Panera Is Launching a New Version of Its Most Popular Menu Item for the First Time Ever

This is the biggest menu transformation ever!

It’s hard to pinpoint just one reason we’ve all continued frequenting Panera Bread since the bakery cafe opened in 1987. In fact, we could name five reasons right now: the bagels, soups, salads, sandwiches, and, obviously, mac and cheese.

Panera has been known to launch new innovations over the years, like its toasted baguette sandwiches, flatbreads, and warm grain bowls, but it also knows its customers really appreciate the core menu items. Give us a “You Pick Two Deal” with mac and cheese and French onion soup and we’re happy.

Plus, it really is those “basic” items that get us the most excited. How many of us tried the Ham, Egg & Cheese on a Cinnamon Crunch Bagel breakfast sandwich in the first week it was available? We’re guilty.

So, Panera is getting back to its roots and refocusing on those menu items its fans know and love. On April 4, Panera is entering its new “era” with the biggest menu transformation in the brand’s history, which includes more than 20 menu updates.

Panera's Menu Transformation

Panera’s menu overhaul will make enhancements to 12 existing menu items, plus add nine all-new items—including a brand-new version of the fan-favorite mac and cheese.

While the chain hasn’t announced all 12 of the foods getting recipe enhancements, they’ve shared a few. The Bravo Club Sandwich, Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt, and Fuji Apple Chicken Salad are among the items that will be “packed with even more delicious flavors,” according to a press release.

“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,” said Alicia Mowder, SVP of Product Strategy & Insights at Panera Bread, “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.”

Panera says it will share more information about the additional recipe enhancements throughout March.

Panera's 9 New Menu Items

As for the new items hitting menus on April 4, Panera is releasing four sandwiches, four salads, and Bacon Mac & Cheese—all for less than $10.

Because the mac and cheese is likely what we’re all here for, let’s talk about Panera’s first-ever rendition of the beloved white Cheddar mac. The new Bacon Mac & Cheese will feature the same shell pasta and tangy aged white Cheddar sauce you already love but with added applewood smoked bacon for extra flavor.

Panera’s new sandwiches include a Toasted Italiano, made with Black forest ham, soppressata, provolone, romaine, red onion, pepperoncini peppers, garlic aioli, and Greek dressing on a toasted baguette; a Chicken Bacon Rancher, complete with grilled chicken, applewood smoked bacon, white Cheddar, and ranch dressing on Black Pepper Focaccia; a Ciabatta Cheesesteak, featuring marinated sliced steak, provolone, garlic aioli, caramelized onions, and sweet Peppadew peppers on ciabatta; and a Tomato Basil BLT, which includes applewood smoked bacon, mixed greens, tomatoes, garlic aioli, and salt and pepper on tomato basil miche (a rustic sourdough bread).

The new salads are a Ranch Cobb Salad, complete with romaine, mixed greens, grape tomatoes, pickled red onions, applewood smoked bacon, feta, and hard-boiled egg with ranch dressing; a Southwest Chicken Ranch, made with romaine, grilled chicken, avocado, grape tomatoes, fire-grilled corn, cilantro, and blue corn tortilla strips with ranch dressing and chipotle aioli; a Mediterranean Chicken Greens with Grains, featuring romaine, mixed greens, farro, red rice, grilled chicken, hummus, feta, red onions, Peppadew peppers, cucumbers, and Panera’s Mediterranean shawarma seasoning with Greek dressing; and a Balsamic Chicken Greens with Grains, which includes romaine, mixed greens, farro, red rice, cucumbers, pepperoncini peppers, avocado, feta, and pumpkin seeds with balsamic vinaigrette and Green Goddess dressing.

We’re already drooling over these new menu items, so come April 4, we’ll be back in our Panera era. Actually, who are we kidding? We’ve never left our Panera era.

Read the original article on All Recipes.