Every Panera Bread Sandwich, Ranked by a Carb-Loving Food Editor

• What It Is: fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, fresh basil, arugula, salt, pepper, balsamic vinaigrette and garlic aioli on ciabatta
• Price (half): $6.79

Basil, tomatoes and mozzarella may be a timeless combination, but I wasn’t a huge fan of this one. The tomatoes were soggy and the sandwich itself was unevenly constructed. The most prominent flavor was the peppery arugula; otherwise, it was rather bland. More balsamic for a boost of acid would’ve been nice.

• What It Is: smoked, pulled chicken, aged white cheddar, red onions and BBQ sauce on ciabatta
• Price (half): $6.79

I did appreciate the sweet, oniony aroma that overcame me the moment I unwrapped this Panera Bread sandwich, but the ciabatta was saturated with sauce and moisture from the chicken. In terms of taste, this one was fine, but I wouldn’t order it again. (Truth be told though, the uneven assembly of the sandwich was the worst part.)

• What It Is: grilled chicken, applewood smoked bacon, aged white cheddar and ranch dressing on black pepper focaccia
• Price (half): $8.29

Full disclosure: I adore the black pepper focaccia. It always feels fresh—fluffy and springy on the inside with a crisp, crackly outer crust. This sandwich felt especially indulgent, thanks to the ranch dressing. I liked that it felt a little greasy without being unpleasantly fatty or overwhelming, but a green would have been nice (like spinach or spring mix). The bacon added salt, but I wish it had offered crunch, too.

• What It Is: marinated sliced steak, provolone, caramelized onions, zesty sweet peppers and garlic aioli on ciabatta
• Price (half): $8.79

The meat was tender and there was substantial amount of it, but it was a bit one-note and could’ve been juicier. The cheese took on more of a supporting role (which is not the case with a real-deal cheesesteak, IMO). The peppers added vibrancy, but I wish they tasted a bit more pickle-y. That said, they contrasted with the sweet onions just right.

• What It Is: smoked, pulled chicken, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, red onion, fresh basil, chipotle aioli, salt and pepper on black pepper focaccia
• Price (half): $8.29

The bread was perfect, of course. The chicken had nice heat from the aioli, while the basil shone brightly in every bite. I was grateful for the raw red onion’s crunch and the milky, rich nature of the mozz. Again, the sandwich was sloppily assembled and uneven, but that didn’t take away from its flavor.

• What It Is: American cheese melted on thick-sliced classic white miche
• Price (half): $5.69

Grilled cheese is the epitome of a no-frills meal that hits the spot every time. I’d love to pair this impressively buttery Panera Bread sandwich with tomato soup sometime. The American cheese delivered all the richness, nostalgia and slight tang I wanted, but the bread was the real star. One note: The cheese hardens pretty quickly, so I recommend eating this at the resto instead of ordering it ahead.

• What It Is: Black Forest ham, soppressata, provolone, romaine and lettuce blend, red onions, pepperoncini, Greek dressing and garlic aioli on French baguette
• Price (half): $8.79

I wished the soppressata was hotter, but I much preferred it to the ham (I’m not really into the whole sweet-meat thing). I also loved the mouth-puckering peppers. More meat and less dressing would’ve been nice, because the sandwich eventually turned very wet. (On that note, I feel like olive oil and vinegar would’ve been better than Greek dressing, because the oregano was very intense, but that’s not objectively a con.) I also would’ve welcomed leafier pieces of greens; it was mostly lettuce ribs.

• What It Is: grilled chicken, creamy salsa verde spread, aged white cheddar, zesty sweet peppers, roasted corn and cilantro on ciabatta
• Price (half): $8.29

Say what you will about Panera Bread, but their takes on spicy chicken are pretty dependable. This one sort of has jalapeño popper energy. The peppers offered medium heat and a touch of acidity, the bread was great as always, the chicken was well-seasoned (though it could’ve been more plentiful) and I loved the sharpness of the white cheddar matched with the zesty notes of the corn and salsa verde spread.

