Health

A Weight Loss Influencer Who Lost 250-Lbs Shares Her 'Low-Calorie' Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup Recipe: 'This Is Amazing'

December 2, 2025 by Abigail Connolly
shefinds | Health
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Soup season is in full swing, and sometimes, it can feel hard to find a soup recipe that’s both delicious and weight-loss-friendly at the same time.

One of the most popular soup restaurants out there is Panera, the beloved cafe chain that produces fan-favorites, including their famous broccoli cheddar soup. The soup made at the restaurant, while tasty, is known for being high in fat and calories. So, a viral weight loss content creator, Samantha Milton, who lost 250 pounds, shared her recipe for a “low-calorie” version of the soup, creating her own “Panera dupe.” Read more about how she makes it below.

@smallersam_pcos Broccoli Cheddar Soup (320 cals + 37g protein) This recipe makes 8 servings, about 2 cups each: -2 large, Carrots -2 tablespoon, minced garlic -2 stock, Celery -2 tbsp, Olive oil -1/3 cup, All-purpose flour -1 cup, chopped, Yellow onion -24 oz container, low fat Good Culture cottage cheese -1 lb, Ham (cubed) -20 oz, Broccoli Florets -1 cup, low fat shredded cheddar cheese -32 oz(s), Chicken Bone Broth -2 cup, Ultrafilter Fat Free Milk -season to taste with salt, pepper, oregano, and Kinder’s Buttery Garlic & Herb blend. #cheese #broccoli #soup #protein #easyrecipe ♬ original sound – SmallerSam_PCOS

Sam Starts Prepping Her ‘Low Calorie’ Broccoli Cheddar Soup

To prep her Panera dupe soup, Sam begins by adding a drizzle of olive oil to a soup pot on the stove before adding three finely chopped veggies: one medium yellow onion, two large carrots, and two stalks of celery.

Once her vegetables have cooked down and tenderized, she adds a pound of chopped ham to the pot and stirs everything together, allowing the ham to brown a bit. While the ham and veggies are cooking, in a separate pot, she steams 20 ounces of fresh broccoli florets in 32 ounces of chicken bone broth.

As her broccoli steams until it’s tender, she gives her ham and veggies a stir before adding two tablespoons of minced garlic and one-third cup of flour. She stirs those in before adding a 20-ounce container of low-fat cottage cheese, allowing everything to cook until the cheese curdles and melts.

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Sam Finishes Her Soup And Serves It Up

Once she has a nice thick base for her soup with the veggies, ham, and cottage cheese, she starts to thin it down by adding two cups of low-fat milk and adds some seasonings.

 

She seasons with some flaky salt, crushed black pepper, oregano, and buttery garlic & herb seasoning. For the classic pale yellow color and extra cheesey flavor, Sam adds one cup of reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese. Once the cheese is melted, she pours her cooked broccoli and the residual bone broth into the pot before giving everything a good stir. She lets her soup simmer and thicken for a few minutes on the stove before serving it up.

 

The content creator tops every bowl with shredded cheese and a sprinkle of chives before dishing it out.

 

"This is amazing!" commented one of her followers.

Author:

Editorial Assistant

Abigail is a journalist based in Brooklyn, New York. As an Editorial Assistant for SheFinds, she covers topics ranging from celebrity news and fashion to wellness. She has written for other publications, including Chip Chick, Bandsintown, BroadwayWorld, and more. When she isn't writing, Abigail loves spending time in the city with her friends, being a 'dog mom' to her Chihuahua, and singing along to some of her favorite music.

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