Panera’s Mac & Cheese Recipe

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Alright, folks, this is THE recipe for Panera’s Mac & Cheese. I got it from their website a while back when they posted it for a short time! You MUST try this Panera’s Mac & Cheese Recipe.

When I was pregnant with my son, there were only two foods that I could stomach: bagels and Panera’s Mac & Cheese. I would have their mac & cheese weekly. 

I’d get their half and half with an order of mac and cheese and an order of Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup. Okay, okay, if I’m going to be honest, maybe it was more than once a week.

For me, this is the pinnacle of mac & cheese dishes; it’s rich, smooth, creamy, and chock-full of calcium from all that yummy cheese and milk. Not only is this recipe amazingly delicious, but it’s also quick and easy to make and on the table in 30 minutes or less.

Cook’s Note for Panera’s Mac & Cheese Recipe:

• If you’re serving this as a main dish, it serves 4-6. If you’re making this as a side dish, it serves 8-10.
• I find that to get optimal results, you *must* use extra-sharp white Vermont cheddar and sliced white American cheese from the deli, not the fake stuff you find in the box.
• For a complete meal, I suggest serving this mac & cheese with my Garden Bean Salad recipe.

COOK’S TOOLS:

• cheese grater 
• pasta pot
• medium saucepan
• whisk

HOW TO MAKE Panera’s Mac & Cheese Recipe:

This Panera’s Mac & Cheese recipe is SO easy to make; let me show you how!

1. Gather all of the ingredients, and shred the cheese.
2. Melt butter.
3. Add flour and milk, and cook until thickened.
4. Whisk in cheese until melted.
5. Stir in pasta.
6. Serve immediately!

More Macaroni Recipes:

• Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
• Best Baked Mac and Cheese

Panera Mac & Cheese

Copycat Panera's Mac and Cheese Recipe: this is their recipe for their famous rich and creamy Mac and Cheese. So good, you'll love it.

4.52 from 31 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Dish, Side Dish

Cuisine: America

Keyword: comfort food, copycat recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Servings: 6 people

US Customary - Metric

Calories: 455kcal

Author: Jillian - a Food, Folks and Fun original!

Ingredients

• 1 pound medium shells pasta
• 4 Tablespoons butter
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 2 ½ cups milk anything but skim milk
• 4 ounces (about 6 slices) sliced white American cheese from the deli counter, cut into thin strips
• 8 oz extra-sharp white Vermont cheddar shredded
• ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard optional
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon hot sauce optional

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

• Prepare pasta according to package directions.
• In large saucepan over low heat, melt butter. Whisk in flour and cook 1 minute, whisking constantly.
• Gradually whisk in milk; cook over medium heat, whisking until mixture thickens and bubbles. Remove from heat.
• Add cheeses, mustard, salt, and hot sauce, stirring until cheese melts and sauce is smooth.
• Stir in pasta and cook over medium heat for 1 minute (or until thoroughly heated). Serve immediately.

Video

Notes

• Some people find the Dijon mustard in the recipe to be a bit overwhelming, so feel free to cut back on it or omit it altogether.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 455kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 1060mg | Potassium: 232mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 859IU | Calcium: 612mg | Iron: 2mg

Tried this recipe?Follow me @FoodFolksandFun

I recently updated the recipe photos from 2014 for this recipe, but here are the old pictures in case you’re interested.