When the weather gets cold and dreary, nothing hits the spot quite like a bread bowl filled with piping hot soup—especially one from Panera. Those crusty, artisan-style bread bowls are pure magic when filled to the brim with one of the restaurant’s tasty concoctions. Our personal fave is the broccoli cheddar soup.
If you think it’s impossible to make a copycat Panera bread bowl at home, we have good news. It can be done!
Psst: Don’t miss all our Panera Bread-inspired recipes.
How to Make a Copycat Panera Bread Bowl from Scratch
Ingredients
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- 2 tablespoons instant or active dry yeast
- 3 cups warm water (110° to 115°F)
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 6-1/2 to 7-1/2 cups bread flour
- 1 egg, beaten
Directions
Step 1: Mix the dough
Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine the yeast and water. Then, add the sugar, salt and 3 cups of flour. Beat on your mixer’s first speed for 3 minutes, stirring in additional flour until a soft, sticky dough forms.
Step 2: Knead
Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home
Increase your mixer to its second speed and knead the dough for 5 to 7 minutes until it’s smooth and elastic. Alternatively, you can also turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead by hand for 6 to 8 minutes.
Step 3: Proof
Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home
Place the dough in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let the dough proof in a warm place until doubled, about 30 minutes. If you have a proof setting on your oven, that’s a great place to let your dough rise.
Step 4: Shape and rise
Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home
Preheat the oven to 500°. Then, punch the dough down and divide it into six equal-sized balls, about 265 grams each.
Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home
Place the balls 3 inches apart on two greased baking sheets. Cover the dough with a kitchen towel and let rise in a warm place again until doubled, about 15 minutes.
Step 5: Score and bake
Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home
Prior to baking, brush the risen dough balls gently with egg wash and then spray with water. Using a sharp knife (or a bread lame), score the dough with shallow cuts in an “X” pattern. Bake for 2 minutes and then lower the oven to 425°. Bake the loaves until they are a deep golden brown and their internal temperature reaches 190° to 200°, about 10 minutes.
Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home
Remove promptly from the oven and transfer the loaves immediately to wire racks. Let cool completely.
Test Kitchen tip: Brushing with egg and spraying with water is optional, but worth the extra effort. The egg wash gives the bread bowls a beautiful shine and rich, brown color, while the spritz of water helps the loaves develop a crusty exterior.
Step 6: Hollow
To hollow out the loaves and turn them into bread bowls, use a serrated knife to slice off the top of the bread. For best results, angle the knife and carve around the “X” on the top of each loaf—almost in the same way that you would remove the top from a pumpkin when carving a jack-o-lantern.
Next, hollow out the loaf using your hands. You want to gently pull out the bread, leaving a 1/2-inch shell.
Test Kitchen tip: Don’t throw away the bread you remove. Save it for another use, such as making homemade croutons or breadcrumbs.
Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home
Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home
Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home
Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home
Step 7: Fill
Finally, fill each bread bowl with a warm soup, chili or dip of your choice. Serve immediately!
What to Serve in Bread Bowls
Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home
Soup
Broccoli cheddar, French onion, tomato…the options are limitless. You can put just about any soup in your copycat Panera bread bowl. Our personal favorites are those with a cream base like baked potato, cream of chicken with wild rice or New England clam chowder.
Chili
Whether you opt for with beans, without beans, loaded with steak or vegetarian, you can’t go wrong filling your copycat bread bowls with a hearty scoop of chili topped with all the fixings. Check out our best chili recipes.
Creamy Dip
Impress your family by filling a homemade bread bowl with dip. We think a warm, cheesy spinach artichoke dip pairs beautifully with these crusty bread bowls!
Tips for Making Panera-Inspired Bread Bowls
Whether this is your first time making bread bowls or your first time baking in general, here are a few tips that will help ensure your bread bowls will turn out perfect every time.
What should I do if my bread doesn’t rise?
If your bread doesn’t rise, there are several factors to consider, like the age of your yeast, the temperature of your water and the temperature of your proofing environment. While some of these bread baking pitfalls are salvageable, others will require you to learn from your mistake and start over. Here’s more about the reasons your bread isn’t rising—and what to do about it.
What should I do if I poke a hole through the bottom of the bread?
Nothing is more tragic than a bread bowl with a gaping hole in the bottom. Don’t fret! Our favorite way to fix a bread bowl is to use a bit of cheese as glue to make any necessary repairs. To begin, grate a few tablespoons of cheese. (If you have it handy, pick a cheese that pairs well with your soup.) Then, sprinkle a little over the rip or hole in the bottom of your bread bowl. Top the cheese with a few small pieces of the bread remnants you removed from the center of your loaves. Place the damaged bread bowl back into your oven at 350° for 3 to 5 minutes or until the cheese has melted. Remove and let the cheese “glue” cool completely. Then, fill as desired. It’s like it never happened!
Can I make the bread bowls in advance?
The best part about making bread bowls is that you can easily tailor the recipe to accommodate your schedule. Once hollowed, however, we recommend enjoying bread bowls within 24 hours.
