Panera Baked Potato Soup

[NikoSan999]

Panera's Baked Potato Soup

8 cups chicken broth
8 cups peeled and cubed potatoes
1/2 cup minced onions
1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon white pepper
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese cut into chunks (personally I found putting it on a saucer and nuking out of wrapper, of course, for about 20 seconds worked alot better as it mixed/melded into soup 10 times better. Otherwise you end up having to mash the chunks )

Cut and dice the potatoes and put in pot of water. Bring to boil and cook until just done, not soft. Drain water. Put back in pot. Add chicken broth, minced onions and white pepper and bring back to boil point then just simmer adding softened cream cheese. Simmer about 15 to 20 minutes stirring occasionally. If not thick enough to suit mix a little flour or cornstarch in cold water and slowly add to mix at simmer stage.

Top with variations such as :
Chopped green onions
Chives
Shredded Cheese of choice ( me, mild cheddar, mixed cheddar & mozzarella )
Bacon bits ( not Bacos )
Toasted/Flavored croutons of choice

My favorite toppings are green onions, bacon bits, shredded cheddar & mozzarella and garlic & cheese croutons. Excellent

I also use the chicken broth granulated or cubes as it is a lot more cost effective than the canned. I also tried frying up real bacon and crumbling. I found it to be WAY more expensive and in all honesty couldn't tell the difference. For this I use the Hormel or Oscar Meyer bacon bits or pieces. Matter of choice.

Recipe can be cut in half or added to easily without taking away from taste as long as measurements adjusted. Just remember to also adjust the cream cheese. I also use the 3/4 teaspoon white pepper as it definitely adds to the flavor. It is not "hot" like black pepper.

Freezes great. When unfroze just add a little water at a time until consistentcy suits you.

Goes great with Cheddar Bay Biscuits ( Red Lobster clone ). I think I posted this once in the recipe section under clones.

[Kitten20]

This sounds amazing. Thank you!!

[lisaflex]

OT - but, you seem to have lots of copy cat recipes. do you by chance know the one for panera bacon egg cheese souffle? thanks

[NikoSan999]

OT - but, you seem to have lots of copy cat recipes. do you by chance know the one for panera bacon egg cheese souffle? thanks

No, I'm sorry, have one with the artichoke and one with spinach but not this one.

I have several for Panera that I'm going to post.

[lisaflex]

thanks for responding! i bet the spinach bacon one is like the others you may have... please post soon!

my VERY picky 7 yr old dtr LOVES the one from Panera...betting i can make it, just need some direction....

[frugalfoster]

This sounds soooo good! I'm trying it this week!

Thanks!!!!