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Panera Mac & Cheese Copycat

Let's learn how to make Panera Mac & Cheese at home and even better! It's creamy, cheesy, and everything you ever dreamed of and more in the perfect mac and cheese recipe. It takes about 30 minutes to make and turns into a great dinner idea the whole family will love when served with some grilled chicken and garlic bread.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
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Ingredients

  • 16 ounces pasta shape of choice
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 3 cups half and half
  • 1 teaspoon dry mustard powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • pinch of nutmeg
  • dash of cayenne powder optional
  • 1/2 to 1 teaspoon salt to taste
  • 2 cups sharp white cheddar cheese shredded
  • 1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese shredded
  • 1/4 cup parmesan freshly grated
  • 2 tablespoons cream cheese

Instructions 

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions.
  2. Heat a saucepan or pot over medium heat. Add the butter. Once melted, whisk in the flour and cook 1 to 2 minutes until it just starts to bubble and turns a golden color.
  3. Pour in the half and half and whisk continuously until smooth. Then add the dry mustard powder, garlic powder, black pepper, nutmeg, cayenne powder if using, and salt. Whisk together.
  4. Reduce the heat to low and add all the cheeses. Whisk together until there are no more clumps and the sauce is completely smooth. Taste and adjust anything to your liking.
  5. Once the pasta is done cooking, drain it and toss it into the sauce. Mix together and serve warm!

Did You Make This Recipe?

If you make this recipe, leave a comment below and let me know how it turns out. I love hearing from you!