Every Panera Grocery Store Soup, Ranked Worst To Best

We know that there are some people out there who go absolutely wild for tomato soup. However, for most of us, it's probably one of the most boring soup options imaginable. It's basically just a thick, warmed-up Bloody Mary without any of the fun. While we would love to tell you that Panera's Creamy Tomato Soup was an exception, it's not. Basically all you're going to get here is some pureed tomatoes with slight hints of oregano and garlic, neither of which imparts a particularly strong flavor on the bland soup. And while Panera advertises this soup as "creamy," we think it's on the thin side. Warning: It's not enough for a filling meal on its own.

We guess that this soup could be appropriate if you were sick and you were having a hard time keeping anything else down. It probably won't upset your stomach because there's really not much there. Otherwise, though, you should probably skip this one entirely. There are much better Panera grocery store soups to choose from.

Panera's Lobster Bisque sounds lovely, doesn't it? Unfortunately, it is quite bland. While you're hoping for an intense lobster flavor, you're really going to get more of a slight touch of flavorless seafood. The seasonings in this soup are nice, which is why it doesn't fall to the bottom of the ranks. But overall, it's just a simple, boring soup that's not really up to snuff.

One thing we do like about this soup, though, is the fact that it is quite creamy. While it may not be excellent on its own, it's a great side for dipping your sandwich into. Don't have a sandwich? You could just use some plain bread as well, but you shouldn't expect too much.

This isn't the worst soup of the bunch, but would we go out of our way to get it? Probably not. You can do better with some of Panera's other offerings.

Slightly more flavorful than the Chicken Noodle Soup, the Chicken Tortilla Soup may be a winner amongst some of you out there. Black bean, corn, and tomatoes give this soup some bulk and plenty of flavor — plus, you know you're getting your veggies in for the day. There's also plenty of chicken, which you don't always expect from a pre-packaged soup. And we're even happy to admit that the broth is relatively good. You can definitely taste hints of cumin and lime, which makes this one better than some of the other blander soups on this list.

However, we do think that the Chicken Tortilla Soup misses its potential a bit. It's not really spicy at all, which is what we were hoping when we opened the container. But, alas, not everyone likes spicy food, and perhaps Panera is trying to appeal to as many customers as possible. As far as we're concerned, the lack of spice makes this one a no-go in most cases, but if you tend to prefer mild food, then it may be just what you're looking for. Give it a try before you write it off completely.

Some people like their soups brothy, but for all those who prefer something on the thicker, creamier side, the Panera New England Clam Chowder is the way to go. We love that this soup is really filling. The clams and the potatoes come together to create a dish that won't leave you starving an hour later, and for that, we're grateful. If you haven't had much clam chowder in your life, but you love seafood, then the Panera at Home may just become a new favorite for you. If, on the other hand, you grew up on the East Coast or just happen to be a clam chowder aficionado, you may be less than impressed. There should be more clams in the mix, and we wish that the broth was a little bit more well-seasoned.

Is this the best clam chowder we've ever had? Definitely not. But considering that this soup comes in a plastic container, we're not too surprised that it's not top-notch. That being said, we wouldn't turn it down if it were offered to us.

Calling all bean lovers! Panera's Black Bean Soup is surprisingly tasty, and you're going to love the fact that it's both vegetarian and dairy-free. This makes it an excellent choice for people with all kinds of dietary restrictions, as well as those who are just looking for a healthier soup option. Since it's absolutely packed with beans, you know you're going to be eating a filling soup that will give you the energy you need to get through your day. Red bell pepper, onion, cumin, and garlic make it as flavorful as can be (though we wouldn't mind some additional garlic in there).

Panera's website does suggest that this soup is spicy, but unless you're very sensitive to heat, we doubt you'll find much spiciness here. We would prefer if it had more fire to it, but the addition of some hot sauce or crushed red chili flakes can make a huge difference. For all those looking for a high-protein vegetarian option, this Black Bean Soup is where it's at.

When it comes to the all-time best soups ever dreamt up by cooks, minestrone has to be one of our favorites. It's packed with all kinds of different veggies, and the broth is usually as flavorful as can be despite the lack of meat in the mix. But minestrone can take plenty of different forms, and one of them is this Minestrone Soup with Chickpeas and Kale from Panera's grocery store lineup. You don't see kale and chickpeas in every minestrone recipe, so we were happy to see these trendy veggies playing a starring role.

Even meatless, this soup is going to give you the nutrition you need to have a great day. We love this soup as a light lunch. Because it's packed with chickpeas, you're going to get plenty of protein. However, the fact that it's also heavy on the veggies means that it won't leave you feeling sluggish. Basically, this is an ideal lunchtime soup, and you should definitely give it a try. While the broth could be a little bit more flavorful, we still think it's a solid option for everyone who loves veggies as much as we do.

When you think of the best soup recipes out there, corn chowder may not be the first thing that comes to mind. That's understandable — it's not a soup you'll see everywhere. However, just because it's often overlooked doesn't mean you shouldn't give it a try ... especially when you buy Panera's Southwest Corn Chowder. While a lot of Panera's "spicy" options are really anything but, this chowder has a kick to it from the chipotle. We wouldn't say it's spicy, per se, but it has an extra touch of heat that really takes it to the next level.

It's also a really hearty soup. The corn is blended with potatoes, which ensures that when you choose this dish, you're going to get a filling meal. Add some cilantro and garlic, and it's clear why this one is such a winner in our books. If you want to make it a whole meal, we suggest adding a salad and some tortilla chips on the side.

If you want to keep things simple, you can always choose Panera's Chicken Noodle Soup. However, as we've already mentioned, that's a pretty boring option, and you have way better soups to choose from at the grocery store. For those who want a more exciting option that's way, way tastier than your average chicken noodle, the Thai Style Chicken Soup from Panera is the way to go. The spicy and sweet coconut-infused broth is where the magic really happens — it makes all of the other ingredients pop, and we couldn't love it more.

You'll also find shiitake mushrooms, carrots, red bell peppers, lemongrass, and kefir lime in this soup — doesn't that all sound amazing? And when you add in the simmered white meat chicken, it rounds the whole dish out, giving it the substance and protein you're looking for. We were actually surprised that Panera dreamt up a soup this interesting, but we're certainly glad they did. It's one of our favorites during soup season and beyond.

Congratulations, you've finally made it to the best of the bunch: the Greek Style Lemon Chicken Soup. We didn't know if we would like this one at first, but once we took a sip of the ultra-flavorful egg-lemon broth, we knew we couldn't get enough of it. If you've never tried a soup like this before, you're going to be blown away by this selection. It features brown rice, thyme, and spinach, but the real standout veggie is the leeks — they really take the flavor to the next level. Because you have all this goodness floating around in the broth, you know you're getting a complete meal with this soup too.

But it doesn't end there. The tender chicken makes this selection even more filling. We absolutely love the acidity with the chicken, as it makes it way more flavorful than any of the other chicken-based soups on this list. Basically, we could eat this stuff every day of the week and still not get tired of it. If you want to check out what Panera has to offer in their grocery store soup line but don't know which one to choose, take it from us: The Greek Style Lemon Chicken Soup is not going to let you down.