This list has all of the healthiest Panera menu options that you can order. From breakfast to dinner, here are all the best items on Panera Bread's menu, all under 300 calories!
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Healthy Eating At Panera
Panera Bread prides itself on sourcing good quality ingredients and offering balanced meals. So as far as quick-service restaurants go, it's definitely one of my go-to's. There are so many healthy and low-calorie options that also deliver on taste.
In this list, I'm breaking down all of the best - and my favorite - low calorie menu items at Panera Bread. From soups, salads, sandwiches, and even breakfast, there's sure to be something here for any craving!
1. Homestyle Chicken Noodle Soup
Nutritional Info for 1 bowl:
- 100 Calories
- 1g Fat
- 13g Carbs
- 4g Sugar
- 0g Fiber
- 9g Protein
Easily the lowest calorie item on Panera Bread's menu, this naturally low fat chicken noodle soup has just 100 calories per bowl or only 230 calories for an entire group serving! It's super filling and healthy, made with tender egg noodles, shredded chicken breast, carrots, and celery for a good balance of protein, fiber, and carbs. You can also bulk up the meal with a side of whole grain bread for 230 calories total.
2. Strawberry Poppyseed Salad with Chicken (Half Portion)
Nutritional Info for ½ salad:
- 180 Calories
- 7g Fat
- 18g Carbs
- 13g Sugar
- 4g Fiber
- 13g Protein
The strawberry poppyseed salad at Panera is famous not only for being healthy and low calorie, but also for tasting so darn good. It's got a mix of salad greens, fresh fruit, mixed berries, crunchy pecans, and grilled chicken breast, tossed with a drizzle of their creamy poppyseed dressing. A half salad with grilled chicken has 180 calories, while a whole salad without chicken is around 240 calories.
The salad isn't available year-round, but when you're really craving it, the recipe is up on their website here and can be made with their poppy seed dressing, which you can get online or in some grocery stores.
3. Asian Sesame with Chicken (Half Portion)
Nutritional Info for ½ salad:
- 200 Calories
- 11g Fat
- 13g Carbs
- 4g Sugar
- 3g Fiber
- 14g Protein
Every bite of this salad is full of flavor and texture. You've got crisp romaine lettuce, crunchy fried wonton strips, sliced almonds, and sesame seeds, plus seasoned chicken breast, herby cilantro, and nutty sesame vinaigrette. A half salad has just 200 calories, giving you some wiggle room to add on a fresh apple or seasonal fruit cup and still keep the total at 280 calories or less.
4. Greek Salad (Half Portion)
Nutritional Info for ½ salad:
- 200 Calories
- 18g Fat
- 8g Carbs
- 4g Sugar
- 3g Fiber
- 4g Protein
A satisfying mix of romaine lettuce, red onions, tomatoes, pepperoncini, kalamata olives, feta cheese, and creamy Greek dressing. If you want more protein, you can add on a regular-sized portion of chicken for a total of 250 calories. You can also pile on as many extra veggies as you like for virtually no additional calories. The only exception is the power vegetable blend, which will only add 20 calories extra.
5. Caesar Salad with Chicken (Half Portion)
Nutritional Info for ½ salad:
- 230 Calories
- 14g Fat
- 10g Carbs
- 2g Sugar
- 2g Fiber
- 16g Protein
This classic Caesar salad has grilled chicken, romaine, grated Parmesan, and seasoned croutons, all tossed with creamy Caesar dressing. A half salad comes out to 230 calories. Alternatively, instead of getting grilled chicken on your salad, you can order the value duet of half Caesar salad with homestyle chicken noodle soup for just 240 calories.
6. Green Goddess Cobb Salad with Chicken (Half)
Nutritional Info for ½ salad:
- 250 Calories
- 14g Fat
- 13g Carbs
- 7g Sugar
- 4g Fiber
- 19g Protein
A cross between a refreshing green goddess salad and a hearty Cobb salad, this salad has it all - Grilled chicken, mixed greens, veggies, fresh avocado, Applewood-smoked bacon, and hard-boiled eggs. It's finished with a creamy green goddess dressing made with Greek yogurt for added probiotics. It's one of the most protein-packed orders on this list, and a half salad has just 250 calories.
