Copycat Panera Mac and Cheese

One of our favorite comfort dishes is Panera’s mac and cheese. It’s hard to resist their broccoli cheddar soup, but we can’t pass up a mouthful of those creamy, cheesy pasta shells either.

Thanks to this copycat Panera mac and cheese recipe, you can make a whole pot at home whenever you want. We provide the details on how to make it, complete with step by step photos and all of our best mac and cheese tips.

Copycat Panera Mac and Cheese Ingredients

• Pipette pasta or medium pasta shells
• Butter
• All-purpose flour
• 2% milk
• Pepper
• White cheddar cheese
• White American cheese
• Parmesan cheese
• Bread bowls, optional

Directions

Step 1: Cook the pasta

Cook the pasta according to the package directions. When the noodles are al dente, drain and set them aside.

Editor’s Tip: Don’t rinse the noodles—leaving the starchy residue will help the creamy cheese sauce adhere to them later.

Step 2: Melt the butter

In a large saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Cut it into cubes beforehand to help it melt evenly.

Step 3: Make the roux

A roux—which is a combination of flour and fat that thickens sauces and soups—does wonders for your Panera mac and cheese. Whisk the flour into the melted butter until it’s smooth.

Step 4: Whisk in the milk and thicken

After the flour and butter are combined, add in the milk and pepper. Bring it to a boil, and then cook and stir it continuously for 2 minutes or until it’s thickened.

Step 5: Melt the cheese

Next, add the shredded white cheddar, white American cheese and the Parmesan to the saucepan. Stir until the cheese is fully melted and has melded with the cream sauce.

Step 6: Stir in the pasta

Finally, stir the cooked pasta into the cheese sauce. Make sure that all of the noodles are coated.

Step 7: Serve

If you want a full Panera experience, consider serving your mac and cheese in bread bowls, which you can also make at home. Otherwise, scoop your pasta into your bowl of choice and dig in!

Copycat Panera Mac and Cheese Variations

While we think this copycat Panera mac and cheese recipe is pretty perfect as is, there are plenty of ingredients you could add to make it your own.

Add some spice to each bite by drizzling your favorite hot sauce or chili crisp on top. If you want to add protein, go for chopped bacon, chorizo or even mini pepperoni. Fresh herbs like green onions and basil will add not only color, but also freshness to your mac. Everything bagel seasoning would be a delicious topper, too.

How should you store copycat Panera mac and cheese leftovers?

Leftovers of copycat Panera mac and cheese should last in an airtight container in the fridge for three to four days. If you want it to last longer than that, freeze it.

Copycat Panera Mac and Cheese Tips

Why won’t the cheese melt evenly?

While it might be easier to pick up a bag of shredded cheese from the store to save some time, the cellulose in prepackaged shredded cheese makes it less suitable for even and smooth melting. (The cellulose, along with other preservatives, keeps the cheese from clumping together.) You’ll have a much easier time melting down the cheese when you shred it yourself.

What’s the best way to reheat leftovers of Panera mac and cheese?

You can reheat copycat Panera mac and cheese on the stovetop, or covered in the microwave. Adding a splash of milk will help loosen up the sauce and give the pasta back some creaminess that may have soaked up into the noodles.