Prices, Calories and Bread Bowls
Panera sells over 100 million cups of soup per year. Broccoli Cheddar alone is the single most ordered item on the entire menu. This guide covers all 8 permanent soups with current 2026 prices for cup, bowl, and bread bowl sizes. You will also find calorie counts, the best bread bowl pairings, and how to get the most value when ordering soup at Panera.
Panera soups are made fresh daily at each location. They do not use artificial preservatives or flavors. That is not marketing talk. It is the reason their soups taste noticeably different from most fast casual competitors.
Every Panera location makes their soups from scratch each morning. They do not reheat frozen bags. The soups start with real ingredients and are cooked on site. This is why consistency varies slightly between locations.
Panera committed to removing all artificial preservatives, sweeteners, and flavors from their food in 2017. Their soups are among the cleanest in the fast casual space. Every ingredient on the label is recognizable.
Every soup comes in cup, bowl, and bread bowl sizes. The bread bowl is a hollowed out sourdough round that adds roughly 600 calories and $1.99 to the price. It turns any soup into a complete meal.
These are the soups that keep customers coming back week after week. Cup prices listed. Add $1.99 for a bread bowl upgrade at any time.
$5.99 #1 Seller The soup that put Panera on the map. Thick, creamy, loaded with broccoli florets and sharp cheddar. Best served in a bread bowl because the cheese soaks into the sourdough and creates a second meal.
$5.49 Classic Smooth and tangy with a basil finish. Panera's version leans savory rather than sweet. Pair it with a grilled cheese for the ultimate comfort combo that never goes out of style.
$5.49 Light Shredded chicken, egg noodles, carrots, and celery in a light broth. The go-to order when you want something warm and filling without a heavy calorie load.
$5.79 Sleeper Hit Thick creamy base with wild rice, chicken, and subtle herb notes. Heartier than chicken noodle and creamier than French onion. People who discover this one tend to stick with it.
$5.99 Cheesy Caramelized onions in rich beef broth, topped with crouton and melted Swiss and Gruyere. The cheese cap stretches when you pull your spoon out. A bread bowl favorite.
$5.99 Heaviest Shell pasta in thick, creamy white cheddar sauce. At 480 calories per cup it is the heaviest soup option. Kids love it. Adults order it for the kids and eat half themselves.
All 8 permanent Panera soups with cup, bowl, and bread bowl pricing. Prices verified against the Panera app as of June 2026.
| Soup | Cup | Bowl | Bread Bowl | Calories (cup) | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broccoli Cheddar | $5.99 | $7.29 | $7.98 | 360 | 16g |
| Cream of Tomato | $5.49 | $6.79 | $7.48 | 230 | 6g |
| Chicken Noodle | $5.49 | $6.79 | $7.48 | 180 | 14g |
| Chicken & Wild Rice | $5.79 | $7.09 | $7.78 | 280 | 12g |
| French Onion | $5.99 | $7.29 | $7.98 | 310 | 13g |
| Autumn Squash | $5.49 | $6.79 | $7.48 | 170 | 3g |
| Mac & Cheese | $5.99 | $7.29 | $7.98 | 480 | 18g |
| Bacon Mac & Cheese | $6.99 | $8.29 | $8.98 | 520 | 22g |
Bread bowl adds ~600 calories to any soup. Prices from Panera app, June 2026.
From lightest to heaviest. All calorie counts are per cup size. The bread bowl adds roughly 600 calories on top of these numbers.
Not every soup works in a bread bowl. The consistency matters. Thick soups stay inside the bread. Thin soups soak through the bottom before you finish eating. Here is the breakdown.
The thick cheesy consistency stays inside the bread and does not leak through the bottom. The cheese soaks into the sourdough walls and creates a second meal when you eat the bread.
Works well because of the thick broth and melted cheese cap on top. The cheese layer helps seal the bread and prevents soaking through too quickly. A close second to Broccoli Cheddar.
The thick pasta consistency holds up well inside the bread bowl. The cheese sauce does soak into the edges but the pasta stays put. A filling combination for big appetites.
The cream base is thick enough to hold for most of the meal. Wild rice grains add texture that keeps things interesting with the bread. A solid middle-of-the-road option.
The light broth soaks through the bread bowl quickly. You lose the structural integrity before you finish the soup. Better to order this in a regular bowl with a side of bread.
Too thin and too acidic. The liquid soaks through the bottom fast and the acidity softens the bread unevenly. Save this one for the regular bowl.
A bowl of Broccoli Cheddar by itself costs $7.29. But through You Pick Two, you get a cup of soup plus a half sandwich for $11.99. That is effectively a cup of soup for about $4.00 after the sandwich value.
Select the You Pick Two combo from the app or kiosk. This is the foundation of the best value soup order at Panera.
