Combine These 2 Panera Bread Fan Favorites For A Satisfying, Warm Meal - Tasting Table

"Online foodies won't soon forget the TikTok-viral Panera Asiago bagel topped with mac and cheese hack (swoon). Now, we're back with another when-worlds-collide Panera duo that cranks the comfort food dial to 11: Combine Panera's mac and cheese with its creamy tomato soup. That velvety cheese sauce, toothy shell pasta, and bright, luscious tomato soup come together for a hearty, warming, savory meal that's totally vegetarian - way cozier than a meatless salad, and more filling than a cup of black bean soup."

"To assemble, simply mix both elements together, adding as much or as little of each ingredient as you please. For a balanced, soup-like texture, order a small mac and a cup of soup (or, for a larger portion, a large mac and a bowl of soup). Or, if you prefer a less-soupy richness, order a large mac and a cup of tomato soup."

"Bonus points if you order a bread bowl on the side, in which to assemble your soup-mac. The inner "cap" of that bread bowl can even be used for dunking in the cheesy shells as you eat. Plus, once the bowl is empty, all that bread will have soaked up the tomato soup and white cheddar cheese sauce for a moist, flavorful finisher to the meal."

"Here at Tasting Table, we're longtime fans of Panera's mac and cheese. As we rave in our ranking of the 20 best Panera menu items, "Our compliments here start with the texture of the pasta. It's a touch al dente, so that when the creamy sauce lands overtop, there are no soggy noodles." The mac's structural integrity becomes crucial once that silky tomato soup is added to the mix. No soggy shells here, officer."

Panera's velvety white-cheddar mac and cheese combined with creamy tomato soup produces a hearty, warming vegetarian dish that blends cheesy richness with bright tomato flavor. Proportions can be adjusted: a small mac with a cup of soup yields a balanced, soup-like texture, while a large mac with a cup of tomato soup gives a richer, less soupy result. A bread bowl soaks up sauce for a flavorful finish and its inner cap can be used for dunking. Fresh herbs like thyme, oregano, or sage elevate the profile, and crumbled bacon adds smoky savor for omnivores. The pasta's slight al dente texture prevents sogginess when mixed with soup.

Read at Tasting Table