• What It Is: smoked, pulled chicken, aged white cheddar, avocado, cilantro, zesty sweet peppers and chipotle aioli on black pepper focaccia
• Price (half): $8.29

I had to go back a second time because the avocado was out of stock on my first trip, so I was glad this was worth the extra visit. It was spicy, a bit sour from the peppers, rich and creamy from the avocado and filling from the tender pulled chicken. Again, I’m a sucker for the black pepper focaccia, so I loved the bread, too. It could’ve been hotter, but the smokiness of the chipotle spread was still pleasant.

• What It Is: applewood smoked bacon, mixed greens, tomatoes, mayo, salt and pepper on tomato basil miche
• Price (half): $6.29

Real talk: There were only two half-slices of bacon on this BLT. At this price point, that’s pretty disappointing. Quantity aside, the bacon’s flavor was fine, but its texture wasn’t crisp. The bread offered more visually than flavor-wise (it leaned sweet), but the mayo was nice and tangy. I also wonder why they don’t use lettuce instead of greens—it’s in the name, after all.

• What It Is: zesty sweet peppers, feta, cucumbers, mixed greens, tomatoes, red onions, hummus, salt and pepper on tomato basil miche
• Price (half): $5.69

Again, the bread was visually intriguing, but I didn’t feel its fruitiness offered much. It also got soggy really fast. That said, the flavor of this Panera Bread sandwich is sort of gyro-inspired. The feta imparted some complementary salt that brightens up the medley of fresh produce.

• What It Is: chicken salad with diced chicken, dried cranberries, walnuts and creamy dressing, mixed greens and tomatoes on country rustic sourdough
• Price (half): $6.29

This handheld is a classic (borderline antiquated, depending on who you ask), but I’m not mad at it. It was evenly mixed and super creamy without feeling heavy. I wished the chicken salad had a touch more salt and pepper; the cranberries were surprisingly more sweet than sweet-tart.

• What It Is: roasted turkey breast, applewood smoked bacon, aged white cheddar, mixed greens, tomatoes, salt, pepper and Bravo sauce on tomato basil miche
• Price (half): $8.29

With Bravo in the name, the sauce better be a big deal. To be honest, it tasted like vegetable soup crossed with mayoketchup.  I liked its tanginess but also noted a sort of perplexing, almost fruity sweetness. I appreciated the substantial bite and solid assembly (it’s all about the cross-section, people), which made it feel like a *real* sandwich, IYKWIM. My one bone to pick? I wish there had been more bacon and that it was crispy instead of chewy.

• What It Is: grilled chicken, applewood smoked bacon, aged white cheddar, mixed greens, tomatoes, avocado, garlic aioli, salt and pepper on country rustic sourdough
• Price (half): $8.79

I much preferred this BLT to the tomato basil one. The chicken largely made up for how little bacon was on it. However, this time the bacon was a bit crisper, and the avocado lent extra richness and a buttery note to the tangy mayo. The biggest con here was that it was messily assembled, but that’s fixable, if you ask me.

• What It Is: tuna salad, mixed greens, tomatoes, salt and pepper on country rustic sourdough
• Price (half): $6.79

I grew up with almond parents (seriously—they’re retired bodybuilders) who were cutting calories left and right in every trendy way possible in the ’90s and early aughts. That means we only ever had canned tuna in water and light mayo in our kitchen…which is why I’m so infatuated with oil-packed tuna and full-fat mayo as an adult. This reminded me of a tuna sandwich from a Jersey diner, aside from the portion size. I would’ve loved pickles or red onion to make the salad even more vibrant.

• What It Is: roasted turkey breast, aged white cheddar, mixed greens, tomatoes, red onions, mayo, salt and pepper on country rustic sourdough
• Price (half): $6.79

When I need a system reboot (as in my brain and body), I crave white rice and turkey sandwiches. This one checked all the boxes: The cheese was sharp and good quality; the turkey was a touch sweet but thickly sliced and succulent and the sourdough bread had that signature tang I craved. This Panera Bread sandwich proves that simplicity is sometimes best. I’d pair this one with an apple.