Catering Menu

Panera Bread Catering Menu With Prices, Options, and Ordering Guide

Planning food for a group sounds simple, but it can quickly become stressful.

You may not know how much food to order. You may worry about prices, serving sizes, delivery time, vegetarian options, or whether boxed lunches are better than platters. If you are ordering for an office lunch, school event, training day, business meeting, or family gathering, one small mistake can create a big problem.

Maybe there is not enough food. Maybe you forgot drinks. Maybe someone needs a vegetarian meal. Maybe the order does not arrive at the right time.

That is why this Panera Bread Catering Menu guide is made to help you plan the order in a clear way.

Here, you will find Panera catering options, prices, serving-size details, boxed lunch choices, sandwich platters, salads, soups, drinks, bakery items, delivery notes, and best order ideas for 10, 20, or 50 people.

The goal is simple: help you choose the right Panera catering order without guessing.

What Is Panera Bread Catering?

Panera Bread catering is a group ordering service from Panera. It lets you order food for more than one person.

You can use it for office lunch, team meetings, morning breakfast, family events, school events, training days, small parties, business events, client meetings, staff meetings, and student events.

The menu is built around easy serving. Many items come in boxes, trays, bundles, or group packs.

This makes Panera catering a good choice when you need food that is simple, fresh, and easy to share.

Who Is This Panera Catering Guide For?

This guide is for people in the United States who are planning food for a group.

It is mainly for office admins, HR teams, managers, team leads, event planners, school staff, college staff, and family event planners.

Most of these people want quick answers before ordering.

They want to know what Panera offers, how much it may cost, how many people each item can serve, and which option is best for their event.

Panera Bread Catering Menu Overview

The Panera catering menu has many food groups. The main sections include breakfast assortments, boxed breakfasts, sandwich assortments, boxed lunches, salads, soups, mac and cheese, drinks, bakery items, and popular bundles.

The menu works well because it gives users both individual meal choices and shared group options.

Boxed lunches are better when each person needs their own meal.

Trays and platters are better when you want a shared table setup.

Ordering Online Is Easy

You can order Panera catering online. The process is simple.

This is helpful for busy people who need food for a meeting, school event, training day, or family gathering.

How to order online

  1. Go to the Panera catering website.
  2. Choose delivery or pickup.
  3. Select your date and time.
  4. Add your guest count.
  5. Pick your menu items.
  6. Review your order.
  7. Place your order.

Same Day Orders

Panera may accept same-day catering orders.

Panera says you should give four hours’ advance notice for same-day orders. But advance notice can vary by cafe.

Orders placed within 24 hours depend on product and delivery availability.

Same-day ordering can help with last-minute office lunches or small group meals. But for larger events, ordering early is safer.

We Deliver

Panera catering offers delivery in many areas.

Delivery depends on your local bakery-cafe, address, order time, and order size.

Panera also says the delivery charge is not a tip or gratuity for the driver.

Delivery is useful for office meetings, training sessions, school events, and group lunches where you do not want to pick up the food yourself.

Full Panera Bread Catering Menu Breakdown

The full Panera Bread Catering Menu can be divided into simple sections.

Each section works for a different type of event.

Breakfast Catering Options

Panera breakfast catering is a good choice for morning meetings, school events, and office breakfast.

Common breakfast options include bagel packs, pastry assortments, morning pastries, breakfast sandwiches, souffles, fruit, coffee totes, and boxed breakfasts.

This section works well when people need a quick morning meal.

Popular Breakfast Items

Popular breakfast catering picks may include bagels, muffins, pastries, egg sandwiches, souffles, coffee, and fruit bowls.

Bagels and pastries are easy to serve. Coffee totes are also useful for office meetings.

Boxed Lunch Catering

Boxed lunches are one of the most useful Panera catering options.

Each person gets their own meal. This makes serving clean and simple.

Boxed lunches are good for offices, schools, business meetings, training events, and travel groups.

