenty of combinations of soup, salad, and sandwiches.

The restaurant’s menu has changed over the years, which is another good reason to have homemade versions of your favorites. With copycat recipes, you can recreate current favorites as well as discontinued Panera menu items you might miss.

Best Panera Copycat Recipes

Wondering what to make first? Here are some of the best Panera Bread copycat recipes to try at home.

1. Broccoli Cheddar Soup (Snappy Gourmet) – One of the most famous Panera recipes! Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup combines broccoli, carrots, cheese, and a rich, creamy soup base. Serve it in a bread bowl for the full restaurant-inspired experience.

2. Cinnamon Crunch Bagel (King Arthur Baking) – Recreate the popular Panera Cinnamon Crunch Bagel with a chewy homemade bagel topped with a sweet, crunchy cinnamon-sugar topping. Add plain or honey walnut cream cheese for breakfast.

3. Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich – (Keeping the Peas) – The Panera Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich is a great meatless lunch loaded with vegetables, feta cheese, hummus, and plenty of Mediterranean-inspired flavor.

4. Autumn Squash Soup (A Simple Palate) – Creamy, slightly sweet, and full of fall flavor, Panera Autumn Squash Soup is a seasonal favorite. This homemade version can be made in the slow cooker and combines butternut squash, pumpkin, carrots, warm spices, and a creamy finish.

5. Fuji Apple Chicken Salad (How Sweet Eats) – The popular Panera Fuji Apple Chicken Salad is loaded with chicken, greens, tomatoes, pickled onions, pecans, cheese, and sweet apple chips. Finish it with a homemade vinaigrette for a restaurant-style salad at home.

6. Chicken Noodle Soup (Eating on a Dime) – Nothing beats a comforting bowl of Panera Chicken Noodle Soup. Make your own with tender chicken, noodles, vegetables, herbs, and a flavorful chicken broth.

7. Panera Lemonade (Two Pink Peonies) – A homemade Panera Lemonade copycat recipe is a refreshing addition to sandwiches and salads. Make a simple version with fresh lemon juice, water, and your favorite sweetener.

8. Creamy Tomato Soup (The Novice Chef) – Pair a bowl of Panera Creamy Tomato Soup with grilled cheese for the ultimate comfort-food lunch. Tomatoes, cream, herbs, and seasonings create a smooth and flavorful homemade soup.

9. Frontega Chicken Sandwich (White Kitchen Red Wine) – Recreate the Panera Frontega Chicken Sandwich at home with chicken, mozzarella, tomatoes, onions, basil, and a flavorful spread on focaccia, ciabatta rolls, or another hearty bread.

10. Green Goddess Dressing (My Casual Pantry) – You don’t have to save Panera Green Goddess Dressing just for salads. This creamy herb dressing is also delicious as a vegetable dip, sandwich spread, or sauce for grilled chicken.

11. Baked Potato Soup (Kroll’s Korner) – A creamy Panera Potato Soup copycat recipe makes a hearty lunch or dinner. Tender potatoes and a rich, creamy broth make this an easy cold-weather comfort food.

12. Bistro French Onion Soup (CopyKat Recipes) – Make a homemade version of Panera Bistro French Onion Soup with caramelized onions, savory broth, cheese, and crunchy croutons. It’s a great choice when you’re craving a restaurant-style soup without leaving home.

13. Strawberry Poppyseed Salad (Running in a Skirt) – The Panera Strawberry Poppyseed Salad is a fresh summer favorite packed with fruit and topped with sweet poppyseed dressing. Make it with strawberries and a combination of your favorite seasonal fruits.

14. Caesar Salad (RecipeTin Eats) – Keep things simple with a Panera Caesar Salad copycat featuring crisp romaine lettuce, Parmesan cheese, Caesar dressing, and crunchy croutons. Add grilled chicken to turn it into an easy main dish.

15. Chicken and Wild Rice Soup (Gal on a Mission) – Creamy Panera Chicken and Wild Rice Soup combines chicken, wild rice, vegetables, and a rich broth for a satisfying homemade soup that’s especially good during fall and winter.

16. Mac and Cheese (Snappy Gourmet) – Creamy Panera Mac and Cheese is one of the restaurant’s best-known comfort foods. Use a combination of pasta and a smooth cheese sauce to recreate this popular side dish or entrée at home.

17. Cranberry Orange Muffins (Snappy Gourmet) – Easy from-scratch jumbo muffin recipe with fresh cranberries, orange zest, and buttermilk!

18. Turkey Chili (Savory with Soul) – A warm bowl of Panera Turkey Chili is packed with turkey, beans, vegetables, tomatoes, and seasonings. It’s hearty enough for dinner and great for meal prep.

