I just can’t seem to get away from comfort food even when I go out to eat. It’s just something that I love… and mac and cheese fits the bill for the ultimate comfort food and that’s why when this weeks #SundaySupper theme was chosen I just knew I needed to participate. It’s been quite a few months since I last joined the wonderful #SundaySupper movement… but now hopefully I’m back to stay and back to blogging on a regular basis.
So anyways…
Have you ever ate at Panera Bread before? They have one in a nearby mall and I try to swing by whenever I go shopping. I love their soups just as much as their mac and cheese! So cheesy… so creamy… so delicious!
I’m not going to lie… I do love some good ol’ mac and cheese straight from the box, but I know I can make it much better homemade and after whipping up this Panera copycat recipe… you’ll want to make it homemade all the time too!
Panera Copycat Mac and Cheese
Serves 6
Creamy. Cheesy. Delicious. It’s just like having Panara in your own kitchen!
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1 cup milk
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 2 cups shredded white cheddar cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1 pound small or medium noodles, cooked*
Instructions
- In a large pot over medium-high heat, melt butter.
- Add flour and stir with a whisk 2-3 minutes, but do not allow to golden as you want your mac and cheese to stay white.
- Reduce heat to medium and slowly add milk, heavy cream, salt, pepper and dry mustard.
- Continuously whisk until mixture begins to boil.
- Reduce to low and add cheese, stirring until melted.
- Add cook pasta, stirring to combine and if needed stir until thoroughly heated or remove from heat.
- Serve!
Notes
- *May use any type of pasta shape–I just prefer shells for my mac and cheese.
