A super simple gourmet Mac & Cheese recipe just like the one from Panera Bread. This one is especially cheesy using only White Cheddar Cheese.
My love affair with Mac & Cheese will never fade. And this Copycat Panera Macaroni and Cheese hits the mark.
I think my obsession comes from the fact that boxed Mac & Cheese was introduced to my brother and me at a really early age.
As a kid, how can you not like noodles in a bunch of cheese sauce? Even though it wasn’t real cheese – but we didn’t know that at the time.
While I may have this particular Mac & Cheese recipe listed under Gourmet Mac & Cheeses, this is probably the easiest Mac & Cheese recipe you will ever make.
It’s actually a copycat recipe from Panera Bread. But I do have several Gourmet Mac & Cheese recipes available. All you need to do is check out my Gourmet Mac & Cheese section which includes the delicious Copycat Hard Rock Cafe Mac & Cheese recipe.
What I really love about this mac & cheese recipe is its simplicity. This recipe only needs one type of cheese. Unlike my other Gourmet Mac & Cheese recipes that require 3, 4 and sometimes 5 different kinds of cheese. Plus how can you resist a delicious white cheddar cheese?
The wife and I have been going to Panera for several years now. I like a little variety so always order something different but almost always get Panera’s Mac & Cheese.
The wife, on the other hand, loves their tomato soup. Since I love making copycat recipes, I am going to add Panera’s tomato soup recipe to my shortlist of things to make.
So how does this Copycat Recipe compare to the original on a scale of 1 to 10?
Since the goal of a Copycat Recipe is for it to taste exactly like the original, it’s only natural to rate this recipe against the original. This Copycat recipe rates a solid 9 out of 10 in my opinion.
What Ingredients do I need to make Panera’s Mac & Cheese?
You will need the following ingredients to make Panera Bread Mac & Cheese: Unsalted Butter, all purpose flour, milk, heavy cream, White Cheddar Cheese, kosher salt, Ground Black Pepper, Ground Dry Mustard, pasta.
How to make this Copycat Macaroni and Cheese from Panera Bread.
Cook pasta al dente according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
In a large pot on medium-high heat, add butter until melted. Whisk in the flour and cook for about one minute. Reduce heat to medium and add milk, heavy cream, salt, dry mustard, and pepper. Continue whisking until it begins to bubble.
Reduce to low and add white cheddar. Stir until melted.
Add cooked pasta, stirring until combined. Remove from heat and allow to sit about 5 minutes to thicken. Season with additional salt and pepper if desired.
Copycat Panera Macaroni and Cheese
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup Unsalted Butter
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1 cup milk
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 2 cups White Cheddar Cheese, shredded
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp Ground Black Pepper
- 1 tsp Ground Dry Mustard
- 1 lbs pasta
how to make this recipe
- Cook pasta al dente according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- In a large pot on medium high heat, add butter until melted. Whisk in the flour and cook for about one minute. Reduce heat to medium and add milk, heavy cream, salt, dry mustard and pepper. Continue whisking until it begins to bubble.
- Reduce to low and add white cheddar. Stir until melted.
- Add cooked pasta, stirring until combined. Remove from heat and allow to sit about 5 minutes to thicken. Season with additional salt and pepper if desired.
Nutrition
Any nutritional information provided on this site is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used. If nutritional information is important to you and your diet, please verify this recipe with your nutritionist.
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