Panera Mac and Cheese Copycat Recipe – Thick and creamy homemade stovetop macaroni and cheese that tastes just like what you get at Panera! So quick and easy your family is going to want this for dinner tonight!
What do you think of when you think of comfort food? For me, it is some of those classic dishes like the Best Meatloaf or homemade macaroni and cheese. When I was a kid there were a couple staple comfort food dishes in our house and they seemed to stem around pasta. Old Fashioned Goulash was top of the list.
Today things haven’t changed too much, but Crock Pot Chili is always on the menu when you have a snow day for help warm us up. . Plus you have to have corn bread, right? These Corn Muffins are a staple with chili in our house. So I have branched out a little with my comforts.
If you have ever been to Panera, you know they are pretty popular for their macaroni and cheese. It is a staple on the kids menu, but the adults go crazy for it as well. So I had to find a way to make a copycat Panera mac and cheese.
It is done on the stove top, and is super quick and easy to do. The results are super creamy, comforting and perfect for when you just want to hide away and stay warm. Or if you are just busy and want a quick and easy dinner you know the whole family will eat!
What’s In Panera Mac and Cheese
- Pasta – you can use whatever short cut pasta that you have
- Butter
- Flour
- Milk
- Heavy Cream
- Cheese – I think white cheddar and American cheese is best
- Seasonings – salt, pepper, and dry mustard
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Use your favorite shape of pasta. You want something short like shells, cavatappi, rotini or the classic elbows
- To get this done in about 20 minutes cook your pasta in one pan, and in the other make the sauce. They will be ready about the same time and then you just have to mix them together.
- Make it your own! My husband likes all things spicy, so he adds a little hot sauce to his. Chipotle Tabasco is his favorite.
- Shred the cheese yourself. You won’t want to use the pre-shredded cheese because it has a coating on it and will not melt nearly as smooth as the block you shred on your own.
- If you have leftovers store in the fridge. When you reheat you may need to stir in a little milk or cream to get it nice and creamy again. The pasta will absorb some of the creaminess as it sits in the fridge.
How to Make Panera Mac and Cheese
It all comes together on the stove top, so you can make it in minutes with no oven required!
- Start by boiling your water for the pasta. You can use traditional elbow noodles or small shells or whatever short cut pasta you like.
- In a saucepan you start by melting the butter and mixing in the flour. This is the start of a roux. You want to mix in the flour enough that it starts to turn golden and there are no white spots left.
- Whisk in the milk and cream until it is smooth and no longer lumpy.
- Next it is time for the cheese! We are using American and White Cheddar here. You can find American cheese at the deli where they will weigh it for you, don’t buy the fake stuff that is wrapped in plastic.
- After the cheese is all melted and smooth season your sauce with salt, pepper and dried mustard.
- Now mix in your cooked pasta until everything is nice and cheesy. That is it, super easy and oh so delicious!
Other Copycat Recipes You Will Love
- Cheddar Bay Biscuits (Red Lobster)
- Copycat Red Lobster Tartar Sauce
- Cafe Rio Pork (Cafe Rio)
- Pokey Sticks (Gumby’s Pizza)
- Idaho Nachos (Granite City Brewery)
- Pasta Milano (Macaroni Grill)
- Chicken Gnocchi Soup (Olive Garden)
- Mexican Pizza (Taco Bell)
Copycat Panera Mac and Cheese
Copycat Panera Mac and Cheese - homemade macaroni and cheese that tastes just like what you can buy at Panera. Made on the stove top in just minutes!
Ingredients
- 1 pound small cut pasta, (I used shells)
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup flour
- 2 cups skim milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup white cheddar cheese
- 1 cup American cheese
- 2 tsp dry mustard
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to the package directions
- Meanwhile in a saucepan melt butter and whisk in flour. Cook for 2 or 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Whisk in milk and heavy cream.
- Slowly add cheese, stirring until smooth and completely melted. Season with dry mustard, salt and pepper.
- Add cooked pasta and mix until well combined.
- Serve immediately
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Nutrition Information
Yield
6Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 574Total Fat 39gSaturated Fat 23gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 12gCholesterol 116mgSodium 1510mgCarbohydrates 37gFiber 2gSugar 8gProtein 20g
Nutrition Disclaimer: All information presented on this site is intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information shared on dinnersdishesanddesserts.com should only be used as a general guideline.
I saw the original recipe for this over at my friend Aimee’s site (Shugary Sweets). I changed it up just a tiny bit to come up with my version.