Mix-ahead directions:
After the initial rise in step three of the bread bowl recipe, punch the dough down and divide the dough into balls as directed in step four. However, rather than place them on a baking tray to proof a second time, refrigerate the dough balls in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
Then, when you’re ready to bake, remove the dough from the fridge, let it come to room temperature and proceed with step five. One added benefit to this method is the bread bowls will develop a stronger, more robust flavor due to the slow fermentation of the yeast that will occur while the dough rests in the fridge.
Bake-ahead directions:
Bake and prepare the bread bowls as directed through step five. Then, store in an airtight container for up to three days. When ready to serve, hollow out as directed in step six and fill as desired. Next, take a look at these other copycat bread recipes.
Classic Soups to Fill Your Bread Bowls
The Ultimate Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe
Whether you’re feeling under the weather or simply love traditional soup recipes, chicken noodle (with chicken broth) will hit the spot every time. If this is already a go-to meal for you, test out some of the variations this homemade recipe has to offer, like
Greek egg and lemon soup,Â
chicken tortilla soup, lemon juice chicken soup, or check out all of our
chicken soup recipes.
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You can also try making, Sopa de Fideo—aka Mexican noodle soup for a more flavorful option!
Grandma’s Chicken ‘n’ Dumpling SoupWhen crisp fall days become cold winter nights, hearty homemade soups will warm you up. This healthy soup makes 12 servings, so it’s ideal for sharing or for enjoying leftovers all week.
Easy Beef SoupIn 25 minutes, you can have a protein-filled colorful beef soup to brighten up a gloomy day. Don’t forget to add a fun
soup topper, like chips or mini grilled cheese.
French Onion SoupBefore making French onion soup, be sure you have oven-safe soup bowls. The first part of the recipe calls for cooking in a saucepan, but then it’s broiled in the oven so the cheesy topping can melt and crisp to perfection.
Homemade Pasta Fagioli SoupYou won't need to visit an Italian restaurant to enjoy pasta fagioli! With its hearty mix of sausage, vegetables, beans and noodles, this soup is filling enough to be a meal all by itself.
If Italian is your go-to cuisine, you must try Ina Garten’s wedding soup!
Fennel Carrot SoupTalk about bright, cheery, velvety soups! If you’re looking for something to serve with grilled cheese instead of tomato soup, try this fennel carrot version.
Also, discover how to make the Panera autumn squash soup. Another brilliant option for yummy soups is Ina Garten’s butternut squash soup that you must try!
Creamy Chicken Rice SoupLooking for a
creamy soup? This creamy chicken soup uses rice instead of noodles, so it won't need more than a quick side salad to become a hearty meal. The recipe only calls for half an onion, so use a handy
onion storage container to stash the other half.
English Pub Split Pea SoupGrab a slow cooker soup and whatever
light beer is in your refrigerator! The English pub flair takes this classic soup recipe up a notch. If you’re not a fan of chunky soup, pour small batches into a food processor to puree the chunks.
Beet BorschtThis borscht is packed with vibrant color—cook up this (other other easy soup recipes) soup when you need a bright side for a hearty meat-and-potatoes dinner.
Cheesy Cream of Asparagus SoupThis is the type of soup you would have looked at as a kid and thought,
no way. Hopefully as an adult you’re willing to explore vegetable-based foods, because you won’t want to miss this cheesy cream of asparagus soup!
Land of Enchantment PosoleLots of ingredients go into the delicious posole, a traditional Mexican soup. The mix of flavors is outstanding, so if you like a hint of heat, add this to your must-cook list.
Spanish Chicken SoupA hearty soup that's made from scratch is the perfect antidote for chilly weather. Save leftovers of this Spanish chicken soup for weekday lunches sent to work in a thermos or quickly reheated in the microwave. —
Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Homemade Egg Drop SoupCooking up a
stir-fry? Add this egg drop soup as a quick appetizer. It takes 15 minutes to prep and make and only calls for five ingredients.
Beef Lentil SoupLentils are super tasty in dishes like salads or tacos, but they’re also a great way to make soup more filling. This Beef Lentil Soup is so packed with good ingredients, one bowl might be enough for dinner!
Quick Cream of Mushroom SoupSure, canned cream of mushroom soup works when you’re in a pinch. But you can make a from-scratch version at home in 30 minutes. For a gluten-free option to thicken the sauce, try cornstarch or arrowroot.
Cheddar Potato ChowderTwo comfort foods in one pot? We’ll take it! This cheddar potato chowder may not last long once it hits the dinner table, but if you do have leftovers, simply freeze and reheat whenever you need a quick lunch or dinner.
Spicy Thai Coconut Chicken SoupThough this spicy Thai coconut chicken soup calls for light coconut milk, you can substitute whole coconut milk for an extra rich and creamy consistency.
Turkey and Wild Rice SoupThis soup is tasty as-is, but if you're looking for something extra, melt in a cup of cheese at the end of the cook time.
