Panera Bread Launches 'Salad Stuffers' - A Bread Bowl for Your Salad

New menu innovation transforms Panera's signature salads into an entirely new eating experience.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 7:36pm

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A photorealistic studio still life showing a freshly prepared Steakhouse Salad Stuffer - a soft Italian bread roll stuffed with crisp romaine, tender marinated steak, applewood smoked bacon, gorgonzola, pickled red onions, grape tomatoes, and crispy frizzled onions, arranged elegantly on a clean white background with dramatic studio lighting.Panera's new Salad Stuffers transform the brand's signature salads into a portable, satisfying new eating experience.St. Louis Today

Panera Bread is changing the salad game with the launch of its all-new Salad Stuffers. Made with an Italian Stuffer Roll deliciously filled with premium salad ingredients, Salad Stuffers transform Panera's classic salads into a new way to enjoy a perfect bite every time. Guests can make any salad on the menu a Stuffer, including new chef-crafted options like the Steakhouse Salad Stuffer and Santa Fe Salad Stuffer.

Why it matters

Panera is known for its iconic soup bread bowls, and the new Salad Stuffers innovation brings that same concept to the brand's signature salads. This allows Panera to offer customers a fresh, portable, and satisfying way to enjoy their favorite salads, potentially driving increased traffic and sales.

The details

The new Italian Stuffer Roll was specially developed by Panera's chefs and bakers to deliver the ideal balance of fluffy, soft bread and a freshly prepared dressed salad in every bite. Salad Stuffers are available in two new chef-crafted options - the Steakhouse Salad Stuffer with crisp romaine, steak, bacon, gorgonzola, and more, and the Santa Fe Salad Stuffer with romaine, grilled chicken, taco seasoning, roasted corn, and tortilla strips.

  • Panera Bread launched the new Salad Stuffers menu items on April 8, 2026.

The players

Panera Bread

A bakery-cafe chain known for its iconic soup bread bowls and chef-curated menu of salads, sandwiches, and more. Panera Bread is part of the larger Panera Brands company.

Mark Shambura

Chief Marketing Officer at Panera Bread, who commented on the launch of the new Salad Stuffers menu items.

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What they’re saying

“We're thrilled to bring this innovative menu category nationwide – our guests who tested Salad Stuffers couldn't get enough of our new Italian Stuffer Roll paired with new, bold salad flavors.”

— Mark Shambura, Chief Marketing Officer, Panera Bread

What’s next

Salad Stuffers are available for dine-in, delivery, Rapid Pick-Up, or drive-thru at Panera Bread bakery-cafes nationwide starting April 8, 2026.

The takeaway

Panera's new Salad Stuffers innovation combines the brand's signature bread bowl concept with its popular salad menu, offering customers a fresh and portable way to enjoy their favorite salads that could drive increased traffic and sales for the bakery-cafe chain.