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Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,354
Registered: ‎03-21-2010

I wanted to share this recipe. I recently ate some Mac and Cheese at Panera's Bread and it was so good and creamy.I wanted to go back the next day and get some more but, my Family didn't want too. I will go back sometime this week to get some more of this. I haven't tried this recipe yet. If you have any creamy recipes to share I would appreciate it.Smile

Panera’s Stove Top Mac and Cheese
source: Panera Bread

Ingredients:

  • 16 oz pipette pasta or other small pasta shapes
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 1/2 cups milk, heavy cream, or half-and-half
  • 4 oz white American cheese, chopped or torn into pieces
  • 8 oz extra sharp white Vermont cheddar, shredded
  • 2 tsp – 1 tbsp Dijon mustard (adjust according to your tastes)
  • 1 tsp Kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp hot sauce (like Frank’s)

Instructions:

  1. In a large stockpot, cook pasta according to package directions. Drain well.
  2. While the pasta cooks, melt the butter in a 4-quart sauce pan over medium heat. When the butter has melted and has started to bubble, whisk in the flour; cook for 1 1/2 minutes whisking constantly. Gradually whisk in the milk until no lumps remain. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook milk mixture, whisking frequently, until it thickens and bubbles, about 8 minutes.
  3. Remove sauce pan from the heat and by the handful, stir in the cheeses allowing all of the cheese to melt into the sauce before adding more. Stir in the mustard, salt, and hot sauce. Return the sauce pan to the heat and stir in the pasta. Be sure to stir up the sauce from the bottom of the sauce pan and thoroughly coat all of the pasta with sauce. Cook for 1-2 minutes over medium-low heat until heated through. Serve hot in bowls with spoons.