Panera boxed lunches may include sandwich boxed lunch, salad boxed lunch, salad stuffer boxed lunch, and pick your pairing boxed lunch.

Boxed lunches are a smart choice when you do not want serving lines, shared trays, or messy setup.

Sandwich and Salad Platters

Sandwich and salad platters are good for group sharing.

They work well for office lunches, team events, casual meetings, family gatherings, and training sessions.

Sandwich platters are good when people want different choices.

Salad platters are better for lighter meals.

A sandwich and salad order can also work well when you need food for a mixed group.

Mac and Cheese, Soup, and Comfort Items

Panera also offers warm food options for catering.

These may include Broccoli Cheddar, Homestyle Chicken Noodle, Creamy Tomato, Cream of Chicken & Wild Rice, Bistro French Onion, Bacon Mac & Cheese, Mac & Cheese, and Mexican Street Corn Chowder, when in season.

Soup and mac are best as add-ons.

They can make a simple sandwich or salad order feel more filling.

Catering Menu

Here is a simple look at the main Panera catering menu sections.

Menu SectionBest ForGood Choice For
Breakfast MenuMorning mealsMeetings, school events, office breakfast
Sandwiches MenuLunchOffice lunch, training days, casual events
Salads MenuLight mealsHealth-focused groups
Boxed LunchesEasy servingOffices, schools, business events
Soups & MoreWarm sidesCold days, comfort meals
VegetarianMeat-free guestsMixed groups
DrinksGroup drinksMeetings, lunch events
SweetsDessertParties, office treats
Sides & SpreadsAdd-onsLarger orders
Gluten-ConsciousGuests avoiding glutenGuests who need gluten-conscious choices
CoffeeMorning eventsBreakfast meetings
BagelsBreakfastOffice breakfast, school events

Breakfast Menu

The Panera breakfast catering menu is best for morning events.

You can order bagels, pastries, egg sandwiches, souffles, coffee, and fruit.

A simple breakfast order could include bagel pack, pastry tray, coffee tote, and fruit bowl.

This works well for a small office meeting.

For a bigger group, you can add boxed breakfasts or egg sandwiches.

Sandwiches Menu

The Panera sandwich catering menu is one of the main lunch options.

You can choose sandwich assortments or boxed sandwich lunches.

Sandwich catering works well because it is easy to serve. It also gives people familiar lunch choices.

Good sandwich catering picks may include hot sandwich assortment, cold sandwich assortment, deluxe sandwich assortment, sandwich boxed lunch, and bagel stacks.

Many Panera sandwich assortments serve 5 to 7 people. Assorted Bagel Stacks serve 5. The Entertaining Assortment serves 15 to 20 people.

Sandwich assortments are better for shared tables. Boxed lunches are better when each person needs their own meal.

Salads Menu

Panera salad catering is a good choice for lighter lunches.

Salads can be served as a main meal or as a side with sandwiches.

Good salad catering choices may include Strawberry Poppyseed Chicken, Green Goddess Chicken Cobb, Asian Sesame Chicken, Greek with Chicken, Fuji Apple with Chicken, Caesar with Chicken, Southwest Chicken Ranch, Mediterranean Chicken Greens with Grains, and Balsamic Chicken Greens with Grains.

Panera salads may vary by cafe and season. Some items can also be limited-time options.

Salads work well for office lunches, health-focused groups, and mixed meal orders.

Boxed Lunches

Boxed lunches are best when you want clean and easy serving.

They are useful for offices, schools, training events, business meetings, and travel groups.

Each boxed lunch is usually packed for one person.

This makes it easy to hand out meals without setting up a full buffet table.

A Sandwich Boxed Lunch includes a whole sandwich, chips, and a cookie. Cold sandwiches also come with a pickle spear.

A Salad Boxed Lunch includes a whole salad, a piece of French Baguette, and a cookie.

A Pick Your Pairing box is individually labeled and comes with a French Baguette piece and a cookie.

