Panera Creamy Tomato Soup Copycat Recipe: This simple recipe is my family’s favorite creamy tomato soup when served with a big buttery grilled cheese sandwich!

Panera Creamy Tomato Soup Recipe

Despite the heat, my mind and body have already decided it is Fall. Like full on FALL — even if it is still in the 90’s here in Florida. And that’s why I am brining you this Panera Creamy Tomato Soup Copycat Recipe in September!

I have been asking anybody and everybody I know to go to Hobby Lobby to buy Fall decorations for my house.

I am also fighting myself on getting a Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks.

How can I drink a pumpkin flavored hot coffee in this weather? It’s just not ok.

Somehow my craving for soups is even stronger than my craving for pumpkin spice lattes and fall decorations.

I have a notebook where I keep ideas of recipes I want to make.

If you look at it today, it has 11 soups in a row — no joke.

I keep asking Jorge if he will eat soup for dinner yet…and his answer is “NO.” every. single. time.

I always ask back, but what about your favorite Taco Ranch Chicken Chili?? No!

Ok, how about my favorite, One-Pot Bacon Corn Chowder?? NO! No soup until it’s under 80 degrees!

He is SUCH a kill joy.

(Pssst! You can find all my soup recipes right here.)

So I finally said screw you, I’m making soup. Tomato Soup just like at Panera and you can’t have any!

Well ladies and gents, guess who ate a big bowl of this amazing tomato soup and a big grilled cheese?? Jorge. The soup naysayer.

This tomato soup is a recipe that has been a long time in the making.

I tried using fresh tomatoes, but it was double the time and the flavor wasn’t close enough to the one I love to get at Panera.

“Creamy” is in the name, but the soup at Panera is really not all that creamy. So I learned to use only a little cream.

I also add a little sugar to cut the acidity of the tomatoes and not too much basil. And I add a little parmesan cheese – but it’s totally optional.

Is this the exact same soup you get from Panera? No, probably not exactly. However, it is dang close to it! And bonus? It only takes 30 minutes to make!

The next time I make it, I plan on making a triple batch to have extra to freeze the leftovers.

That way whenever I am in the mood, I can just pull a bag out from the freezer!

UPDATE: Panera changed their soup recipe a while back a little. But scroll down to read the reviews…this tomato soup still ROCKS and you must make it asap.

Panera Creamy Tomato Soup Copycat Recipe

Yield: 4 Servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

To make your meal perfect, make a grilled cheese with fresh thick crusty sourdough bread, havarti cheese and a ton of real butter. That is my PERFECT grilled cheese.

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Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 large yellow onion, sliced
• 2 (28 oz) cans San Marzano peeled tomatoes
• 1 cup chicken stock (or vegetable stock)
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 8 large fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes
• kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1/3 cup shredded parmesan cheese, optional

Instructions

1. In a heavy bottomed pot (or dutch oven), heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic and saute for 30 seconds - until fragrant. Add onion and cook, stirring as needed, until translucent - about 8 minutes.
2. Add San Marzano peeled tomatoes (juice and all), chicken stock, and sugar. Bring to a low simmer. Cook uncovered, for 12 minutes or until it has thickened.
3. Add the heavy cream, basil, oregano, red pepper flakes and season to taste with salt and pepper.
4. Using an immersion blender (or carefully transfer soup to a blender), puree soup until there are no large chunks left.
5. OPTIONAL: stir in parmesan cheese and serve topped with buttery croutons.
6. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Notes

I really like San Marzano canned tomatoes, especially for this recipe. I buy the Cento brand and can find it every where from Walmart to Publix (this is what the can looks like). 

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 197 Total Fat: 15g Saturated Fat: 6g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 8g Cholesterol: 23mg Sodium: 279mg Carbohydrates: 12g Net Carbohydrates: 0g Fiber: 1g Sugar: 7g Sugar Alcohols: 0g Protein: 5g

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