Copycat Panera Mac and Cheese
This homemade Copycat Panera Mac and Cheese tastes every bit as creamy and cheesy as the original, but you can have it any time you'd like!
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time20 minutes mins
Total Time30 minutes mins
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: panera copycat
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 818kcal
- 3 cups shredded Vermont white cheddar cheese about 1.5 (8oz each) blocks of cheese
- 1 lb. dried pipette pasta or medium shells (as pictured)
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp ground mustard
- 1/2 - 1 tsp black pepper start with 1/2 tsp and add more per your tastes
Make sauce
Slowly pour in the milk, whisking as you pour. Then do the same with the heavy whipping cream.
Continue whisking and cooking over MED heat for about 3-4 minutes (until sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon), then add salt, ground mustard, and black pepper.
Add cheese
Once the sauce is bubbling, reduce the heat to LOW.
Add the shredded cheese, about a cup at a time, stirring/whisking as you add the cheese. Continue until all the cheese is added and keep stirring until the cheese is completely melted into the sauce.
- I tested this recipe using Cracker Barrel and Cabot white cheddar, both with good results, but we usually use Cracker Barrel.
- I've estimated this recipe will serve about 8, but as always, the amount and size of the servings are up to you.
- I highly recommend shredding your own cheese as opposed to using pre-shredded bags. Shredding the cheese yourself will give you the creamiest result.
- The ground mustard is a spice (a yellow powder), and can be substituted with an equal amount of Dijon mustard. This doesn't make the mac and cheese taste like mustard at all... it enhances the cheese flavor.
Calories: 818kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 54g | Saturated Fat: 32g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 160mg | Sodium: 905mg | Potassium: 315mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1797IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 729mg | Iron: 1mg