Copycat Panera Bread Tomato Bisque Soup Recipe (2024)

Posted: Aug 23, 2015 · Updated: May 7, 2023 · By Chrysa

This Copycat Panera Bread Tomato Bisque Soup Recipe is perfect served before dinner or with a grilled cheese sandwich for a hearty lunch!

Of course Panera is famous for their bread and other baked goods, but they also make great soup!! One of my favorite soups is tomato, and the Panera Tomato Bisque Soup is a great one.

With this copycat Panera Bread Tomato Bisque Soup recipe, however, you’ll be able to make one just as good at home, plus save yourself a lot of money in the process!

The ingredients you need are pretty basic and you should be able to find them at any grocery store.

While a bowl of this Copycat Panera Tomato Soup is good all on its own, I like to pair mine with a gooey grilled cheese sandwich. Just thinking about it right now is making me hungry again!

We have a few great grilled cheese recipes for you too including the Donut Grilled Cheese recipe pictured above (it’s seriously awesome), a Turkey Tomato Grilled Cheese Sandwich recipe and a Spicy Cheeseburger Grilled Cheese Sandwich recipe. Any one would pair nicely with your Panera Tomato Bisque soup!

This creamy tomato soup gets a punch of flavor from a bit of crushed red pepper. If you like your soup a little on the spicy side, you can increase the amount of pepper.

Copycat Panera Bread Tomato Bisque Soup Recipe

Ingredients:

1/2 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1 medium carrots, chopped
1 celery rib, chopped
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
basil, to taste
salt and pepper, to taste
1 bay leaf
3 tablespoons whole wheat flour
3 1/2 cups organic low-sodium chicken broth
1 28-ounce can fire-roasted diced tomatoes, drained (or you can use 8 fresh tomatoes, diced)
4 tablespoons organic tomato paste
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 cup half & half
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
hot sauce, to taste (don’t add too much unless you really want to)
croutons (optional)
sour cream (optional)
parsley flakes (optional)

Muir Glen Canned Tomatoes, Fire Roasted365 Everyday Value, Organic Low Sodium Chicken BrothMuir Glen Organic Tomato Paste

How to Make Copycat Panera Tomato Bisque Soup:

Heat the olive oil on medium heat in a large stockpot.
Add onion, carrot, celery rib, garlic and stir till coated well.
Add salt, pepper, and pepper flakes just to taste (a pinch of each).
Stir till vegetables are lightly brown. Sprinkle the wheat flour over the veggies and stir till they are fully coated.
Pour in chicken broth and again, season with a pinch of salt, pepper, and pepper flakes.
Add tomatoes, paste, and sugar and stir.
Add in bay leaf. Once boiling, simmer, covered, for 15 minutes.
Remove the bay leaf.
Transfer the mixture to a blender till 3/4 of the way full, and blend till pureed, and return it to the pot.
Repeat process with remaining mixture.
Pour in the half & half and heat on medium for 5 minutes.
Season one last time with salt, pepper, pepper flakes, and adding in the basil (to taste), and then stir in butter.
Add hot sauce to taste.
Garnish with a dollop of sour cream, croutons, and parsley flakes if you wish.