Panera Mac and Cheese Copycat Recipe (2024)

Published by Allyson
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This creamy white cheddar macaroni and cheese is the closest copycat recipe to Panera's Mac and Cheese! So easy to make so delicious!

Panera Mac and Cheese Copycat Recipe (1)

Panera's Mac and Cheese is essentially their most popular menu item! It's funny it's actually classified as a soup, but we know this mac and cheese is a delicious side or meal. It's a favorite of adults and kids alike, and everyone always begs me for this recipe. It's incredibly easy to make at home, and way more cost effective. This Copycat Panera Mac and Cheese will be your go-to recipe from now on!

Panera Mac and Cheese Copycat Recipe (2)

The best part about this mac and cheese is that it is super creamy and delicious! I have already shared with you how to make and also Spicy Mac and Cheese! You are going to LOVE this Copycat Panera Mac and Cheese! I love serving it alongside Air Fryer Hot Dogs or Crispy Chicken Strips for a delicious meal!

Panera Mac and Cheese Copycat Recipe (3)

How to make Copycat Panera Mac and Cheese:

**scroll down for full ingredients list and printable directions**

  • Get all the ingredients together.
  • Boil a pot of water, and add macaroni noodles or desired pasta shape and cook al dente according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.
  • Freshly grate extra sharp white cheddar cheese. DO NOT use pre-shredded cheese as this type of cheese has additives to prevent melting together.
  • Using a medium sauce pot or skillet, add the butter and melt over medium heat. Add flour and whisk into the butter until combined. Slowly add in the milk and heavy cream while whisking to combine. Add the dijon mustard, salt, pepper, and hot sauce and whisk to combine.
  • Increase the heat to medium high, and bring the mixture to a quick boil. Add in the freshly grated cheese, and whisk to combine. Once it's mixed into the liquid, reduce the heat to low, and cook for 1-2 minutes, whisking here and there to prevent burning.
  • Add the drained pasta back into the pot, then pour the cheese sauce over the top. Fold the pasta into the cheese sauce until completely coated.
  • Serve and top with parsley, parmesan, and black pepper if desired.
Panera Mac and Cheese Copycat Recipe (4)

Can I freeze this Mac and Cheese?

I don't recommend it. Creamy mac and cheese tends to get grainy after freezing, and it can be difficult to get the right consistency back after freezing.

What to serve alongside this mac and cheese:

  • Air Fryer Asparagus Fries (easy recipe)
  • Air Fryer Roasted Asparagus (2 ingredients)
  • Air Fryer Roasted Broccoli (low calorie, low carb)
  • Sautéed Kale (easy healthy recipe)
  • Air Fryer Hot Dogs
  • Air Fryer Hamburgers
  • Instant Pot Corn on the Cob (in husk with peeling hack)
  • Honey Mustard Chicken Strips (Air Fried or Baked)
Panera Mac and Cheese Copycat Recipe (5)

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5 from 13 votes

Panera Mac and Cheese Copycat Recipe (6)

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Panera Mac and Cheese (copycat recipe)

This creamy white cheddar macaroni and cheese is the closest copycat recipe to Panera’s Mac and Cheese! So easy to make so delicious!

Course:Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine:American

Keyword:Panera Mac and Cheese (copycat recipe)

Servings: 8 servings

Calories: 594 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1lbmacaroni pasta (or whatever pasta shape you want)
  • ½cupunsalted butter(1 stick)
  • ¼cupflour
  • 1 ½cupsmilk( I used 1%)
  • 1 ½ cupsheavy cream
  • 2teaspoondijon mustard
  • 1teaspoonsalt
  • ½teaspoonblack pepper
  • 1teaspoonhot sauce
  • 8ounceblock extra sharp white cheddar cheese, grated (freshly)

Instructions

  1. Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain and set aside.

  2. Using amedium sauce pot or skillet over medium heat, add butter and melt. Add flour, whiskuntil combined. Slowly add milk and heavy cream whilewhiskingto combine. Add dijon mustard, salt, pepper, and hot sauce and whisk to combine. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to a quick boil. Add cheese and whisk to melt into mixture. Reduce heat to low, and cook for 2 minutes, whisking every 30 seconds.

  3. Add the drained pasta back into the pot, then pour cheese sauce over the top. Fold the pasta into the cheese sauce until completely coated.

  4. Serve topped with parsley, ground black pepper, and parmesan cheese if desired.

Recipe Video

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Alicia

    Panera Mac and Cheese Copycat Recipe (7)
    I had been buying those little pre-made containers of panera mac and cheese for my kids for a while. They love it, but it gets SO expensive! I made this and they couldn't tell the difference at all! This will be the recipe I use from now on, thank you!

    Reply

    • Allyson

      My kids love those too and I would always buy at Costco even though it was so expensive! They are obsessed with this recipe and I am so happy because those things add up in cost and in waste (so much plastic)!

      Reply

    • Courtney Padilla

      what kind of hot sauce did you use?

      Reply

  2. Rebecca Hubbell

    Panera Mac and Cheese Copycat Recipe (8)
    We live an hour away from the closest Panera but I love their mac and cheese. I decided to try this recipe and it is SO GOOD! Tastes just like Panera!

    Reply

  3. Beth

    Panera Mac and Cheese Copycat Recipe (9)
    My son is OBSESSED with Panera! How exciting to be able to make this recipe from home!

    Reply

  4. Jen

    Panera Mac and Cheese Copycat Recipe (10)
    This is dangerous now that I can make it whenever I want, haha! So perfectly creamy and cheesy. Love it!