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Lora @savoringitaly says
It’s so true that it’s hard to fathom paying those high prices for a salad you could make better at home! And mac and cheese is a favorite here…we have to try your version!!
Jamielyn@iheartnaptime says
This looks amazing! They do have the best, I can’t wait to try this!
Gerry @ Foodness Gracious says
Love Panera and never had a bad thing to eat from it. This mac looks stupendous!!
Sharon @ What The Fork Food Blog says
This looks like a creamy, dreamy bowl of deliciousness! I’ve never had Panera’s Mac and Cheese (I’m a bacon turkey bravo girl every single time) but now I can make it on days it’s just me and my one year old since we’re the ones that can eat gluten and dairy lol
Jenny | Honey and Birch says
I can never leave Panera without mac and cheese and a dozen asiago cheese bagels. My waistline thanks you for letting me never enter Panera again. 🙂
Aimee @ ShugarySweets says
You’re so sweet! Your version looks insanely delicious 🙂 And I’m sorry about the snowed in thing…although deep down I’m kinda jealous 🙂
Becky Hardin | The Cookie Rookie says
One of my faves from Panera!!! Will have to try this for sure.
Cookin Canuck says
Wow, you definitely got a good dump of snow! Comfort food like this mac ‘n cheese seems like the only logical thing to eat when it’s chilly outside.
Christiane ~ Taking On Magazines says
Thank you for the comment about not getting a salad when you’re out to eat! I’ve never understood why people do that and feel the same way you do about getting real food. Sophie adores mac and cheese but I’ve yet to find a version that comes even close to her love of the blue box variety. This looks really, really good.
Concetta Stella Altieri says
I wish people would leave comments AFTER they have made the dish. I agree, it LOOKS amazing but it’s a pasty tasteless dish.
I wasted a ton of ingredients as I had to throw it all out while my family looked at me in horror. I followed the recipe exactly as posted, after a special trip to the store to buy all fresh ingredients. This is NOT a good recipe. I looked at similar recipes on line and they are all pretty much the same, small variations…. the only thing they all have in common is that people like me that actually made the dish screamed in horror.
Sorry, THIS one is a no go.
Heaven says
Agreed it’s awful I added more dried mustard than it calls for and some how it still tasted like cardboard
Rachel Marie says
Mine turned out perfect. It was delicious and super easy. I’m a teen who barely knows how to turn on the oven and I thought this dish was easy. It’s super tasty and perfect consistency too! My brother tried some and vowed that if he could, he’d marry the mac&cheese from this recipe. What noodles did you use? Sometimes that makes a difference for me. Also, I didn’t have or want to buy all those ingredients either, so I bought super cheap extra sharp cheddar (Food Club) and some flimsy American cheese slices. I also used cavatappi noodles.
Rachel Marie says
I’m in love with Panera’s mac and cheese and have tried out a few recipes before this one. I found this one to be the best! So, so, so good and super easy to make!
FitMamaof4 says
When I followed the instructions it was pretty bland. I am pretty confident Panera uses a lot more salt. Let’s be real, if you are wanting this then you know it isn’t going to be a health food. This recipe was a decent baseline.
This is how I fixed it:
I added a little over double the dry mustard
Added a lot more salt. Scarily kept adding it.
Added a lot more pepper.
Added garlic to taste (I don’t measure)
Then….it was delicious.
Carrie says
So Cheesy
Joanne says
The dry mustard here is such a great ingredient. Love how saucy these shells are!
Melissa Sperka says
One of my sons gets this every time we eat at Panera. This is a terrific copycat recipe!
Liz says
There’s no need to go to Panera as this copycat recipe was wonderful!
Amanda says
Where has this recipe been all my life, thank you so much for sharing!
Allison says
Panera Mac and Cheese is dangerously delicious! Ha! My kids will go crazy when I make this.
Kristen says
My daughter is the official mac and cheese tester and she loves this recipe.
Dorothy at Shockinglydelish says
Who doesn’t love a big bowl of mac and cheese? I love the two cheeses that you used. Yum!
Jennifer Farley says
Yum! My favorite comfort food!
Toni says
It is SO good! My kids loved it!
Katerina @ diethood .com says
I can’t wait to make this mac and cheese for my kids!! It looks and sounds amazing!!
Catalina says
Mac and Cheese is my favorite dish! I need to try your recipe!
Abeer says
I love copycat recipes! They are so easy to make them at home!