Before going vegan, we loved us some Panera Bread. But, once we made the switch to vegan life, Panera went out the window. For years, it seemed like you couldn’t eat vegan at Panera. But, times have certainly changed and now there are vegan options at Panera.
From bakery eats to vegan soups, we’ve got your guide to what’s vegan at Panera.
In October 2020, Panera launched its Cool Food Meal program that highlights dishes on their menu (largely plant-based options) that have a low impact on the climate. So, while their vegan program could be kicked up a notch, we dig that they’re acknowledging the environmental impact of animal agriculture.
Looking for other vegan guides to major chains? Start with our guide to what’s vegan at Taco Bell or how to order vegan at Dutch Bros. Coffee.
Vegan Options at Panera Bread
Vegan Bakery Options at Panera
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It turns out there are a few vegan bagels here. Choose from blueberry, cranberry walnut, everything (our personal fave), plain or sesame. Bummer: they don’t have vegan cream cheese or butter. Yet.
When it comes to vegan bread, options are pretty decent. Their black pepper focaccia and sea salt focaccia are vegan. Then, there is the country rustic sourdough, whole grain farm-style bread, artisan ciabatta, classic sourdough and French baguettes.
Vegan Breakfast Options
PHOTO: PANERA BREAD
For breakfast, the vegan options are steel cut oats with strawberries and pecan or a fruit cup.
In addition, there are two smoothies — a peach and blueberry with almond milk and the Green Passion smoothie.
Vegan Salads
There aren’t any specific vegan options for salads. However, you can tweak many of the salads to make them vegan. First, there’s the green salad. Skip the dressing and grab the vinaigrette.
Next, you can veganize the Fuij apple salad with chicken by holding the chicken and cheese. For the Greek and Modern Greek salads, hold the cheese. Finally, hold the chicken and wontons for the Asian Sesame with Chicken and the Spicy Thai with chicken salads.
Vegan Bowls
None of the bowls at Panera are vegan. However, you can make modifications to some of them without losing the heart of the dish.
There’s the Baja Bowl which can be tweaked vegan by skipping the chicken, feta and dressing. You still get all the veggie goodness.
Second is the Mediterranean Bowl which can be made vegan at Panera. Hold the chicken, cheese and yogurt.
Vegan Soup
PHOTO: PANERA BREAD
When it comes to soup, vegan options at Panera are limited to the Ten Vegetable Soup. It’s loaded with celery, carrots, garlic. onions, poblano peppers, red and yellow peppers and spinach. The broth is a veggie stock that’s seasoned with chickpeas, dried Aleppo chili, red fife and sprouted brown rice.
Bonus: you can get it in a sourdough bread bowl.
When it comes to broth bowls, the Soba noodle broth bowl is it.
Vegan Sandwiches
There isn’t a specific vegan sandwich, but if you want to eat vegan at Panera you can tweak the Mediterranean Veggie to be vegan. Simply nix the feta and swap the bread for a vegan version.
Vegan Sides
When it comes to adding your side, vegan options at Panera are the apple, banana, French baguette, kettle chips and pickle.
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