{"slug":"panera-bread-menu","title":"Panera Bread Menu: Popular Items, Prices, and Healthiest Options (2026)","excerpt":"Panera Bread's menu features over 100 items including soups, salads, sandwiches, flatbread pizzas, grain bowls, and bakery items. Signature items include the Broccoli Cheddar Soup (430 calories in a bread bowl, 150 in a cup), the Fuji Apple Chicken Salad, and the Green Goddess Caprese Melt. Most entrées range from $11–$16. Panera also operates a $13.99/month unlimited coffee and tea subscription through the Panera Sip Club.","content":"# Panera Bread Menu: Popular Items, Prices, and Healthiest Options (2026)\n\n*By Daniel Rozin | A Versus B | September 10, 2026*\n\nPanera Bread is one of the largest fast-casual restaurant chains in the United States, with over 2,100 locations. Its menu positions itself between fast food and sit-down dining — higher quality ingredients at prices above quick-service chains, but faster than table-service restaurants. The menu spans soups, salads, sandwiches, flatbread pizzas, grain bowls, pastries, and a full bakery line. This guide covers the full Panera menu, current pricing, most popular items, calorie counts, and the healthiest choices.\n\n---\n\n## Panera Bread Menu Overview\n\n### Signature Soups\nPanera's soups are a flagship category and among the most-ordered items on the menu.\n\n| Soup | Calories (Cup) | Calories (Bowl) | Price (Cup) |\n|------|---------------|-----------------|-------------|\n| Broccoli Cheddar | 220 | 370 | $6.49 |\n| Creamy Tomato | 130 | 210 | $6.49 |\n| French Onion | 240 | 390 | $6.99 |\n| Chicken Noodle | 110 | 190 | $6.49 |\n| Baja Mac & Cheese | 400 | 640 | $6.99 |\n| 10 Vegetable | 90 | 150 | $6.49 |\n\n**Bread bowl option:** Most soups can be served in a bread bowl for approximately $3 additional. A Broccoli Cheddar bread bowl totals approximately 700–800 calories.\n\n**Broccoli Cheddar remains Panera's single most-ordered item** — it has been on the menu since the early 1990s and consistently ranks #1 or #2 by volume.\n\n### Salads\nPanera salads feature fresh-cut greens with real protein (chicken, steak, or plant-based options).\n\n| Salad | Calories | Price |\n|-------|---------|-------|\n| Fuji Apple Chicken Salad | 570 | $13.99 |\n| Green Goddess Cobb Salad | 550 | $14.49 |\n| Caesar Salad | 380 | $11.99 |\n| Mediterranean Veggie | 440 | $11.99 |\n| Modern Greek Salad with Quinoa | 540 | $13.99 |\n\n**Dressings are a significant calorie variable:** Caesar dressing adds 170 calories, Green Goddess 160, and Balsamic 100. Requesting dressing on the side is one of the easiest ways to reduce calories.\n\n### Sandwiches and Melts\nPanera's sandwich menu includes both cold and hot options (melts are grilled).\n\n| Item | Calories | Price |\n|------|---------|-------|\n| Turkey Avocado BLT | 690 | $13.99 |\n| Green Goddess Caprese Melt | 590 | $13.99 |\n| Italian Combo Sandwich | 790 | $13.99 |\n| Smokehouse BBQ Chicken | 760 | $13.99 |\n| Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt | 760 | $13.99 |\n\nAll sandwiches can be served on Panera's house-baked breads: sourdough, French baguette, whole grain, and several specialty options.\n\n### Flatbread Pizzas\nA newer category for Panera, flatbread pizzas are thin-crust and personal-sized.\n\n| Flatbread | Calories | Price |\n|-----------|---------|-------|\n| Margherita | 580 | $10.99 |\n| Chipotle Chicken & Bacon | 660 | $10.99 |\n| Garden Veggie | 510 | $10.99 |\n\n### Grain Bowls and Plant-Based Options\nPanera has expanded its plant-based and grain bowl offerings significantly since 2021.