Copycat Panera Mac and Cheese
This copycat Panera mac and cheese is a bakery-inspired recipe that is easy to make at home on the stovetop with a creamy white cheddar sauce and tender pasta shells.
Servings: 8
Ingredients
- 1 pound medium pasta shells
Roux
- ¼ cup butter
- ¼ cup flour
White Cheddar Sauce
- 3-4 cups sharp white cheddar , grated and at room temperature
- 1 ¼ cups heavy cream
- 1 ¾ cups whole milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground mustard
Instructions
- Boil the pasta: In a large pot, boil the pasta per the package instructions. Drain well.
- Make a roux: While the pasta is boiling, make a roux by melting 1/4 cup butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add 1/4 cup flour and whisk continually for 1 minute. Slowly add 1 1/4 cups heavy cream and 1 3/4 cups milk, while whisking continuously. Whisk an additional 3-5 minutes, or until slightly thickened.
- Add cheese, seasonings and thicken: Reduce heat to low and add shredded cheese, while stirring. Add 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard, and hot sauce (if desired.) Whisk until smooth. Remove from heat.
- Add pasta and serve: Add cooked pasta and serve!
Notes
Notes: For an even cheesier sauce, leave out 1 cup of the uncooked pasta.
Flavor: If you want to take the flavor up a notch, add a few dashes of hot sauce.
Storage: Keep leftovers in an air tight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Nutrition