19. Pumpkin Muffin (Snappy Gourmet) – Panera Pumpkin Muffins, an easy copycat recipe for the moist and best jumbo pumpkin muffins with a quick crumb topping. Great for breakfast, snack, or even dessert. 

20. Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt (Chelsea’s Messy Apron) – The Panera Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt combines chicken, avocado, cheese, peppers, and smoky chipotle flavor for a hearty toasted sandwich.

21. Napa Almond Chicken Salad (Valerie’s Kitchen) – Recreate Panera Napa Almond Chicken Salad with chicken, grapes, celery, almonds, and a creamy dressing. Serve it as a sandwich or over greens.

22. Greek Salad (A Reinvented Mom) – A Panera Greek Salad copycat recipe is an easy way to add more vegetables to lunch or dinner. Combine crisp lettuce, tomatoes, olives, onions, feta, and Greek dressing.

23. Asian Sesame Chicken Salad (Iowa Girl Eats) – The Asian Sesame Chicken Salad is a great combination of sweet, savory, and crunchy. Chicken, greens, cilantro, almonds, sesame seeds, and a flavorful dressing make this salad anything but boring.

24. Bacon Turkey Bravo Sandwich (Show Me the Yummy) – Make your own Bacon Turkey Bravo Sandwich with turkey, bacon, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and a flavorful dressing on tomato basil bread, or this version uses homemade Parmesan herbed focaccia.

25. Tomato Basil Bread (Savor the Flavor) – Speaking of tomato basil bread, making your own Panera Tomato Basil Bread is a fun baking project and the perfect base for homemade Panera-inspired sandwiches.

26. Asiago Cheese Bagel (The Perks of Being Us) – If you’re more of a savory breakfast person, try a homemade Panera Asiago Cheese Bagel. These chewy bagels are topped with plenty of flavorful cheese.

27. Honey Walnut Cream Cheese (House of Nash Eats) – Turn homemade bagels into a bakery-style breakfast with Panera Honey Walnut Cream Cheese. The sweet and creamy spread is especially delicious with cinnamon or plain bagels.

28. Kitchen Sink Cookies (Snappy Gourmet) – Don’t forget dessert! Panera Kitchen Sink Cookies are oversized cookies packed with a variety of sweet and salty mix-ins. Chocolate, caramel, and pretzels make them an irresistible treat.

29. Chocolate Chip Cookies (Design Eat Repeat) – A homemade Panera Chocolate Chip Cookie is soft, chewy, and loaded with chocolate chips. Make oversized cookies for a bakery-style treat.

30. Orange Scones (Lady Behind the Curtain) – Recreate Panera Orange Scones with tender homemade scones and plenty of bright citrus flavor. They’re delicious with coffee or tea for breakfast or brunch.

Make Your Own “You Pick Two”

Can’t decide what to make? Create your own Panera You Pick Two-inspired meal at home.

Mix and match half portions of your favorite soups, salads, and sandwiches. Try combinations such as Broccoli Cheddar Soup with Caesar Salad, Tomato Soup with a Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich, or Chicken and Wild Rice Soup with a Fuji Apple Chicken Salad.

It’s also a fun idea for a family lunch. Make a few different dishes and let everyone build their own combination.

Tips for Making Panera Recipes at Home

Restaurant copycat recipes may not always be exact duplicates. However, they tend to capture the flavors and ingredients, and you can personalize to your family’s personal taste.

A few tips for Panera copycat recipes:

• Use fresh vegetables and herbs whenever possible.
• Choose good-quality bread for sandwiches.
• Shred cheese from a block for creamy soups and sauces.
• Make homemade salad dressings ahead of time so the flavors can develop.
• Prep chicken in advance to make salads and sandwiches quicker.
• Make a large batch of soup and refrigerate leftovers for easy lunches.
• Adjust ingredients and seasonings to suit your family’s tastes.

What to Serve with Panera Copycat Recipes

Turn your favorite copycat recipe into a complete meal with simple sides such as:

• Baguette or crusty bread
• Homemade breadsticks
• Potato chips
• Fresh fruit
• Apple slices
• Side salad
• Pickles
• Coleslaw
• Roasted vegetables
• Fresh lemonade
• Iced tea

For dessert, add a homemade cookie, brownie, muffin, scone, or another bakery-inspired treat.

Making your favorite restaurant dishes yourself can be fun, budget-friendly, and a great way to put your own spin on popular menu items.

Save this collection of the best Panera copycat recipes for the next time you’re craving a bakery-café favorite. Whether you want a warm bowl of soup, fresh salad, hearty sandwich, homemade bagel, or sweet treat, you can enjoy plenty of Panera-inspired food without leaving home.