\n\n| Item | Calories | Price |\n|------|---------|-------|\n| Baja Bowl | 720 | $13.99 |\n| Mediterranean Bowl | 560 | $13.99 |\n| Teriyaki Chicken & Broccoli Bowl | 630 | $13.99 |\n\n---\n\n## Panera Bread Pricing (2026)\n\nPanera occupies the premium end of fast casual. Typical price ranges by category:\n\n| Category | Price Range |\n|---------|------------|\n| Soups (cup) | $6.49–$6.99 |\n| Soups (bowl) | $7.99–$8.99 |\n| Soups (bread bowl) | $9.99–$11.49 |\n| Salads | $11.99–$15.49 |\n| Sandwiches/Melts | $12.99–$14.99 |\n| Flatbreads | $10.99–$11.99 |\n| Grain Bowls | $12.99–$14.49 |\n| Pastries / Bagels | $1.49–$4.99 |\n| Bakery Drinks | $3.49–$6.99 |\n\n**Note:** Panera prices vary by location — urban locations and airports are typically 10–20% higher than suburban locations.\n\n**You Do You Pricing (2024–2026 program):** Panera's rewards program has offered dynamic pricing discounts for MyPanera members on repeat orders, though the exact terms have evolved. Check the Panera app for current member pricing and deals.\n\n---\n\n## Panera Sip Club\n\nThe Panera Sip Club is a $13.99/month subscription that offers unlimited self-serve beverages (coffee, tea, lemonade, and charged lemonade) during each restaurant visit. The subscription is managed through the MyPanera app.\n\n**What's included:**\n- Hot coffee (drip, dark roast)\n- Hot tea (multiple varieties)\n- Iced coffee\n- Iced tea\n- Lemonade\n- Charged Lemonade (Panera's energy-drink-style option, ~200mg caffeine per medium)\n\n**What's not included:** Smoothies, bakery drinks (lattes, cappuccinos), fountain sodas (in most locations).\n\n**Break-even math:** If you visit Panera 3 or more times per month and purchase a beverage each time, the Sip Club typically pays for itself. At $3–$5 per beverage without the subscription, you'd spend $39–$65 for the same 10–13 monthly visits.\n\n---\n\n## Panera Bread Healthiest Options\n\n### Lowest Calorie Meals (Under 500 Calories)\n\n| Item | Calories | Protein |\n|------|---------|--------|\n| 10 Vegetable Soup (cup) | 90 | 4g |\n| Caesar Salad (no croutons, dressing on side) | 210 | 18g |\n| Chicken Noodle Soup (cup) | 110 | 8g |\n| Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich (half) | 320 | 12g |\n| Modern Greek Salad with Quinoa | 440 | 11g |\n\n### Highest Protein Options\n\n| Item | Protein | Calories |\n|------|--------|---------|\n| Green Goddess Cobb with Chicken | 48g | 550 |\n| Fuji Apple Chicken Salad | 40g | 570 |\n| Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt | 42g | 760 |\n| Baja Bowl | 44g | 720 |\n\n**Panera's \"You Pick Two\" combo** (half sandwich + half salad or cup soup) is one of the best ways to build a balanced meal — you can combine a lower-calorie soup with a half salad for a filling meal under 500 calories.\n\n### What to Avoid If You're Watching Calories\n\nThe items with the highest calorie density at Panera tend to be the bread bowls, the Baja Mac & Cheese, and any sandwich on a sourdough roll with extra sauce. A Broccoli Cheddar bread bowl with a side of chips can exceed 1,200 calories.\n\n---\n\n## Panera vs. Chipotle: Which Fast Casual Is Healthier?\n\n| Factor | Panera | Chipotle |\n|--------|--------|---------|\n| Avg. entrée calories | 550–750 | 700–900 |\n| Customization | High (substitutions) | Very high (build-your-own) |\n| Price per entrée | $13–$15 | $11–$15 |\n| Vegetarian options | Extensive | Good |\n| Sodium concerns | High (soups especially) | Moderate to high |\n\nBoth chains have healthy options and high-calorie options. Chipotle allows precise customization (skip the cheese and sour cream for a much leaner bowl), while Panera's soups and You Pick Two offer more variety in lighter options.