Soups & More

Soups and mac and cheese are good add-ons for catering orders.

They work well with sandwich trays, boxed lunches, salad platters, and bakery items.

Soup and mac are best for colder days or longer meetings.

They can also help make a simple sandwich order feel more filling.

Vegetarian

Panera has vegetarian-friendly catering choices.

These may include salads, some sandwiches, soups, fruit, bakery items, and sides.

Vegetarian options are helpful when you are ordering for a mixed group.

A safe plan is to include at least one vegetarian meal choice in your order.

Drinks

Panera catering drinks can include hot and cold options.

Common drink choices may include coffee totes, tea, lemonade, bottled drinks, orange juice, and water.

Coffee totes are best for breakfast events.

Lemonade, tea, and bottled drinks work well for lunch.

Panera cold drink totes contain 128 fl oz and are served in two half-gallon containers. Hot drink totes contain 120 fl oz per tote.

Sweets

Panera sweets are good add-ons for group meals.

Common sweet items may include cookies, brownies, pastries, muffins, and bakery packs.

These are good for office treats, lunch desserts, and small events.

Sides & Spreads

Sides and spreads can help complete your catering order.

Common sides may include chips, baguette pieces, fruit, pickle spears, spreads, and extra bakery items.

Sides are useful when you want to add more variety without ordering another full meal.

Gluten-Conscious Options

Panera lists some gluten-conscious options.

But these items are not gluten-free.

Panera says gluten-conscious items are not suitable for people with Celiac Disease, high gluten sensitivity, or wheat allergy because of possible cross-contact inside the bakery-cafe.

Coffee

Coffee is one of the best drink choices for breakfast catering.

It works well for morning meetings, office breakfast, school events, and training days.

For a full breakfast setup, pair coffee with bagels, pastries, fruit, or boxed breakfasts.

Bagels

Bagels are a simple and popular breakfast catering item.

They are easy to share and easy to serve.

Bagels work best with cream cheese, coffee, fruit, and pastries.

A bagel pack is a smart choice for a quick morning event.

Panera’s Bagel Pack serves 13 and comes with 2 tubs of cream cheese spread. The Dozen & A Half Bagels option serves 18, and cream cheese spread is sold separately.

Panera Catering Menu With Prices

Catering ItemPrice Range
Simple breakfast orderAround $6 to $10 per person
Boxed lunchAround $10 to $16 per person
Sandwich and salad lunchAround $10 to $17 per person
Larger office mealAround $14 to $18+ per person
Bakery add-onsVaries by pack
Drink totesVaries by drink and size

Panera Catering Per Person Cost Breakdown

The cost per person depends on what you order.

A basic breakfast order may cost less than a full lunch spread.

A boxed lunch is often easier to price because each person gets one box.

A group platter may be cheaper for some events, but it may need more setup.

Order TypeBest ForCost Level
Bagels and coffeeMorning meetingLower
Pastries and fruitLight breakfastLower to medium
Boxed lunchOffice lunchMedium
Sandwich platter with saladGroup lunchMedium
Full lunch with drinks and dessertLarge eventHigher

Panera Catering Order Planning

Good planning can save money and reduce food waste.

Before you order, check number of guests, event time, food limits, vegetarian needs, drink needs, delivery time, serving space, and budget per person.

This helps you avoid common problems like ordering too little food, missing vegetarian choices, forgetting drinks, or choosing the wrong serving style.

For a small group, boxed lunches are often the easiest choice.

For a larger group, sandwich platters, salad bowls, drinks, and bakery packs may work better.

Panera Catering Add Ons

Add-ons can make your order better.

Useful add-ons include chips, fruit, cookies, brownies, drinks, coffee, soup, mac and cheese, and extra bread.

Add-ons are best when your event is longer than one hour.

They also help when you are serving people with different food needs.

Panera Catering Event Type Matching Table

Use this table to choose the right Panera catering order.