Hearty Vegetable SoupDon’t be intimidated by the long ingredient list for this vegetable soup recipe. The blend of seasonings will fool even the pickiest eaters in your family into thinking cabbage and green beans are delicious.
Chicken Barley SoupIf you’re trying to add more whole grains to your weekly dinners, this is one of the soup recipes that you’ll keep coming back to. It's so good! The best part is that you don’t have to spend time waiting to cook while your barley presoaks. The barley will naturally cook and expand during the simmering process.
Italian Sausage and Zucchini SoupThis soup works as a quick, 30-minute stovetop recipe—or you can adapt it for the slow cooker. Either way, it'll have you reaching for seconds. Pair bowls of soup with soft
homemade dinner rolls or
garlic bread.
Best Ever Potato SoupIs there anything better than creamy potato soup on a cold night? The recipe calls for Velveeta cheese, but if you don’t have that on hand, use cheddar or Colby Jack instead.
Stuffed Pepper SoupSoup recipes are perfect weeknight dinners—you save so much time cooking and cleaning up. There are quite a few different
ways to make stuffed peppers, but this stuffed pepper soup might be the simplest.
Cheesy Ham ChowderIf you love
homemade bread, you’re going to have to bake one of your favorite recipes to pair with this super cheesy, flavor-packed chowder. Have a little fun and serve your chowder in a
bread bowl.
Homemade Cheeseburger SoupWe love a good comfort food mashup! If you love the taste of a delicious burger and the convenience of a soup, cheeseburger soup might become a staple in your dinner rotation.
Cheesy Broccoli Soup in a Bread BowlHave extra yeast packets in your pantry? With a bit of time, you can be on your way to making our favorite Panera Bread copycat recipe: cheesy broccoli soup in a bread bowl.
Cream of Cauliflower SoupBroccoli cheddar soup is always a hit, but if you want to switch up your vegetables and flavors, cream of cauliflower soup is a tasty, cheesy alternative. Bookmark this recipe for a busy night when you need a quick and comforting meal.
Veggie Meatball SoupPop the ingredients in a slow cooker, head to work and come home to a ready-to-eat dinner. This soup recipe calls for simple ingredients and you can dump them all in the slow cooker without browning any meat first.
Quick Mushroom Barley SoupAside from making the cutest home decor
ever, mushrooms are also a great addition to soups because of their flavor and texture. With relatively few ingredients and a short cooking time, this quick mushroom barley soup will be great to try out when you want something cozy but light.
Tuscan Cauliflower SoupWhether or not you're following a low-carb meal plan, cauliflower is a great alternative to potatoes in soup. This recipe calls for four cups of cauliflower, so stock up next time you're at the grocery store!
Slow-Cooker Sweet Potato SoupIf you like simple soup recipes with lots of flavor, you’re going to have to try this slow cooker sweet potato soup. It’s light enough to be served as a side to a larger meal, or you can top it off with sour cream and pepitas and enjoy it on its own.
Carolina Shrimp SoupFor a change of pace, Carolina shrimp soup might be just the thing you need. It’s light, nutrient-dense and adaptable to tastes of all kinds. Not a fan of kale or sweet peppers? Use spinach and sun-dried tomatoes instead.
Ground Turkey Vegetable SoupThe turkey gives this soup plenty of lean protein, while the celery, carrots, green beans, mushrooms and tomatoes give your dinner a wholesome burst of flavor.
Chicken Tortilla SoupSpice things up with this Anaheim and jalapeno pepper dish. Be sure to reserve half of the tortilla strips so you have a crispy topper for each bowl.
Sausage & Greens Soup The Swiss chard adds a nice pop of green and the beans and sausage make this soup hearty enough to enjoy as a standalone dinner. Bonus: This soup recipe is a one-dish meal.
Hearty Beef Barley SoupThough the ingredient list for this hearty beef barley soup is pretty typical, it does call for fresh mushrooms, so pick up your favorite
types of mushrooms to add to the pot.
Beef & Black Bean SoupWould soup season feel the same if there weren’t slow cooker recipes to make life easier? This one simmers in a slow cooker for six hours. The only work you really have to do is brown the beef before placing it in your Crock-Pot.
Chicken Potpie SoupThis soup is a fun way to switch up a traditional
chicken potpie recipe. We topped ours with a heart-shaped crust, but use a cookie cutter to make any shape you like! The crust needs time to chill, so keep that in mind when you're getting ready to prep this recipe.
Split Pea Soup with Bacon & CrabIf you’re a big fan of soup, chances are you’ve tried a split pea recipe. To change things up a bit, this version calls for bacon and crab. For any leftovers you have, freeze the soup separately from the add-ons so the bacon and crab don’t get too soggy.
Potato Clam ChowderThis is one of the best and most nourishing soup recipes to warm you up after a long day. Keep the ingredients handy for a busy day when you want cold weather comfort food.
If you're planning to make a big pot of soup that will feed at least 8 people, try Dolly Parton’s stone soup or even Dolly Parton’s stampede soup, if you can spend a little more time on preparations.
Updated: Mar. 16, 2021