Choose any cup of soup plus a half sandwich. Frontega Chicken or Bacon Turkey Bravo give you the most food value for your money.
If you have the Sip Club ($14.99/month), your drink is free. Total: $11.99 for soup, half sandwich, and a drink.
Small ordering decisions can make a big difference in your soup experience. These tips help you get the freshest, best value soup every time.
Panera makes soups fresh each morning. The earlier you order, the fresher the batch. By late afternoon, some locations start running low on less popular varieties.
Soup orders through the Panera app qualify for Rapid Pick-Up. Your order is ready when you arrive. No waiting in the ordering line during the lunch rush.
A bowl is only $1.30 more than a cup but gives you roughly 50% more soup. If you are hungry, the bowl is almost always the better value than ordering two cups.
Every soup order comes with a piece of bread. But you can ask for extra bread slices for free. This is especially useful if you order a cup and want more bread for dipping.
Every soup order earns MyPanera rewards points. Order through the app to make sure your purchase is tracked. Points add up to free food over time.
Feeding a group? Panera offers large soup tubs that serve 6 to 8 people. Same soups, larger container, includes a ladle. Perfect for office lunches, parties, or family gatherings.
Each tub comes with enough soup for 6 to 8 regular cups
Prices range from $24.99 to $29.99 depending on the soup variety
Place catering orders at least 24 hours ahead for guaranteed availability
Panera rotates seasonal soups throughout the year. These appear for limited periods and then leave the menu. Availability varies by location.
October to February
Hearty turkey chili with beans and spices. A fan favorite that people wait for every fall. Usually appears right around Halloween.
November to January
Thick potato soup with bacon, cheddar, and chives. Feels like a loaded baked potato in liquid form. One of the most requested returning soups.
June to August
Light corn chowder with sweet corn kernels. Appears during the summer months and pairs well with lighter sandwich options.
Make Broccoli Cheddar Soup at home with the exact Panera recipe breakdown.
ValuePair a soup cup with a half sandwich for $11.99. Every combo option ranked.
Health15 dietitian approved Panera picks including the lightest soups on the menu.
CateringGroup soup tubs, sandwich platters, and the full catering menu with prices.
SafetyFull allergen info for every soup including gluten and dairy content details.
MenuBrowse every item on the Panera menu with current 2026 pricing.
Common questions about Panera soups, bread bowls, pricing, and ordering options.
Panera carries 8 soups on the permanent menu. Broccoli Cheddar, Cream of Tomato, Homestyle Chicken Noodle, Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice, Bistro French Onion, Vegetarian Autumn Squash, Mac and Cheese, and Bacon Mac and Cheese. Seasonal soups like Turkey Chili appear in fall and winter but rotate out by mid February.
A bread bowl upgrade costs $1.99 on top of your soup price. A cup of Broccoli Cheddar is $5.99, so a bread bowl version runs $7.98. The bread bowl itself is a hollowed out sourdough round that adds roughly 600 calories. It is a full meal by itself.
Vegetarian Autumn Squash at 170 calories for a cup. It is also one of the cheapest at $5.49. The Cream of Tomato comes in second at 230 calories. If you are counting calories, skip the bread bowl and go with a cup or a side portion.
Broccoli Cheddar Soup, by a wide margin. It is the single most ordered item on the entire Panera menu, not just the soup section. Panera serves roughly 100 million cups per year across all locations. The recipe has not changed since the 1990s.
Yes. All soups are available through the Panera app for Rapid Pick Up and delivery. Third party platforms like DoorDash and Uber Eats also carry the full soup menu. Soups travel well in their sealed containers, but bread bowls can get soggy if delivery takes longer than 20 minutes.
Yes. Group Soup tubs serve 6 to 8 people and range from $24.99 to $29.99 depending on the variety. They are available through catering orders. Place your order at least 24 hours ahead. These are the same soups, just in a larger container with a ladle.
Panera classifies Mac and Cheese under the soup section of their menu. You can order it in a cup, bowl, or bread bowl just like any soup. It is the most calorie dense option at 480 calories for a cup and 960 calories in a bread bowl. Treat it as a side or a full meal, not a snack.
The Vegetarian Autumn Squash and Cream of Tomato are the closest to gluten free, but Panera does not certify any soup as fully gluten free due to shared equipment. If you have celiac disease, Panera recommends caution. For full allergen info, check our allergen menu guide.
Broccoli Cheddar is the classic bread bowl choice for a reason. The thick cheesy consistency stays inside the bread and does not leak through the bottom. Cream of Tomato is too thin and will soak through faster. French Onion works well too because of its thick broth and melted cheese cap.
Yes. The You Pick Two combo lets you pair a cup of any soup with a half sandwich, half salad, or half flatbread for $11.99. It is the most popular way to order soup at Panera and the best value if you want variety. Available all day.
Broccoli Cheddar in a bread bowl. You know what to do.
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