    Reply

  5. Jennifer

    Panera Mac and Cheese Copycat Recipe (11)
    Grating your own cheese is the ultimate tip with this recipe. You'll be licking your bowl clean and not wasting any of this cheesy goodness.

    Reply

  6. Dorothy Reinhold

    Panera Mac and Cheese Copycat Recipe (12)
    Mac and cheese is a favorite around my house, and they love this! I love the white cheddar gooey goodness!

    Reply

  7. Erin

    Panera Mac and Cheese Copycat Recipe (13)
    Get in my belly! This cheddar macaroni and cheese is looks so good.

    Reply

  8. katerina

    Panera Mac and Cheese Copycat Recipe (14)
    Oh my, this Mac and Cheese is SO creamy and delicious!! I was so excited to try this recipe and it was SO good!!!

    Reply

  9. Beti

    Panera Mac and Cheese Copycat Recipe (15)
    This Mac and Cheese is incredibly delicious! My family loved it!

    Reply

  10. Catalina

    Panera Mac and Cheese Copycat Recipe (16)
    How creamy are these mac and cheese! I am drooling over them!

    Reply

  11. Janet

    Panera Mac and Cheese Copycat Recipe (17)
    Typically I make this for family gatherings a day before and then put it in the crockpot to keep warm and serve.May need to add some milk to it so that it is creamy… but not much. The kids love it and it is so easy t o make.

    Reply

  12. Kyle

    What hot siace do yoy reommend?

    Reply

    • Allyson

      Frank's is alway my #1!

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Panera Mac and Cheese Copycat Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients in Panera mac and cheese? ›

Cooked Pasta (Semolina Wheat Flour, Egg Whites, Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Pasteurized Process Cheese Spread (Cheddar Cheese [Pasteurized Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes], Water, Whey, Whey Protein Concentrate, Milkfat, Skim Milk, Sodium Citrate, Lactic Acid, Salt), ...

Where does Panera get their mac and cheese? ›

Panera Bread defended their product to The Washington Post and said the mac and cheese is, "made offsite with our proprietary recipe developed by our chefs." "It is shipped frozen to our bakery cafes - this allows us to avoid using preservatives which do not meet our clean standards," the company said.

What cheese does Panera use in grilled cheese? ›

About This. Sliced American cheese grilled on thick-sliced Classic White Miche.

How does Panera heat their mac and cheese? ›

Like at many chain restaurants, Panera's mac and cheese arrive at their stores pre-made and frozen. Workers then set the bag of mac and cheese in a simmering vat of water for 20 minutes, a process called "re-thermalizing," which basically just means they're thawing it and heating it through so it's ready to serve.

What kind of cheese is in mac and cheese at Panera? ›

About This. Tender shell pasta in a blend of rich cheeses including our tangy aged white cheddar cheese sauce.

Does Panera use quality ingredients? ›

We aim to craft food that our guests not only crave but can also feel great about eating because of the high-quality ingredients. We believe good food is generous to all: our guests, associates, supply partners, and the planet.

Who owns the most Panera franchises? ›

THE STORY OF COVELLI ENTERPRISES

Today, there are no McDonald's Restaurants in the Covelli portfolio. Instead, the Covelli family moved to Panera Bread franchises and is now the largest franchisee of the brand with over 300 locations in 8 states. The company also owns O 'Charley's Restaurants and Dairy Queens.

Does Nestle own Panera? ›

Panera Bread is privately held by JAB Holding Company. Panera Bread is part of Panera Brands, one of the largest fast casual restaurant platforms in the U.S., comprised of Panera Bread®, Caribou Coffee® and Einstein Bros. ® Bagels.

What brand of apple chips does Panera use? ›

The brand that Panera uses is called Seneca Apple Chips. Thinly Sliced Tomatoes – You can also use cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes. Crumbled Gorgonzola Cheese – If you don't like gorgonzola cheese, you can use feta cheese or blue cheese.

What two cheeses are best for grilled cheese? ›

Sharp cheddar, Gouda, Fontina, Monterey Jack, Gruyere, Pepper Jack, and brie are all good options. The amount of cheese you use will depend on the size of your bread. I love sharp Cheddar, Monterey Jack, and Gouda together.

What hot sauce does Panera use? ›

Panera Forms Partnership with Yellowbird Hot Sauce.

Does Panera mac and cheese come in a bag? ›

Panera's mac and cheese is made offsite, in a centralized kitchen, then shipped frozen to locations. Employees reheat bags of the mac and cheese individually when customers order the dish.

Is Panera Bread Mac n cheese healthy? ›

Panera Bread Mac & Cheese

Out of those calories, 580 calories come from fat, making it a high-fat option. The mac and cheese contain 64 grams of fat, including 35 grams of saturated fat and 2 grams of trans fats, which can negatively impact cardiovascular health.

Does Panera use artificial ingredients? ›

In 2017 Panera announced it had removed artificial ingredients from its U.S. menu, following a commitment to "clean" ingredients in 2014 and the 2015 publication of a list of prohibited additives, which it calls its "No No List."

Does Panera mac and cheese have milk? ›

INGREDIENTS: Cooked Pasta (Water, Semolina Wheat Flour, Egg Whites, Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Pasteurized Process Cheese (Cheddar Cheese [Pasteurized Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes], Water, Whey, Milkfat, Whey Protein Concentrate, Skim Milk, Sodium Citrate, Salt, ...

What is mac and cheese made of? ›

Mac and cheese is made with some sort of pasta, a mornay sauce, salt, pepper, and a few additional seasonings. I put both nutmeg and cayenne in mine. Mornay sauce is bechamel sauce with cheese melted into it, and bechamel, of course, is milk thickened with a roux.

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