Panera has more vegan basics than most chains. Most of its breads and bagels are vegan, the Mediterranean Veggie sandwich is vegan without feta, and the black bean soup (seasonal) can be served in a sourdough bread bowl.
Ingredients vary by location. Ask the cashier to check the ingredient binder for specials.
Panera is a bakery-café, so the bread does a lot of the work. Most of the breads are vegan, which makes a sandwich or a soup-and-bread lunch easy.
What's vegan at Panera
| Item | Status | How to order it |
|---|---|---|
| Plain, blueberry, sesame, multigrain and everything bagels | Vegan | Add avocado instead of cream cheese. |
| Country Rustic Sourdough, French baguette, ciabatta, black pepper focaccia, tomato basil | Vegan | |
| Sourdough bread bowl | Vegan | |
| Mediterranean Veggie sandwich | With swaps | No feta. Order it on ciabatta or black pepper focaccia. |
| Black bean soup | Vegan | Seasonal. Brought back in September 2025. |
| Salads | With swaps | No meat, cheese or egg. Add avocado for free. |
| Classic Avo toast | Vegan | Breakfast. Sourdough with avocado and everything seasoning. |
| Steel-cut oatmeal with strawberries and pecans | Vegan | Breakfast. |
| Tropical Green Smoothie | Vegan | Dairy-free. |
| Lemonades and iced teas | Vegan | |
| Most smoothies | Not vegan | Greek yogurt. |
| Most sweet bakery items | Not vegan | Butter, milk or egg. |
Vegan dressings and toppings
Dressings: balsamic, poppyseed, Fuji apple, Asian and Greek. Toppings: pickled red onions, bean and corn salsa, crispy carrots, apple chips and pecans.
A full vegan meal at Panera
Black bean soup in a sourdough bread bowl with a side salad and balsamic dressing. Outside soup season, the Mediterranean Veggie without feta on ciabatta, with a piece of baguette on the side.
Ordering tips
- Panera lists ingredients and allergens online for every item, which makes it easier than most chains to check.
- Ask for no cheese, no feta and no mayo on sandwiches.
- Add avocado to salads and sandwiches for something filling.
- Check seasonal soups each time. Many are made with cream or chicken stock; the black bean soup is the reliable vegan one when it's on.
How Panera compares
| Chain | Best vegan order | Our verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Panera | Black bean soup in a bread bowl, or the Mediterranean Veggie without feta | One of the easier chains |
| Burger King | Impossible Whopper, no mayo | One of the better burger chains |
| Domino's | Crunchy Thin Crust, no cheese | Cheeseless pizza only |
The bottom line
Panera is one of the easier US chains for vegans, thanks to its vegan breads, black bean soup and avocado toast. Check bakery items and smoothies carefully. See the full vegan fast food guide.
FAQ
Are Panera bagels vegan?
Is the Panera bread bowl vegan?
Are Panera smoothies vegan?
Which Panera dressings are vegan?
Is Panera bread vegan?
Is Panera's black bean soup vegan?
Is there Panera in Ireland or the UK?
Keep checking
Sources and how we checked
We reviewed the ingredient information below in Oct 2026. Recipes change, so check the pack, especially if you have an allergy.
Spotted a recipe change? Tell us and we'll re-check.