What are the ingredients in Panera Mexican corn soup?

November 28, 2025 •

3 min read

According to Panera's official retail packaging, their Mexican Style Street Corn Chowder—often referred to as Panera Mexican corn soup—uses a creamy base with fire-roasted corn, potatoes, and roasted poblano peppers. This blend of vegetables and dairy gives the chowder its unique flavor.

Quick Summary

This article explores the components of Panera's Mexican corn chowder, detailing the key vegetables, creamy base, and unique spices and herbs used in this popular soup.

Key Points

Official Ingredients: The Panera Mexican corn soup contains fire-roasted corn, potatoes, Neufchatel cheese, poblano peppers, lime juice, cilantro, and several spices.
Creamy Base: The chowder's rich, creamy texture comes from a combination of Neufchatel cheese and butter, thickened with corn starch.
Signature Smoky Flavor: The distinctive taste is achieved through the use of fire-roasted corn and roasted poblano peppers, creating a deep, smoky undertone.
Vegetarian and Gluten-Free: The retail version of Panera's Mexican Style Street Corn Chowder is labeled vegetarian and gluten-free, though it does contain milk.
Seasonal Availability: While sold year-round in grocery stores, the soup is a limited-time seasonal offering at Panera's cafes.
Copycat Variations: Home cooks often use common ingredients like cream cheese, heavy cream, and sometimes chicken or bacon to make a similar version.

The Official Panera Mexican Corn Chowder Ingredient List

The retail version of Panera's Mexican Style Street Corn Chowder includes a variety of ingredients such as water, corn, potatoes, Neufchatel cheese, onions, red bell peppers, roasted poblano peppers, butter, lime juice, cilantro, and spices. It uses corn starch as a thickener and nisin as a preservative.

Copycat Ingredients vs. Official Version

While the official retail version has a specific list, copycat recipes might use readily available substitutes like cream cheese or heavy cream for richness, and cotija cheese for garnish.

Recreating the Panera Mexican Corn Chowder

To make a copycat version at home, start by sautéing vegetables like onions, red bell peppers, and poblano peppers in butter. Add broth, potatoes, and corn, then achieve the creamy texture with ingredients like cream, Neufchatel cheese, or even pureed soup. Finish with lime juice, cilantro, and spices.

Comparison: Panera At-Home Retail vs. Café-Made


Feature	Panera At-Home Retail Soup	Panera Café Soup
Availability	Sold year-round in grocery stores.	Seasonal item, available for a limited time in cafes.
Format	Ready-to-heat microwavable cup or larger container.	Freshly prepared in-store, served hot.
Texture	Generally uniform, processed for shelf-stability.	Can be slightly more rustic and variable due to fresh preparation.
Garnish	Typically no garnish.	May be served with blue corn tortilla strips as a garnish.
Ingredients	Standardized list for consistency, including preservatives like Nisin.	Made with fresh ingredients, no preservatives needed.

Conclusion: The Secret to the Soup

The popularity of Panera's Mexican corn soup comes from the blend of sweet corn, smoky poblano peppers, creamy Neufchatel cheese, and the bright finish of lime and cilantro. Knowing what are the ingredients in Panera Mexican corn soup provides insight into this favorite dish.

For more on the retail product, visit the Panera at Home website.

Note: The retail version is vegetarian. The cafe recipe may vary, and some copycat recipes include meat.

Potential Ingredient Substitutions

Home cooks can make substitutions in copycat recipes:

Neufchatel Cheese: Substitute with cream cheese, or dairy-free cream cheese or coconut milk for a vegan option.
Fire-Roasted Corn: Char regular corn kernels in a skillet or grill.
Poblano Peppers: Add jalapeño for heat or increase smoked paprika for smoky flavor.
Thickening Agents: Use a cornstarch slurry for a gluten-free option, or pureed cauliflower.
Broth: Use chicken broth in copycat recipes for depth or vegetable broth for a vegetarian version.

These adjustments allow for customization.

How to Elevate Your Copycat Recipe

Tips for a great homemade version:

Layer Flavors: Sauté vegetables and toast spices before adding liquids.
Use Fresh: Fresh corn and lime juice enhance flavor.
Taste as you go: Adjust seasonings during cooking; a final squeeze of lime is key.
Simmer Properly: Allow at least 15-20 minutes for flavors to meld and potatoes to soften.

These steps can help achieve a satisfying result.

Serving Suggestions

Complement the soup with sides like crusty bread, cornbread, or toppings such as cotija cheese, cilantro, or sour cream. A side salad or blue corn tortilla strips also pair well.

Storing Your Homemade Chowder

Cool completely before storing in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the refrigerator or up to 3 months in the freezer. Reheat gently on the stovetop.

Allergens in the Retail Product

The retail Panera Mexican Style Street Corn Chowder contains milk. It is labeled gluten-free, but cafe environments may have cross-contamination risks. Panera provides allergen information on its website.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Mexican Street Corn Chowder is typically a seasonal menu item at Panera cafes and is not available year-round. However, a packaged, ready-to-heat retail version is often available in grocery stores.

The retail version of Panera's Mexican Style Street Corn Chowder contains Neufchatel cheese, which is a soft cheese similar to cream cheese but with a lower fat content.

Yes, the retail version of the Mexican Style Street Corn Chowder is labeled gluten-free. However, those with severe gluten allergies should be aware of potential cross-contamination in the cafe kitchens.

The smoky flavor in the chowder comes from the combination of fire-roasted corn and roasted poblano peppers used in the recipe.

The primary differences are availability and presentation. The retail version is sold in grocery stores year-round in pre-packaged containers, while the cafe version is a fresh, seasonal offering. The cafe version also typically includes a garnish, such as blue corn tortilla strips.

Yes, the retail Mexican Style Street Corn Chowder is labeled as vegetarian, containing only milk-based dairy for the creamy base. However, some copycat recipes may include meat, so always check the specific recipe.

Yes, many copycat recipes exist that use common ingredients like cream, cream cheese, corn, potatoes, onions, poblano peppers, lime juice, and cilantro to recreate the flavor profile. Spices like paprika and chili powder are also important.

According to the retail packaging, the Panera Mexican Style Street Corn Chowder is made with no artificial preservatives, sweeteners, flavors, or colors from artificial sources.