Panera Mac and Cheese Recipe
This Panera Mac and Cheese recipe is my kids' favorite dish whenever we go to Panera. It's also a great recipe if you're looking for a white cheddar mac and cheese.
Homemade also tastes better than any restaurant version you can get, so making this dish at home saves quite a bit (since I can never seem to get out of Panera for less than $20 for 2 people anyway). And, bonus, this recipe is just good comfort or soul food that a person always needs to have in their recipe index in case the circumstances call for it!
Panera Mac and Cheese Ingredients
- 1 16-ounce box, Medium Pasta Shells
- 1/4 cup, Butter
- 1/2 cup, All-Purpose Flour
- 2 1/2 cups, Milk (2% or whole)
- 6 slices, White American Cheese (chopped)
- 8 ounces, Extra-Sharp White Vermont Cheddar (shredded)
- 1/2 Tbsp, Creamy Dijon Mustard
- 1 tsp, Kosher Salt
- 1/4 tsp, Hot Sauce
Panera Mac and Cheese Directions
- Prepare the pasta according to the directions on the box.
- Melt the butter over low heat in a medium sauce pan. Add in the flour to make a roux, whisking constantly. Cook about 1 minute before whisking in the milk. Continue whisking as the sauce thickens. Remove from the heat.
- Whisk in the seasonings (mustard, salt, hot sauce). Add in the cheeses using a spatula or wooden spoon until the sauce is smooth.
- Fold in the pasta until it’s heated through. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired. Serve immediately.
Oh, and if you're thinking about skipping that hot sauce or mustard, don't do it. Just don't. Those are the secrets to making this have that extra tangy sharpness that takes this recipe to the next level. Trust me on this one!
I mean, just look at that cheesy deliciousness!!!!
This recipe is enough for 6-8 servings. It's so good, you may want to double up the recipe and freeze a batch so it's available to pop in the oven when the craving for this mac hits! It also makes a great side dish to deliver if you need to take a meal to a friend.
More Panera Bread Copycat Recipes
Panera Bread Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Panera Rigatoni San Marzano Pasta
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If you want to see how meal plan and prep weekly can save you lots in your budget, check more meal plan ideas with easy recipes. Our family loves the restaurant copycat recipes too!
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Homemade Bread Machine Bread Recipe
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PrintPanera Mac and Cheese
This Homemade White Cheddar Mac and Cheese is a copycat of the delicious Panera Mac and Cheese Recipe. You only need a short list of ingredients to make this restaurant copycat at home for a fraction of the price!
Ingredients
- 1 16-ounce box, Medium Pasta Shells
- 1/4 cup, Butter
- 1/2 cup, All-Purpose Flour
- 2 1/2 cups, Milk (2% or whole)
- 6 slices, White American Cheese (chopped)
- 8 ounces, Extra-Sharp White Vermont Cheddar (shredded)
- 1/2 Tbsp, Creamy Dijon Mustard
- 1 tsp, Kosher Salt
- 1/4 tsp, Hot Sauce
Instructions
- Prepare the pasta according to the directions on the box.
- Melt the butter over low heat in a medium sauce pan. Add in the flour to make a roux, whisking constantly. Cook about 1 minute before whisking in the milk. Continue whisking as the sauce thickens. Remove from the heat.
- Whisk in the seasonings (mustard, salt, hot sauce). Add in the cheeses using a spatula or wooden spoon until the sauce is smooth.
- Fold in the pasta until it’s heated through. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired. Serve immediately.
Hello,
I’m in Maine can you share other sites like yours that would help find the deals closer to home for me. Our grocery stores are Shaws and Hannaford.
Thank you!
Cheese sauce running–followed recipe to tee except I didn’t use mustard- butter and flour got clumpy–any suggestions on how to fix those two things because it would be good if cheese was thicker?