Event TypeBest Panera Catering PickWhy It Works
Morning meetingBagels, pastries, coffeeEasy and fast
Office lunchBoxed lunchesClean and simple
Business meetingSandwich boxes and drinksNeat and professional
Client meetingBoxed lunches, salad, drinksSimple and clean
Training daySandwich platter, salad, drinksGood for longer events
Staff meetingSandwiches, soup, drinksEasy group meal
School eventBoxed lunches or sandwich traysEasy to serve
College eventBoxed lunches, drinks, sweetsWorks for groups
Family gatheringSandwiches, mac and cheese, sweetsEasy group meal
Casual partyPlatters, bakery items, drinksEasy to share
Light lunchSalad platter, fruit, drinksFresh and simple
Mixed groupBoxed lunches with vegetarian optionsEasier for different needs

How Does Panera Catering Work From Start to Finish?

Simple order process

  1. Choose your event date.
  2. Count your guests.
  3. Pick delivery or pickup.
  4. Choose breakfast, lunch, or dinner items.
  5. Add drinks and sides.
  6. Add vegetarian or gluten-conscious choices if needed.
  7. Check your local menu and prices.
  8. Place your order.
  9. Review your pickup or delivery time.
  10. Serve the food at your event.

How Far in Advance Should You Order Panera Catering?

It is better to order early.

For small orders, same-day ordering may be possible at some cafes.

For large orders, order at least one day ahead if you can.

For office events, school events, or big meetings, ordering early is safer.

This gives your local Panera more time to prepare the food.

What Is the Minimum Order for Panera Catering?

The minimum order can vary by location.

It may also depend on delivery or pickup.

Some cafes may have a minimum amount for delivery.

Before placing your order, check your local Panera catering page.

When Panera Catering Might Not Be the Right Choice

Panera catering may not be the best choice for every event.

It may not be ideal if you need fine dining style food, a full hot buffet, very custom meals, formal event service, or strict allergy-safe food handling.

For simple office meals, school events, and casual group lunches, Panera can work well. For formal events, a full-service caterer may be better.

Panera Catering Pros vs Cons

ProsCons
Good for group mealsPrices can vary
Easy online orderingSome items may not be at every cafe
Breakfast and lunch optionsLarge orders need planning
Boxed lunches are simpleDelivery may not be open in all areas
Good for office eventsGluten-conscious items may have cross-contact risk
Many drink and bakery add-onsFinal cost may rise with fees

Nutrition and Dietary Options

Panera catering has many meal types.

You may find vegetarian choices, gluten-conscious choices, salads, fruit, lower-calorie options, sandwiches, soups, and bakery items.

But nutrition and allergens can vary by item.

Always check Panera’s current nutrition and allergen information before ordering for people with food allergies.

Panera Catering Dietary Overview

For a mixed group, it is smart to order different food types.

A balanced catering order may include sandwiches, salad, vegetarian item, fruit, drinks, and dessert.

This gives guests more choice.

It also helps if some people do not eat meat or want a lighter meal.

Best Panera Catering Order for 10 People

For 10 people, you can keep the order simple.

A good lunch order may include sandwich assortment, salad bowl, chips, cookies, and drinks.

For breakfast, try bagel pack, pastry tray, coffee tote, and fruit bowl.

Boxed lunches are also a good choice if each person needs their own meal.

Best Panera Catering Order for 20 People

For 20 people, use a mix of trays and sides.

A good order may include sandwich assortment, large salad, soup or mac and cheese, drink tote, and cookie pack.

For a business meeting, boxed lunches may be easier.

For a casual group lunch, platters may work better.

Best Panera Catering Order for 50 People

For 50 people, plan a mixed order.

A good order may include Entertaining Assortment, sandwich assortments, large salad platters, soup or mac and cheese group servings, drink totes, cookie and brownie packs, and vegetarian boxed lunches.

For this group size, order early. Also call your local Panera if you need changes, delivery help, or special timing.

Boxed Lunch vs Platter: Which Is Better?

Both options are useful.

It depends on your event.

