5 Best Warm Bowls at Panera Bread
Since its debut in 2020, Panera warm bowls have been a great alternative to the soups and sandwiches that gave the restaurant its popularity.
With a blend of grains, fresh produce, and lean proteins, Panera bowls are the newest way to choose healthy meals when you’re eating out.
Panera warm bowls come in three different flavors, and two of them have both a meat and a vegetarian option.
All bowls at Panera are available in a single entrée size that comes with a complimentary side of chips, an apple, or a French baguette.
They can also be ordered as a “You Pick Two” combo that comes with a second entrée and your choice of side.
Warm bowls are one of my favorite meals at Panera, and I love that each bowl features unique ingredients and flavors.
Plus, these bowls earned the Cool Meal Badge for being made with low food-related emissions, making them great for people and the planet.
Read on to find out the best Panera warm bowls and which one you should try on your next visit!
5. Mediterranean Bowl
The fresh and tangy flavors of the Mediterranean are brought together in this Panera warm bowl.
The bold flavors are complimented by delicious grains and creamy yogurt, all of which create a filling vegetarian meal packed with protein.
Panera’s Mediterranean Bowl starts with a cilantro lime brown rice and quinoa base.
Fresh arugula, juicy grape tomatoes, Kalamata olives, cucumbers, and feta cheese top these warm grains with a dollop of hummus and Greek yogurt.
Everything is then pulled together with a drizzle of lemon tahini dressing.
I enjoy ordering this bowl with the complimentary side of apples because it leaves me feeling full and healthy.
You can customize your bowl further by adding a zesty topping of salsa verde. The creamy avocado and steak are also available for an additional charge.
The Mediterranean Bowl has 590 calories, 31g of fat, 66g of carbohydrates, and 16g of protein.
4. Baja Bowl
Where the United States meets Mexico, between the Gulf of California and the Pacific Ocean, lies the Mexican state of Baja.
Known to attract surfers and travelers from around the world, Baja has also become known for the signature flavors of a few key ingredients.
Panera has combined these ingredients with a tangy cilantro lime brown rice and quinoa blend to create their Baja Bowl.
This bowl is topped with black bean and corn salsa, juicy grape tomatoes, fresh avocado pieces, feta cheese, and a dollop of Greek yogurt.
It is then finished with a salsa verde drizzle, adding lime, jalapeño peppers, and garlic flavors.
If you want some protein but don’t want the chicken option, you can add steak for an additional charge.
The French baguette is the perfect side to pair with this bowl, making it easy to scoop the creamy avocado, yogurt, and salsas, to enjoy every last bite!
The Baja Bowl has 690 calories, 34g of fat, 82g of carbohydrates, and 18g of protein.
3. Teriyaki Chicken and Broccoli Bowl
The Teriyaki Chicken & Broccoli Bowl is one of the recent additions to the Panera Bread menu.
It uses the same base as the rest of the Panera warm bowls but tops it with Asian-inspired flavors that make you feel good about indulging.
Although the calorie count is one of the highest of all warm bowls, this is also accompanied by the highest protein content to keep you full.
The Teriyaki Chicken & Broccoli Bowl starts with a bed of cilantro lime brown rice and quinoa.
Dark chicken-thigh meat adds a savory flavor and the bulk of the protein content in this bowl, while broccoli and fresh cilantro add some green color and a crisp bite.
Everything is then covered in a soy sauce-based teriyaki glaze, with sesame seeds adding a finishing touch.
The Teriyaki Chicken & Broccoli Bowl has 740 calories, 28g of fat, 84g of carbohydrates, and 38g of protein.
2. Mediterranean Bowl With Chicken
The only thing that could make the Mediterranean Bowl better is adding some white meat chicken – and Panera did just that with this bowl!
This is especially true because Panera only uses meat from chickens raised without antibiotics.
The warm base of this bowl is a bed of cilantro lime brown rice and quinoa.
This is accompanied by arugula, grape tomatoes, cucumbers, Kalamata olives, feta cheese, a dollop of hummus, and Greek yogurt.
Warm pieces of white meat chicken add an extra punch of protein, and a lemon tahini dressing tops it off.
As with the original, you can customize this bowl with a zesty salsa verde or add avocado or steak for an additional charge.
The Mediterranean Bowl with Chicken has 640 calories, 32g of fat, 68g of carbohydrates, and 26g of protein.
1. Baja Bowl With Chicken
The diverse list of healthy and flavorful ingredients has placed the Baja Bowl with Chicken at the top of this list!
The hearty and creamy ingredients will make you feel like you’re indulging in your favorite comfort food, while the mix of produce and protein will nourish your body.
However, if you’re not a fan of spicy food, you should be aware that this Panera bowl comes with a kick!
The bowl starts with a warm cilantro lime brown rice, quinoa mix, and pieces of white meat chicken raised without antibiotics.
These ingredients are accompanied by black beans and corn salsa, juicy grape tomatoes, fresh avocado, and feta cheese.
A dollop of Greek yogurt is placed on top, and the salsa verde acts as a dressing that ties everything together.
You can also customize this bowl by adding slices of steak for an additional charge.
The Baja Bowl with Chicken has 740 calories, 35g of fat, 83g of carbohydrates, and 27g of protein.
Panera You Pick Two Menu
Enjoying your favorite food on a special deal always feels good, and Panera Bread offers them often.
Panera bowls are one of the newest additions to the “You Pick Two” menu.
These combo deals give you a complimentary side with two of your favorite entrees from a list of select items that include the following:
- Soup & Mac
- Salads
- Sandwiches
- Pizza
- Warm Bowls
Warm bowls, pizza, and the signature Chicken Take sandwiches are served in a full-sized order, while soups, mac & cheese, salads, and all other sandwiches come in a small or half size.
Conclusion
Although the three flavors of Panera warm bowls may not seem as diverse compared to the rest of their extensive menu, each bowl brings a hearty and unique blend of ingredients to the table.
The Baja Bowl features creamy ingredients and a spicy kick that I love, and the tangy flavors of the Mediterranean Bowl are great to enjoy on a warm day.
The addition of sesame, soy, and dark-meat chicken makes these bowls the perfect comfort food.
Regardless of which Panera bowl you choose, you can expect a hearty and nutritious meal packed with flavor.
For more information about Panera Bread, check out the articles below.
