Copycat Panera Mac and Cheese Recipe • Food Folks and Fun (2024)

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This is THE recipe for Panera Mac and Cheese. I got it from their website a while back when they posted it for a short time! You MUST try this easy stovetop recipe.

It costs just $1.09 per serving to make this recipe at home. The recipe makes 6 servings for a total of about $6.55. That’s less than it costs to buy one bowl at Panera!

Copycat Panera Mac and Cheese Recipe • Food Folks and Fun (1)

Why you will love Panera Bread Mac and CheeseWhen I was pregnant with my son, there were only two foods that I could stomach: bagels and Panera’s Mac & Cheese. I would have their mac & cheese weekly.

I’d get their half and half with an order of mac and cheese and an order of Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup. Okay, okay, if I’m goingto be honest, maybe it was more than once a week.

For me, this is the pinnacle of mac & cheese dishes; it’s rich, smooth, creamy, and chock-full of calcium from all that yummy cheese and milk.

Not only is this recipe amazingly delicious, but it’s also quick and easy to make and on the table in 30 minutes or less. This mac and cheese recipe is thick and smooth and so easy to make on the stovetop.

Panera Copycat Mac and Cheese ingredients

Per Serving Cost: $1.09

Recipe Cost: $6.55

  • 1 pound Lumaconi pasta (I found it at Target) – $1.38
  • 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter – $0.40
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour – $0.05
  • 2 ½ cups milk – $0.40
  • 4 ounces white American cheese – $1.52
  • 8 ounces extra-sharp white Vermont cheddar – $2.76
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt –$0.02
  • ¼ teaspoon hot sauce – $0.01

NOTE: The recipe prices are calculated by using grocery store websites. The actual cost of the recipe will vary depending on what ingredients you already have.

Copycat Panera Mac and Cheese Recipe • Food Folks and Fun (2)

Cook’s tools for Panera Mac n Cheese

  • cheese grater
  • pasta pot
  • medium saucepan
  • whisk

Panera Mac n Cheese variations

  • You can use any type of pasta that you’d like. To make this recipe just like Panera’s, you need to use Lumaconi pasta. In its place, you can use medium shells, elbow macaroni, and Cavatappi.
  • If you’re serving this as a main dish, it serves 4-6. If you’re making this as a side dish, it serves 8-10.
  • I find that to get optimal results; you *must* use extra-sharp white cheddar and sliced white American cheese from the deli, not the fake stuff you find in the box.
  • Add 1 cup of chopped and steamed broccoli florets for broccoli mac and cheese.

How to make Panera Mac and Cheese

  1. Gather all of the ingredients, and shred the cheese.
  2. Cook the pasta as per the package instructions.
  3. Melt butter.
  4. Add flour and milk, and cook until thickened.
  5. Whisk in cheese until melted.
  6. Stir in pasta.
  7. Serve immediately!

***Make sure you watch the recipe video in the recipe card below!

Copycat Panera Mac and Cheese Recipe • Food Folks and Fun (3)

How to serve this Panera Mac and Cheese Recipe

Here are some tips for serving this mac and cheese:

  • As a main course:This mac and cheese is hearty and filling enough to be served as a main course. You could serve it with a side salad or some roasted vegetables.
  • As a side dish:This recipe would also make a great side dish for a holiday meal or barbecue. You could serve it with grilled chicken, fish, or pot roast.
  • In a grilled cheese sandwich:This mac and cheese would be delicious in a grilled cheese sandwich. Spread some of the mac and cheese on two slices of bread and grill until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
  • In a baked potato:Top a baked potato with some of the mac and cheese and then bake for a few minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

How to store Panera Bread Mac and Cheese

SERVE: This is best served immediately after it’s made. With that said, you can keep it out for about an hour before it will need to be refrigerated.

STORE: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

FREEZE: Because of all of the dairy products in this recipe, I do not recommend freezing it. The cheese sauce will be grainy once it’s defrosted.

REHEAT: Place the Panera Mac and Cheese in a saucepan set over medium-low heat. Add 3-4 tablespoons of milk and heat and stir the mixture until heated through about 3-6 minutes.

Copycat Panera Mac and Cheese Recipe • Food Folks and Fun (4)

Copycat Panera Mac and Cheese FAQs

What type of cheese is best for Mac and Cheese?

As with all mac and cheese recipes, it’s best to use cheese that is NOT pre-shredded because of the extra additives that prevents the cheese from clumping.
For this recipe it’s best to use extra-sharp white cheddar and white American cheese from the deli.

Is hot sauce needed in this recipe?

I think so, it’s strictly used to enhance the flavor of the dish. It’s such a tiny amount that it will not make the dish spicy.