OptionBest ForWhy Choose It
Boxed LunchOffices and schoolsEach person gets one meal
Sandwich PlatterGroup lunchMore shared choices
Salad PlatterLight mealGood fresh side
Soup or MacAdd-onMakes the meal warmer
Bakery PackDessertEasy group treat

Choose boxed lunches when you want clean serving.

Choose platters when you want a shared table setup.

FAQs

FAQs About Panera Bread Catering Menu

How much is Panera catering per person?

Panera catering may cost around $6 to $18+ per person. The cost depends on the items, location, order size, and delivery choice.

Does Panera do catering for breakfast?

Yes. Panera offers breakfast catering. Options may include bagels, pastries, boxed breakfasts, egg sandwiches, souffles, fruit, and coffee.

Does Panera Bread offer same-day catering?

Some Panera cafes may offer same-day catering. Panera says four hours’ advance notice is needed, but timing can vary by cafe. Orders placed within 24 hours depend on product and delivery availability.

How many people does a Panera sandwich platter serve?

Serving size can vary by item. Many sandwich assortments serve 5 to 7 people, while the Entertaining Assortment serves 15 to 20 people.

Can I customize boxed lunches?

Panera may allow some boxed lunch choices and item selections. Customization can vary by location and menu item.

Does Panera catering include utensils and supplies?

Some catering orders may include basic serving items. Check your order details before checkout.

Can I earn rewards on catering orders?

Yes. Panera says MyPanera Catering Rewards gives $20 in rewards for every $500 spent on catering. Check Panera’s current rewards page for full terms.

How much does Panera catering cost for 20 people?

A Panera catering order for 20 people can vary a lot. A simple boxed lunch order may cost less than a full spread with drinks, soup, and dessert.

Does Panera catering deliver?

Yes, Panera catering offers delivery in many areas. Delivery can depend on your address and local cafe.

Do I need to tip Panera catering delivery?

Panera says the delivery charge is not a tip or gratuity for the driver. You can check your checkout page and decide if you want to add a tip.

What is the best Panera catering order for office lunch?

Boxed lunches are one of the best choices for office lunch. They are clean, easy to hand out, and simple for each person.

What is the best Panera catering order for a business meeting?

Boxed lunches, sandwich assortments, salad platters, drinks, and cookie packs can work well for business meetings. Choose boxed lunches if you want a neat setup.

What is the best Panera catering order for a school event?

Boxed lunches, sandwich trays, drinks, and sweets can work well for school events because they are easy to hand out and serve.

Does Panera have vegetarian catering options?

Yes. Panera has vegetarian-friendly choices. These may include some salads, sandwiches, soups, fruit, bakery items, and sides.

Final Thoughts: Panera Catering Is About Ease More Than Excitement

The Panera Bread Catering Menu can be a good choice when you need a simple group meal without too much setup.

From a planning point of view, boxed lunches are usually the safest choice for offices, schools, training sessions, and business meetings. Each person gets their own meal, so serving is clean and easy.

Platters work better when you want a shared table setup. They are useful for casual lunches, family gatherings, team events, and small parties. But they need more planning because you must think about serving space, drinks, sides, and guest count.

For a better order, do not choose food only by menu names. Think about the event type first.

Ask yourself: How many people are coming? Is this breakfast or lunch? Do I need delivery or pickup? Do guests need vegetarian or gluten-conscious choices? Should I choose boxed lunches or shared platters? Do I need drinks, fruit, cookies, or soup? Will the food be easy to serve at the event?

This is the kind of planning that helps you avoid common problems like ordering too little food, missing drinks, or choosing the wrong meal style.

For most office lunches, boxed lunches with drinks are a safe option. For morning meetings, bagels, pastries, fruit, and coffee work well. For bigger groups, sandwich assortments, salad platters, drink totes, and bakery packs can make the order feel more complete.

A good Panera catering order is not just about picking food. It is about matching the food to the people, event, budget, and serving setup.