Panera Bread is the place to be whether you’re craving a baked good, a refreshing beverage, or a customizable meal. If you’re a fan of the fast-casual restaurant, you know how upsetting it can be to learn that your favorite item is no longer available. With a constantly evolving menu, it is bound to happen. But don’t let menu changes stop you from enjoying your favorite dishes.
Copycat Panera Recipes
With a little bit of effort and some amazing copycat recipes, you can recreate your favorite retired Panera Bread options in the comfort of your own home. And you don’t need to be an expert chef to do so.
These recipes provide step-by-step instructions that can help you achieve the same taste and texture of discontinued items, whether it be a hearty soup, a sandwich melt, or a decadent cookie. Check out the copycat recipes below for inspiration.
Sandwiches
Panera Bread’s sandwiches are a vital part of their menu, and they are known for their delicious taste and quality. Fans of the restaurant can attest to that. Although these specific sandwiches have been discontinued, you can still make them yourself by following these fantastic copycat recipes!
This panini is loaded with thick-cut bacon, chicken, and cheese and is completed with a spicy chipotle mayo, making it incredibly satisfying.
Enjoy the succulent taste of kale, broccoli slaw, crisp apples, and roasted turkey on cranberry walnut bread when you try this copycat Panera sandwich recipe.
Replicate your favorite zesty sandwich melt by piling chipotle aioli, cilantro, red onion, and pulled chicken onto hearty sourdough bread.
This Panera sandwich is the perfect afternoon pick-me-up with a creamy chicken salad base and almonds, grapes, and celery. There’s no guessing why it used to be a crowd favorite.
Indulge in the classic Steak and White Cheddar sandwich with tangy pickled onions, roast beef, gooey cheese, and chewy ciabatta bread.
This Panera Bread classic deserves a spot on your lunch menu; it contains juicy tomatoes, crispy bacon, creamy avocado, turkey, and lettuce for a refreshing and light meal.
Although the Tomato and Mozzarella sandwich is no longer available, you can craft a homemade version with roasted tomatoes, tomato pesto, and a few other simple ingredients.
Soups
Panera has offered a variety of soup options over the years, but not all of them have stayed on the menu. If your favorite soup item is no longer available, you can check out the recipes below to make it in your own kitchen and even add your own twist to it.
With fresh potatoes, onions, and chicken broth, this soup makes for a hearty lunch or dinner. Cream cheese is the secret ingredient that makes this Panera copycat soup so creamy.
If you’ve been missing this plant-based item after it left the menu, this copycat recipe is the perfect solution – enjoy the comforting essence of black beans, fragrant spices, and assorted vegetables in this Panera soup.
Pumpkin, butternut squash, and onions team up to create a vibrant autumn-inspired soup with this Panera-style recipe.
Containing an impressive amount of vegetables, spices, and grains, the 10 Vegetable Soup by Panera deserves to live on, and this recipe can help you do so.
Next time you want a superior chili, consider making this bold and flavorsome copycat recipe with ground turkey, assorted veggies, and beans.
Grain bowls
Panera’s grain bowls were go-to menu items for many patrons due to their customizability and high levels of fiber, protein, and other beneficial nutrients. What made them unique was that they were not cold salads but warm bowls. If you’re still craving one of these retired menu items, don’t worry! You can take advantage of these copycat recipes to satisfy your craving.
Despite having simple ingredients, this grain bowl packs a punch of flavor with chicken, grains, avocado, tomatoes, and pickled red onions.
This teriyaki-infused grain bowl combines marinated chicken thighs with cilantro lime rice, stir-fried veggies, and homemade teriyaki sauce.
Fresh arugula, olives, cucumber, and feta cheese are just a few of the scrumptious components in this bowl—top it off with chicken breast to complete the dish.
Plant-based eaters can enjoy the simple version of the Mediterranean Bowl containing no meat when using this spectacular recipe full of fresh veggies.
Bakery items
The bakery items are yet another section of the menu that Panera Bread is renowned for. They offer a vast range of bakery items, including fluffy bagels, brownies, scones, cookies, and morning pastries, making it a paradise for dessert lovers. These copycat Panera bakery items taste even better when you prepare them from scratch!
Although the Lemon Drop Cookies are no longer on the menu, you can still enjoy their bright and lemony flavor with this recipe containing common baking staples.
Start your morning off right with delicious Panera muffins filled with cinnamon, raisins, spiced apples, streusel, and icing for a fluffy and moist treat.
These soft and citrusy muffins are easy to make and bursting with cranberry flavor; this copycat recipe will come in handy next time you crave this former Panera item.
Make a vegan version of Panera’s discontinued Wild Blueberry Scones using either fresh or dried wild blueberries and coarse sugar for a crunchy topping.
If the current Panera brownie just isn’t the same for you, consider making this copycat recipe so you can enjoy the old-style brownie with delicious fudgy frosting instead.
Satisfy your sweet tooth with these fluffy red velvet cookies loaded with M&M’s and powdered sugar, reminiscent of the ones you used to enjoy at Panera.
This unique recipe allows you to recreate Panera’s well-known Chocolate Chip Bagels, giving you a bagel that tastes incredibly similar but with healthier ingredients.
Check out this recipe to make a homemade version of Panera Bread’s former French Toast Bagels containing maple syrup, vanilla extract, and cinnamon for a sweet start to your morning.
Panera Bread’s menu is always changing, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy your favorite items. With these copycat recipes, you can have fun in the kitchen while bringing your favorite dish to life.
Mix and match the recipes to create a “you pick two” combo, just like at the restaurant. Or, you can simply make a delicious baked good to have with your coffee in the morning.
