White Cheddar Mac and Cheese (Panera Copycat)
White Cheddar Mac and Cheese (Panera Copycat) is the ultimate comfort food, bringing the rich, creamy flavors of your favorite café straight to your kitchen. This delightful homemade version features a smooth white cheddar cheese sauce that envelops perfectly cooked pasta, making it an irresistible dish for weeknight dinners, family gatherings, or satisfying lunches.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: Serves approximately 4 people 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces pipette pasta (or small pasta)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups half & half
- 10 ounces shredded white cheddar cheese
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente.
- Heat half & half in a microwave-safe bowl until hot but not boiling.
- In a large pot over low heat, melt butter, then whisk in flour and cook for about 2 minutes.
- Gradually add warm half & half, whisking continuously until thickened.
- Remove from heat and stir in shredded cheese and salt until smooth.
- Combine the drained pasta with the cheese sauce and stir for one to two minutes.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240g)
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 16g
- Cholesterol: 65mg