Description
A creamy and cheesy pasta dish inspired by Panera’s famous mac and cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound dry medium shell pasta
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk, room temperature
- 1 cup heavy cream, room temperature
- 1¼ teaspoons kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon dry mustard powder
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 4 cups freshly shredded Vermont Cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat.
- Add the flour and whisk for 1-2 minutes to create a roux.
- Slowly add the milk and heavy cream, whisking constantly until smooth.
- Stir in the salt, mustard powder, and pepper.
- Cook for about 5 minutes until the mixture thickens.
- Add the cheddar cheese and stir until melted and smooth.
- Combine the cheese sauce with the cooked pasta and mix well.
- Serve hot.
Notes
- For extra flavor, add cooked bacon or breadcrumbs on top.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.
- Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop with a splash of milk.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 700
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 40g
- Saturated Fat: 24g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 100mg
Keywords: Panera Mac and Cheese, cheesy pasta, comfort food