7. Citrus Asian Crunch Salad, Light Chicken (Half Portion)
Nutritional Info for ½ salad:
- 260 Calories
- 15g Fat
- 22g Carbs
- 13g Sugar
- 4g Fiber
- 12g Protein
If you like your salads bursting with veggies, this vibrant and citrusy salad will not disappoint. It starts with a base of the power vegetable blend with 7 superfood veggies, plus romaine, edamame beans, cilantro, pickled red onions, crispy carrot strips, teriyaki sauce, and tangerine soy ginger dressing. The main protein here is the crispy and juicy bites of seared chicken thigh, and if you order it with a light serving of chicken instead of the regular portion size, the calorie count drops down to 260 calories from the original 310 calories.
8. Steel Cut Oatmeal with Strawberries & Cinnamon Crunch Topping (No Pecans)
Nutritional Info for 1 bowl:
- 260 Calories
- 4g Fat
- 50g Carbs
- 16g Sugar
- 8g Fiber
- 7g Protein
Start your day right with this sweet and hearty breakfast featuring chewy steel cut oats, fresh strawberries, and sweet cinnamon sugar topping. The order typically comes with oil-roasted pecans, for a total of 370 calories, but just skipping those knocks the whole meal down to only 260 calories!
9. Cream of Chicken & Wild Rice Soup
Nutritional Info for 1 bowl:
- 260 Calories
- 16g Fat
- 27g Carbs
- 4g Sugar
- 5g Fiber
- 10g Protein
Cozy up to a bowl of this warm and creamy chicken soup. It has similar flavors to their homestyle chicken noodle soup but with a richer broth and chewy long grain and wild rice instead of noodles. It's the perfect comfort food option from Panera and has just 260 calories.
10. Fuji Apple Salad with Chicken (Half Portion)
Nutritional Info for ½ salad:
- 280 Calories
- 17g Fat
- 18g Carbs
- 11g Sugar
- 3g Fiber
- 15g Protein
This loaded salad has romaine lettuce and mixed greens, with grape tomatoes and red onions, toasted pecans, crunchy apple chips, and crumbly gorgonzola cheese, plus grilled chicken, finished with white balsamic vinaigrette. There's a nice balance of veggies and protein here to keep you full until your next meal!
11. Deli Ham Sandwich (Half Portion)
Nutritional Info for ½ sandwich:
- 290 Calories
- 8g Fat
- 39g Carbs
- 5g Sugar
- 2g Fiber
- 17g Protein
The lowest calorie sandwich option at Panera Bread is this classic deli ham sandwich. It's layered with Black Forest ham, mixed greens, veggies, and mustard on sourdough bread. A half sandwich has just 290 calories. If you're more of a deli turkey kind of person, you can also get a half deli turkey sandwich for 10 calories more.
12. Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich with Light Hummus (Half)
Nutritional Info for ½ sandwich:
- 290 Calories
- 4g Fat
- 51g Carbs
- 6g Sugar
- 3g Fiber
- 11g Protein
This vegetarian sandwich brings flavor on top of flavor. It has stacks of greens and fresh veggies, sweet and tangy Peppadew peppers, feta cheese, and creamy hummus served between two slices of tomato basil bread. I think a half sandwich makes a pretty satisfying meal, and it comes out to only 290 calories.
13. Turkey Chili
Nutritional Info for 1 bowl:
- 300 Calories
- 10g Fat
- 31g Carbs
- 8g Sugar
- 14g Fiber
- 21g Protein
Capping off at exactly 300 calories per bowl, this hearty turkey chili makes a comforting and balanced meal that's super filling. It's got dark meat turkey, chickpeas, and kidney beans simmered in a tangy and slightly spicy tomatillo broth with edamame, carrots, and cilantro. It's the perfect option if you're really hungry and want something that's sure to keep you satisfied until your next meal.
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