Everything You Can Get for Under $5 on Panera’s First Ever Value Menu

A lot of people are falling out of love with Panera – and honestly, we think it knows it. For a while now, the chain’s faced a lot of flak on social media for its ever-increasing prices (you only have to go to its Subreddit to see that), while simultaneously not seeming to do that much to make its food better, or feel worth it. Basically, people feel like they’re paying more for less, and they’re not happy. 

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So over the last few years, it’s been hustling to try and keep people interested, going hard on its grocery store soups (which, to be fair, we were huuuge fans of) and announcing a throwback menu to get people all nostalgic. Now, though, it’s doing what people actually want it to do: It’s running some deals, by way of its just-announced Mix & Match menu. Let’s look at what’s on offer.

Here’s the Deal on Your Mix & Match Meal

Panera’s Mix & Match menu gives customers the ability to choose from 10 of its items, all priced at $4.99 each, and to build a meal by picking from between two to 10 dishes. Alongside the items you pick, you also get a free side: a baguette, chips, or an apple. 

It doesn’t look like you can pick just one item for $4.99 here, so you’re still looking at spending around $10 per order as a minimum – but, if you’re getting lunch with a friend, it could be a way for both of you to get something light without spending too much. As for what you can choose from, Panera’s offering the following on its menu:

• Half sandwiches: Take your pick of Toasted Caprese Focaccia, Bacon Turkey Bravo, Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad, or Toasted Italiano.
• Soup cups: Bistro French Onion, Creamy Tomato, or Homestyle Chicken Noodle. We guess that its mac & cheese isn’t technically a soup…but we’re still sad not to see it. 
• Half salads: Caesar, Ranch Parm BLT, and Fuji Apple Chicken are all on offer here. 

You can order from its Mix & Match menu right now, so sayeth Panera. 

More Value, Everywhere

Panera’s really hammering home the fact that it’s joining the value menu world for the first time with this new deal – and that, in its eyes, it’s besting everyone else. “With the Mix & Match Menu, Panera is introducing the first value menu of its kind – one that doesn’t require compromise and makes it easy for guests to combine quality, craveable selections into a meal that truly satisfies at a great value,” said Panera Bread’s CMO Mark Shambura in a press release. We’ll be the judge of that one, Panera!

It’s dropped its new Mix & Match menu at a good time, too: Virtually every other chain out there is trying to one-up each other with value offers at the moment. 2026 is the year of the value menu, and honestly, we’re here for it. Who likes spending more?