Summer Corn Chowder Recipe (Copycat Panera Bread) (2024)

No Panera nearby? No problem! Bring the Panera vibes to your kitchen with this easy and oh-so-delicious Panera Bread corn chowder recipe from their summer menu. Packed with Mexican flavors, this gluten-free corn chowder recipe is loaded with wholesome and nutritious ingredients.

There is a reason thatPanera’s Corn Chowderis featured only in the summer months, light and creamy, full on flavor and taste—one of thosegreat recipesyou will have on repeat.

Panera has reworked its menu, renaming its Summer Corn Chowder to Panera Mexican Street Corn Chowder, with roasted peppers and corn and a sprinkle of blue corn tortilla strips on top, it’s the same soup, and this is my take on it!

I enjoy giving precise details in my recipe posts to lead my readers through any questions. If you’re just here for the printable recipe, use the Jump to Recipe to head straight there!

Fresh Ingredients

• Butter| Saute the veggies in melted butter. If preferred, cook the vegetables in oil instead.
• Garlic and Onion| Create the base flavors of the chowder recipe with grated onion and a few minced or pressed garlic cloves.
• Peppers| Add diced poblano peppers and red pepper for slight heat and a more complex flavor. If necessary, swap the poblano pepper for Anaheim pepper. Use green peppers, orange, red bell peppers, or your favorite combination.
• Potatoes| Potatoes thicken this hearty soup and are traditional in chowder. Use grated or diced small red potatoes. Substitute with Yukon or peeled russet potatoes, if desired.
• Cream| This creamy chowder needs basic heavy cream or half-and-half.
• Salt and pepper| Season the corn chowder with kosher salt and ground black pepper.
• Seasonings | Further season the creamy soup with smoked paprika, garlic powder, and turmeric powder.
• Vegetable stock | Veggie stock adds great flavor and nutritional value to your soup!
• Corn| Sweet corn kernels from cutting fresh corn from the cob, but frozen corn also works.
• Lime| Fresh lime juice helps to highlight the creamy, savory, and sweet notes, don’t skip!
• White wine vinegar | Adding a little acid to soups brings out the flavors and brightens the creamy base.
• Tomatoes| For more summer flavor, add some diced Roma tomatoes.
• Fresh cilantro | Finally, sprinkle some chopped cilantro for a fresh taste.

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How to Make the Panera Bread Corn Chowder Recipe

Step 1 | Saute Veggies

First, melt the butter in a Dutch oven or large soup pot over medium heat. Next, add grated or diced onion and poblano, and red peppers, and saute for 3-5 minutes. Add the garlic sautéing until fragrant, about a minute.

Step 2 | Finish Soup

Now, stir in some salt, pepper, garlic powder, turmeric, and smoked paprika, and add vegetable stock, corn kernels, grated potatoes, and cream. Bring the ingredients to a simmer over medium heat, and reduce to a simmer stirring occasionally for about 15 minutes, until the potatoes are tender.

Step 3 | Add Garnish

Before serving, stir in the freshly squeezed lime juice, vinegar, tomatoes, and cilantro, reserving some for serving.

Lastly, taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper if needed. Then, ladle the chowder into bowls, garnish, and serve!

How to cut corn off the cob without making a mess

If usingfresh corn, clean all the silk off, and place the corn cob in the center of the bundt pan, cutting from the top down, allowing the corn to fall into the pan. This collects the corn and the starchy juices by shaving off the remaining kernels and bits on the corn cob. Or get an extra corn cob or two and add the kernels to a food processor, then drain to use the liquid.

Can’t get enough of Panera’s masterful soups? Good news! Have several more Panera Bread copycat recipes, like this10 Vegetable Soup,Broccoli Cheese Soup, and theirAutumn Squash Soup.

Variations & Substitutions for Panera Summer Corn Chowder

• Bacon Corn Chowder:Bacon goes so well with the sweet summer corn and creamy potato! So, if you’re a bacon fan, add freshly baked or fried bacon pieces for extra flavor.
• Roasted corn chowder recipe: Roast your corn first or use frozen roasted corn.
• Grate the potatoes and onions for a thicker consistency, or dice if you prefer potato chunks, or do a bit of both!
• Add some chili powder or a kick of Chipotle for a light touch of heat.
• Feel free to add rinsed and drained black beans to the soup and if desired, top with tortilla strips.
• Dairy-Free Summer Corn Chowder: Replace the cream with your favorite plant-based cream substitute, coconut milk would be lovely.

My Favorite Soup Pot

• Heavyweight enameled cast iron transfers and retains heat evenly.
• Resistant to rust, chipping and cracking.
• No seasoning is required.
• Dozens of precisely placed bumps on the lid’s interior funnel evaporated juices directly back to food for moist, tender results.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can you freeze corn chowder?

Yes! But here’s the scoop: dairy-based foods like chowder might separate during the freezing and thawing. Don’t worry, though; the flavor remains intact. Just stir it well with some extra cream when reheating, and voila! Alternatively, if you plan to freeze, simply add the cream after thawing for a perfectly creamy delight.

I thickened our gluten free corn chowder recipe using the natural starches in potatoes and corn versus a flour or cornstarch roux.

Best Dishes to Serve with Panera’s Corn Chowder

Soup and salad are also an excellent combination. So, try serving this gluten free corn chowder recipe with Chicken Cobb Salad with Green Goddess Dressing, featuring Panera-stylepickled red onions– YUM!

Best Desserts to Serve with Copycat Summer Corn Chowder

What better way to end this delicious Panera-inspired meal than with a tasty Panera scone, like thisOrange Glazed Scone Recipeor easyCinnamon Chip Scones?

More Delicious Soup Recipes

• Outback Potato Soup Recipe(Slow Cooker or Stovetop)
• Try our Panera Thai Style Chicken Soup!
• Creamy Chicken Poblano Soup << so so good!
• Best Bacon Beef Minestrone Soup
• And let’s not forget The Best Bread Recipes for Soup

For a quicker soup prep, chop all the veggies ahead of time and measure your seasonings and other ingredients.

I hope you loved this Panera Bread Corn Chowder Recipe — if you did, would you share your creation on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest? And be sure to comment below!