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.
If you love Copycat Recipes as I do, you’ll want to check out my entire collection! {Click on the picture to be taken to the collection!}
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:
HOW TO MAKE Panera’s Mac & Cheese Recipe:
This Panera’s Mac & Cheese recipe is SO easy to make; let me show you how!
- Gather all of the ingredients, and shred the cheese.
- Melt butter.
- Add flour and milk, and cook until thickened.
- Whisk in cheese until melted.
- Stir in pasta.
- Serve immediately!
More Macaroni Recipes:
Panera Mac & Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 pound Pipette Pasta or Medium Shells
- 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
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
I recently updated the recipe photos from 2014 for this recipe, but here are the old pictures in case you’re interested.
Lisa says
Extremely close to the Panera recipe that myself and my family are hooked on! Just had a little trouble re-heating it (I cooked it for Christmas) – but I just read the reviews and now I’ll know what to do the next time I make it…..and there WILL be a next time!
Thank you much!
Sarah says
This recipe is perfect in every way. It’s also good when you transfer to the oven for 20 minutes with more cheese sprinkled on top!