Your Guide to Ordering Vegan at Panera Bread
For a long time, Panera Bread was a challenge for plant-based diners, with many items containing hidden animal products. However, the menu has evolved, and with some strategic ordering and modifications, a variety of delicious vegan meals can be created. While Panera's official menu isn't primarily vegan, its customizable approach allows for many possibilities. It's crucial to remember that cross-contamination is a possibility due to shared kitchen equipment, a factor Panera notes in its allergen information.
Vegan-Friendly Breads and Bagels
As a self-proclaimed bakery, Panera excels at its bread, and many loaves are accidentally vegan. These provide a sturdy foundation for sandwiches or a satisfying accompaniment to a salad or soup.
Vegan Breads at Panera:
- Classic Sourdough Loaf and Sourdough Bread Bowl: Perfect for soup or dipping.
- Artisan Ciabatta: A great choice for sandwiches.
- Black Pepper Focaccia: Adds a savory, peppery flavor.
- Country Rustic Sourdough: A hearty, rustic option.
- Whole Grain Lahvash Wrap: For creating a vegan-friendly wrap.
- French Baguette: A classic side for any meal.
Vegan Bagels at Panera:
- Plain Bagel
- Everything Bagel
- Blueberry Bagel
- Sesame Bagel
Customizable Vegan Entrees
Many of Panera's standard menu items can be made vegan with a few simple tweaks. The most common modifications involve omitting cheese, meat, and swapping the dressing or bread. When ordering online, always use the 'Customize' feature to ensure all animal products are removed.
Salads (Customize to make vegan):
- Asian Sesame Salad: Order with no chicken and no wonton strips. The Asian Sesame Vinaigrette is vegan. Add extra almonds or avocado for a heartier meal.
- Greek Salad: Order without feta cheese. The Greek dressing is vegan.
- Fuji Apple Salad with Chicken: Order without chicken and without gorgonzola cheese. The Fuji Apple Vinaigrette is vegan.
- Mediterranean Greens with Grains: Order without feta cheese.
- Strawberry Poppyseed Salad: A seasonal offering that can be made vegan by omitting the chicken.
Sandwiches and Bowls (Customize to make vegan):
- Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich: A great option when ordered with no feta cheese and served on vegan bread like ciabatta or sourdough (the standard Tomato Basil bread contains honey). Add avocado for creaminess.
- Baja Bowl: Order without chicken, feta, or Greek yogurt. This leaves a base of cilantro-lime brown rice and quinoa, black bean and corn salsa, salsa verde, and avocado.
- Mediterranean Grain Bowl: Order without chicken, feta cheese, or Greek yogurt. You'll get a flavorful mix of cilantro-lime brown rice and quinoa, greens, tomatoes, olives, cucumbers, and hummus.
Vegan Breakfast and Sides
Don't overlook the morning menu or simple side options when building a plant-based meal.
- Steel Cut Oatmeal with Strawberries & Pecans: A classic vegan breakfast option (ensure it is made with water or a non-dairy milk if available).
- Fresh Fruit Cup: A simple, refreshing side.
- Apple or Banana: Healthy and naturally vegan.
- Kettle Chips: A reliable vegan side.
- Pickle Spear: Tangy and plant-based.
Drinks
Panera offers a wide variety of vegan-friendly beverages to complement your meal.
- Coffee & Espresso: Both hot and iced coffee are vegan. When ordering espresso drinks, ask for non-dairy milk (availability may vary).
- Teas: Hot and iced teas, including sweetened and unsweetened varieties, are vegan.
- Lemonades: Many flavored lemonades, like the Charged Lemonades, are vegan.
- Smoothies: Exercise caution, as many smoothies contain Greek yogurt. Ask your server about dairy-free milk options for customization.
Understanding the Menu: Vegan vs. Not Vegan
| Customizable Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich | Component | Standard Order | Vegan Modification | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bread | Tomato Basil (contains honey) | Sourdough, Ciabatta, or Focaccia | Avoids honey, an animal product. | |
| Fillings | Feta Cheese, Hummus, Peppadew Peppers, Tomato, Cucumber, Onion, Mixed Greens | Hummus, Peppadew Peppers, Tomato, Cucumber, Onion, Mixed Greens, Avocado | Removes dairy cheese; adds healthy fat with avocado. | |
| Vegan Status | Not Vegan | Vegan | The modifications eliminate all animal products. |
The Status of Vegan Soups
Panera's soup offerings for vegans have changed over the years. The popular Ten Vegetable Soup, which was once a reliable vegan staple, has been removed from the permanent menu in many locations. While limited-time vegan soup specials may appear, diners should not rely on this section for a quick vegan option. The Low-Fat Vegetarian Black Bean Soup has been noted as potentially vegan, but ingredients can change, so always check with staff or consult the online allergen guide.
Conclusion
Although Panera Bread does not feature many explicitly vegan items on its standard menu, a compassionate and satisfying meal is well within reach for plant-based diners. The key is to leverage the company's customization options, especially for salads and sandwiches, and to know which staple ingredients, like many of the bakery breads and dressings, are naturally vegan. By paying close attention to these details and communicating clearly when ordering, you can enjoy a fresh and flavorful vegan experience. For the most up-to-date information, always consult Panera's official website and allergen guide or confirm with a staff member at your local bakery-cafe.
Authoritative Outbound Link: Panera Bread on Veganuary
Navigating the Panera Menu: Pro Tips
To ensure a smooth and satisfying vegan dining experience, keep these tips in mind when visiting Panera or ordering online:
- Order Online: Using Panera's website or app allows you to easily customize your order and see ingredient lists.
- Substitute with Avocado: For a hearty addition to a sandwich or salad, request avocado in place of meat or cheese. In some cases, this substitution might be free.
- Embrace the Bread Bowl: The classic Sourdough Bread Bowl is vegan, offering a fun and delicious way to enjoy your vegan soups (when available) or fill with a customized salad.
- Mix and Match: The 'You Pick Two' feature can be used to combine half of a customized vegan sandwich with a vegan-friendly salad.
- Check Dressings: Not all dressings are vegan. Stick to confirmed vegan options like Asian Sesame Vinaigrette, Greek Dressing, and Balsamic Vinaigrette.
- Ask for Details: Panera locations have ingredient binders. If you are unsure about a new or seasonal item, ask a manager to confirm the ingredients.
- Consider Cross-Contamination: If you have severe allergies, be aware that shared equipment is used in Panera's kitchens.
Conclusion
By following these simple steps and understanding the menu, eating vegan at Panera Bread is not only possible but can also be a delicious and varied experience. While the menu has seen shifts, with some long-time vegan favorites like the Ten Vegetable Soup disappearing, the power of customization puts a flavorful, plant-based meal back in your hands. So next time you find yourself at Panera, feel confident in crafting a wholesome, satisfying, and completely vegan dish.
