Recipe: Panera Mac and Cheese

PANERA MAC AND CHEESE
Source: Panera

"The creamy white cheddar sauce makes this side dish from panera bread a comfort-food favorite."

1 (16-oz.) package small pasta shells
1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups 2% reduced-fat milk
6 slices white American cheese, chopped
1 cup (8 oz.) shredded extra-sharp white cheddar cheese
1 tbsp. Dijon mustard
1 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. hot sauce
Paprika (optional)

Prepare pasta according to package directions; drain.

Melt butter in a Dutch oven over low heat. Whisk in flour and cook 1 minute, whisking constantly. Gradually whisk in milk; cook over medium heat, whisking until mixture thickens and is bubbly. 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, 1 minute or until thoroughly heated. Sprinkle with paprika if desired. Serve immediately.

Makes 4-6 servings
From: Panera Bread blog, adapted by Head Chef Dan Kish and People Magazine, Restaurant Recipe, September 8, 2010

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Panera's Signature Mac & Cheese - ingredients
Source: Panera's

INGREDIENTS: macaroni and cheese (enriched rigate pasta [semolina {wheat}, egg white, niacin, ferrous sulfate, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid]), skim milk, american cheese spread (cheddar and colby cheese [pasteurized milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes], water, whey, sodium phosphate, whey protein concentrate, skim milk, milk fat, salt, carrageenan, cellulose gum), water, soybean oil, cream, cheddar cheese (cultured milk, salt, enzymes), cheese sauce (cheddar cheese [cultured milk, salt, enzymes], water, milk fat, whey, enzyme modified cheese [cultured milk, water, milk fat, sodium phosphate, salt, enzymes, vitamin A palmitate, sodium phosphate, modified corn starch, salt, lactic acid, sorbic acid {preservative}, sodium alginate]), butter (cream, salt), dry cream (cream, nonfat milk, BHA [to protect flavor]), bleached enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), salt, modified cornstarch, milk protein concentrate, guar gum, lactic acid, yeast extract, calcium lactate, DATEM, mono and diglycerides, sodium phosphate.