Panera Is Getting 9 Completely New Menu Items — Here's a Peek

Yes, a brand-new mac & cheese is on the menu.

Panera Bread's menu is getting a whole new look.

On Thursday, the company announced its largest menu transformation ever, which it says is a refocus on "innovating and enhancing the core Panera items guests love the most."

"We have been hard at work innovating within our core categories and listening to our guests on what they love most about Panera," a spokesperson for Panera shared with Food & Wine via email. "We're renewing our focus on soups, salads, sandwiches, and mac & cheese, increasing value and providing more in each bite with enhanced portions on many menu items."

The menu change-up includes more than 20 updates, nine of which are entirely new menu items. This includes the Toasted Italiano sandwich, made with Black Forest ham, soppressata and provolone, romaine, red onion, sliced pepperoncini peppers, garlic aioli, and Greek dressing on Panera's toasted French Baguette, along with the Chicken Bacon Rancher sandwich, with grilled chicken, applewood smoked bacon, aged white cheddar, and ranch dressing on black pepper focaccia. It also includes the Ciabatta Cheesesteak, made with marinated sliced steak, provolone, garlic aioli, caramelized onions, and Peppadew peppers on Ciabatta, and the Tomato Basil BLT, which comes with applewood smoked bacon, mixed greens, vine-ripened tomatoes, garlic aioli, salt and pepper on tomato basil miche.

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There are also four new salads to try, including the Mediterranean Chicken Greens with Grains, which comes with romaine and mixed greens tossed in Greek dressing and topped with a whole grain blend of farro and red rice, grilled chicken, hummus, feta, red onions, Peppadew peppers, sliced cucumbers, and a sprinkle of Panera's Mediterranean shawarma seasoning. There's also the Southwest Chicken Ranch salad with romaine in ranch dressing, topped with grilled chicken and chipotle aioli, avocado, grape tomatoes, fire-grilled corn, cilantro, and blue corn tortilla strips, and the Balsamic Chicken Greens with Grains salad with romaine and mixed greens tossed in balsamic vinaigrette, with the whole grain blend of farro and red rice, sliced cucumbers, pepperoncini peppers, avocado, feta, pumpkin seeds, and Green Goddess dressing. Lastly, there's the Ranch Cobb Salad with romaine and mixed greens in ranch dressing, topped with grape tomatoes, pickled red onions, applewood smoked bacon, feta, and a hard-boiled egg.

And joining the sandwiches and salads is the Bacon Mac & Cheese made with shell pasta in a blend of cheeses, including aged white cheddar sauce and topped with applewood smoked bacon.

Beyond the new menu items, Panera said it's also adding more options to its below $10 menu, including the Tomato Basil BLT, Ranch Cobb Salad, and Mediterranean Greens with Grains. And, the company promises "there will be more to each bite with more chicken and steak on many salads and sandwiches."

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"We are getting back to Panera at its best with these menu updates that are centered completely on our guests and what they love about us," Alicia Mowder, SVP of product strategy and insights at Panera shared in a statement. "We've listened to thousands of guests on our path to unveiling more than 20 new or enhanced menu items and are thrilled to bring these products to Panera bakery-cafes nationwide."

All the new and revamped menu items will drop on April 4. Stay tuned to the company's app and website for additional details on other revamped menu items that will soon be announced. 

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