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6.54
1.09
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The recipe prices will vary based on fluctuating grocery costs. Please use what is posted as a guide.
This Panera Mac and Cheese Recipe tastes so much like the real thing! We save ourselves so much money making this Panera copycat recipe at home.
This recipe makes six servings as a main dish. It will make 10-12 servings if served as a side dish. Making six servings costs $6.59. That works out to be about $1.09 per serving.
We love making this Caesar Salad Kit Hack without Anchovies and our One Hour French Bread with this Mac and Cheese for a complete meal.
Our kids go wild when we go out to eat, but our wallets do not, so we do not go out to eat very often. But when we do go to Panera, we all get the same thing: the mac and cheese. We were getting it often enough that it was time to have our own recipe to make at home.
Our kids literally lick their plates clean when we serve this meal. This recipe is a quick and easy stovetop dish that can be made during those busy weeknights as the main dish.
Ingredients & Cost:
Recipe Cost: $6.59
Per Serving: $1.09
- 1 pound Lumaconi pasta – $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
To find out more about how we price our recipes, check out Budget Recipes Explained.
INSTRUCTIONS
- First, assemble all of you ingredients, because this recipe moves fast!
- Cook the pasta according to the package instructions.
- Next, melt butter in a saucepan. Whisk in the flour.
- Then slowly whisk in the milk until it thickens.
- Remove from heat and stir in the cheeses and salt until smooth.
- Finally, stir in the pasta and cook for one minute before serving.
RECIPE VARIATIONS AND SUBSTITUTIONS
- Add one cup of broccoli to make Broccoli Mac and Cheese.
- You can also add ham to the dish for a delicious variation.
STORAGE TIPS
Serve: As with most recipes with dairy products in them, you shouldn’t leave this mac and cheese out for longer than 2 hours.
Store:Place the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. It will stay fresh for up to four days. You may need to add 3-4 Tablespoons of milk when reheating on the stovetop over medium heat for about 3-6 minutes or until heated through.
Freeze: This is not a recipe that freezes well. The sauce becomes grainy after defrosting, so it is best to enjoy this meal fresh.
COOK’S TOOLS
- pot
- saucepan
- colander
- measuring cups
- liquid measuring cup
- measuring spoons
- whisk
- mixing spoon
- cheese grater
RECIPE FAQs
Can I add hot sauce to mac and cheese?
Definitely! Hot Sauce adds to the flavor of the cheese without making the dish overly spicy. Add in 1/4 teaspoon at a time until desired taste is achieved.
What is Panera mac and cheese made of?
The basic ingredients are pasta, flour, butter, milk, salt, and cheese. The cheese makes all the difference in the recipe. While you can substitute the cheeses for other types of cheese, beware that it will alter the overall taste of the recipe. And be sure to use real cheese that you shred yourself, not the pre-shredded cheese.
GET KIDS INVOLVED
Ages 2-3: Have your little one help pour in the cheeses. They can then also help pour in the noodles to mix in with the cheese sauce.
Ages 4-5:Guiding your child’s hands, show them how to whisk together the flour with the butter and then the milk.
Ages 6-8: Teach your child how to grate the cheese. They can also pre-measure all of the ingredients for you.
Ages 9-11: Supervise them while they prepare the entire recipe. Remember to have them read it twice before beginning the recipe.
Ages 12+: Let them prepare the entire recipe, unsupervised, while you do the happy dance in the corner!
BUDGET TIPS
Save money by making this copycat recipe at home. A large order of mac and cheese at Panera costs just over $9.00. You can make six servings for less than that!
MORE COPYCAT RECIPES
- Copycat Instant Pot Honey Baked Ham
- General Tso Chicken
- Instant Pot Olive Garden Pasta e fa*gioli Soup
- Panda Express Orange Chicken Copycat
- Olive Garden Gnocchi Soup
- Copycat Olive Garden Fettuccine Alfredo
- Nacho Fries-Better than Taco Bell
- Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme
- Copycat Panda Express Chow Mein
- Texas Roadhouse Rolls
Like it? Save for later!
Panera Mac and Cheese Recipe
Recipe Cost 6.54
Serving Cost 1.09
This Panera Mac and Cheese Recipe tastes so much like the real thing! We save ourselves so much money making this Panera copycat recipe at home.
Servings: 6 people
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 30 minutes mins
Equipment
pot
saucepan
Colander
measuring cups
Liquid measuring cup
Measuring spoons
whisk
mixing spoon
cheese grater
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 white American cheese from the deli counter about 6 slices sliced into strips
- 8 ounces extra-sharp white cheddar shredded
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
US Customary – Metric
Instructions
Cook pasta following the package directions.
Melt butter over low heat in a large saucepan. While whisking constantly, whisk in the flour. Cook for 1 minute.
Slowly whisk in the milk; cook over medium heat. Whisk until the mixture thickens and bubbles before removing from heat.
Stir in the cheeses and salt until the cheese melts and the sauce becomes smooth.
Add in the pasta and stir thoroughly. Cook over medium heat for one minute.
Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Serving: 1cup | Calories: 497kcal | Carbohydrates: 65g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 49mg | Sodium: 565mg | Potassium: 334mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 536IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 283mg | Iron: 1mg
Love this recipe?Follow @EasyBudgetRecipes or tag #EasyBudgetRecipes!
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Katherine says
I love this, a perfect copycat!Reply
Gina says
You saved me a trip to Panera. This came out perfect. Nothing better than homemade!Reply
Mandy says
This tastes so good!Reply
Wajeeha Nadeem says
This mac and cheese is on my list for the weekend. Absolutely your tips for making it with the kids, as my 3 year old and 7 year old love to help in the kitchen!Reply
Tavo says
Very easy to make and super tasty!Reply
The Sudden Cook says
Love how you guys have outlined what the kids can do based on age! Bookmarked.Reply
Dannii says
Mac and cheese is always my go-to comfort food. This looks delicious.Reply
Kayla says
This looks delicious!! Have you ever tried putting this in a crock pot for a party? Do you think it would stay creamy?
Reply
Jess Jankowski says
We have not tried that. We are not confident it would stay creamy.
Joanna says
Followed the recipe exactly and it tasted and looked even better than Panera! The combination of white cheddar and white American cheeses was incredible and the ratio of cheese sauce to pasta was absolute perfection. Thank you for sharing this recipe!Reply
Jess Jankowski says
Thank you so much for your review Joanna!