\n\n→ See the full comparison: [Panera vs. Chipotle](/compare/panera-vs-chipotle)\n\n---\n\n## Panera Bread: Key Facts\n\n- **Headquarters:** Sunset Hills, Missouri\n- **Founded:** 1993 (as Boston Market acquisition of Au Bon Pain)\n- **Locations:** 2,100+ (as of 2026)\n- **Parent company:** Panera Bread Company (private)\n- **Rewards program:** MyPanera (free, points-based)\n- **Ordering options:** In-store, drive-through (select locations), Panera app, third-party delivery\n\n---\n\n## Related Comparisons\n\nComparing Panera to Chipotle? See [Panera vs. Chipotle](/compare/panera-vs-chipotle) for a full breakdown of menu quality, pricing, and health profiles. For a wider fast-casual comparison, see [Panera vs. Subway](/compare/panera-vs-subway).","category":"food","tags":["panera bread menu","panera menu","panera bread prices","panera bread nutrition","panera bread healthiest options","panera bread soup"],"url":"https://www.aversusb.net/blog/panera-bread-menu","publishedAt":"2026-07-17T08:42:01.893Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-07T17:15:57.953Z","articleSchema":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/blog/panera-bread-menu#article","headline":"Panera Bread Menu: Popular Items, Prices, and Healthiest Options (2026)","description":"Panera Bread's menu features over 100 items including soups, salads, sandwiches, flatbread pizzas, grain bowls, and bakery items. Signature items include the Broccoli Cheddar Soup (430 calories in a bread bowl, 150 in a cup), the Fuji Apple Chicken Salad, and the Green Goddess Caprese Melt. Most entrées range from $11–$16. Panera also operates a $13.99/month unlimited coffee and tea subscription through the Panera Sip Club.","abstract":"Panera Bread's menu features over 100 items including soups, salads, sandwiches, flatbread pizzas, grain bowls, and bakery items. Signature items include the Broccoli Cheddar Soup (430 calories in a bread bowl, 150 in a cup), the Fuji Apple Chicken Salad, and the Green Goddess Caprese Melt. Most entrées range from $11–$16. Panera also operates a $13.99/month unlimited coffee and tea subscription through the Panera Sip Club.","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/blog/panera-bread-menu","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/blog/panera-bread-menu#primaryImage","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/og?title=Panera%20Bread%20Menu%3A%20Popular%20Items%2C%20Prices%2C%20and%20Healthiest%20Options%20(2026)&type=blog","contentUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/og?title=Panera%20Bread%20Menu%3A%20Popular%20Items%2C%20Prices%2C%20and%20Healthiest%20Options%20(2026)&type=blog","width":1200,"height":630,"caption":"Panera Bread Menu: Popular Items, Prices, and Healthiest Options (2026)"},"thumbnailUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/og?title=Panera%20Bread%20Menu%3A%20Popular%20Items%2C%20Prices%2C%20and%20Healthiest%20Options%20(2026)&type=blog","contentReferenceTime":"2026-08-07T17:15:57.953Z","datePublished":"2026-07-17T08:42:01.893Z","dateCreated":"2026-07-17T08:42:01.893Z","dateModified":"2026-08-07T17:15:57.953Z","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B"},"inLanguage":"en-US","isPartOf":{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#website"},"keywords":"panera bread menu, panera menu, panera bread prices, panera bread nutrition, panera bread healthiest options, panera bread soup","articleSection":"food","wordCount":1205,"license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/","speakable":{"@type":"SpeakableSpecification","cssSelector":["h1",".article-excerpt",".article-intro","#article-summary"]},"accessMode":["textual"],"accessModeSufficient":[{"@type":"ItemList","itemListElement":["textual"]}],"isAccessibleForFree":true}}