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Copycat Panera Bread Chicken Noodle Soup

Copycat Panera Bread chicken noodle soup with a clear, richly seasoned broth and tender egg noodles. Simmered chicken, sautéed vegetables, and perfectly timed noodle cooking keep the texture café-like.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 410
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken noodle soup base
  • 1.5 lb chicken breast Cut into 1-inch pieces.
  • 3 carrots Diced into 1/2-inch pieces.
  • 3 celery Sliced.
  • 0.5 onion Diced small.
  • 3 garlic Minced cloves.
  • 8 cup high-quality chicken broth Use for a rich, clear broth.
  • 2 tbsp olive oil For sautéing.
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 0.5 tsp dried rosemary
  • 0.5 tsp poultry seasoning
  • 8 oz egg noodles Broken into shorter pieces.
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley Chopped.
  • salt To taste.
  • pepper To taste.

Equipment

  • 1 Dutch oven

Method
 

Sauté the vegetables
  1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Sauté the onion, carrots, and celery for 5 minutes until softened, stirring occasionally.
Build the broth
  1. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the chicken broth, dried thyme, dried rosemary, and poultry seasoning, then stir to combine.
  2. Bring the pot to a boil over high heat. Add the diced chicken and immediately reduce to a simmer, cooking for 12 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.
Cook the noodles
  1. Add the broken egg noodles to the simmering soup. Cook for 6-7 minutes until just al dente, keeping the broth bubbling gently.
Finish and season
  1. Stir in the chopped fresh parsley. Season generously with salt and pepper, then taste and adjust as needed.

Notes

For a clearer, more Panera-like broth, keep the soup at a steady gentle simmer after adding the chicken (avoid aggressive rolling boil). Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days; freeze for up to 2 months, then rewarm and consider adding fresh/partly cooked noodles for the best texture. For a lower-sodium option, choose a reduced-sodium chicken broth and season with herbs/pepper to taste.