Copycat Panera Mac and Cheese Recipe • Food Folks and Fun (5)

More Copycat recipes:

  • Honeybaked Ham
  • Copycat Pizzeria Pizza Sauce
  • Bang Bang Shrimp
  • Copycat Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana
  • Movie Theater Popcorn
  • Hawaiian Food Truck Garlic Shrimp
  • BBQ Chicken Pizza
  • Fried Apples
  • Chick-Fil-A Frosted Lemonade
  • Chicken Chow Mein
  • Spinach Salad
  • Healthier General Tso’s Chicken
  • Sweet Corn Tamale Cakes

Copycat Panera Mac and Cheese Recipe • Food Folks and Fun (6)

4.18 from 103 votes

Panera Copycat Mac and Cheese

Recipe Cost $ $6.55

Serving Cost $ $1.09

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Copycat Panera’s Mac and Cheese Recipe: this is their recipe for their famous rich and creamy Mac and Cheese. So good, you’ll love it.

Equipment

  • Cheese grater

  • pasta pot

  • medium saucepan

  • whisk

Ingredients

  • 1 pound Lumaconi pasta or medium shells
  • 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 ½ cups milk anything but skim milk
  • 4 ounces (about 6 slices) sliced white American cheese from the deli counter, cut into thin strips
  • 8 ozs extra-sharp white cheddar shredded
  • ¼ teaspoon Dijon mustard optional
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon hot sauce optional

Instructions

  • Prepare pasta according to package directions.

  • In large saucepan over low heat, melt butter. Whisk in flour and cook 1 minute, whisking constantly.

  • Gradually whisk in milk; cook over medium heat, whisking until mixture thickens and bubbles. Remove from heat.

  • Add cheeses, mustard, salt, and hot sauce, stirring until cheese melts and sauce is smooth.

  • Stir in pasta and cook over medium heat for 1 minute (or until thoroughly heated). Serve immediately.

Video

Notes

  • Some people find the Dijon mustard in the recipe to be a bit overwhelming, so feel free to cut back on it or omit it altogether.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 455kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 1060mg | Potassium: 232mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 859IU | Calcium: 612mg | Iron: 2mg

did you love this recipe?

Share it with me on Facebook and find more recipes on foodfolksandfun for more!

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This post first appeared on FFF in 2014. I recently updated the recipe photos and video.

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Jillian

I’m Jillian, the creator behind Food Folks and Fun. I have over 30 years of experience cooking for others. There’s nothing I love more than cooking for my family. Food is love, and cooking isn’t just putting a meal on a plate: It’s putting a little part of myself into that meal.

Copycat Panera Mac and Cheese Recipe • Food Folks and Fun (2024)

FAQs

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 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), ...

How long to microwave Panera mac n cheese? ›

Do not boil. Microwave: Remove lid & film. Place cup on microwave-safe plate, cover loosely. Heat on high 2-3 minutes (times may vary) until hot (165 degrees F), stir halfway through, let stand 1 minute in microwave.

What cheeses are in Panera mac and cheese? ›

This is butter, provolone and white cheddar.

Does Panera sell frozen mac and cheese? ›

The policy stands in stark contrast to the vats of frying oil that probably come to mind for many consumers when they hear the words "fast food." But, while you won't find any greasy deep-fryers in a Panera kitchen, you will find frozen mac and cheese.

Does Panera use artificial ingredients? ›

Our Food Beliefs serve as a compass, helping us provide meals that are delicious, and made with high-quality, select ingredients. Clean Foods - Clean simply means we don't fill our pantry with the artificial preservatives, sweeteners, flavors, and colors from artificial sources that are listed on our No No List.

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 mac and 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.

How long can Panera mac and cheese sit out? ›

Macaroni and cheese, like all other food, can only sit out at room temperature for a maximum of two hours before entering the "danger zone" [2]. The danger zone refers to temperatures between 41°F and 135°F (5°C and 57°C), where food poisoning bacteria can rapidly grow [2].

Why is my mac and cheese so watery? ›

You added too much milk probably. You may have overcooked the pasta or not drained it thoroughly. Macaroni and cheese requires 3 ingredients and boiling water. Elbow macaroni, grated cheddar cheese, and milk.

Can you eat Panera mac and cheese after expiration date? ›

Canned goods and shelf-stable foods like boxed macaroni-and-cheese have greater latitude than their perishable cousins. Unopened, they can be eaten a year or two past their expiration dates, although there have been more extreme examples.

Should mac and cheese be runny or thick? ›

Mac and cheese is a thick, creamy mixture of cheese sauce and elbow macaroni. Learn about different methods to thicken mac and cheese.

Is Panera mac and cheese fresh? ›

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.

Where does Panera get their soup from? ›

Blount Fine Foods, formerly Blount Seafood, is a prepared foods and soup manufacturer that produces wholesale frozen and fresh soups under the Blount brand as well as Panera Bread and Legal Sea Foods. Blount Fine Foods is headquartered in Fall River, Massachusetts with a production facility in Warren, Rhode Island.

What brand of apple chips does Panera use? ›

Apple Chips – You can make homemade apple chips or buy them at the store. The brand that Panera uses is called Seneca Apple Chips. Thinly Sliced Tomatoes – You can also use cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes.

Where does Panera get their apple chips from? ›

THE APPLE CHIPS -- PANERA USES SENECA BRAND APPLE CHIPS.

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