Copycat Panera Mac and Cheese Recipe • Food Folks and Fun (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients in Panera mac and cheese? ›

Cooked Pasta (Semolina Wheat Flour, Egg Whites, Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Pasteurized Process Cheese Spread (Cheddar Cheese [Pasteurized Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes], Water, Whey, Whey Protein Concentrate, Milkfat, Skim Milk, Sodium Citrate, Lactic Acid, Salt), ...

How does Panera make their mac and cheese? Like at many chain restaurants, Panera's mac and cheese arrive at their stores pre-made and frozen.

The shell-shaped pasta with creamy cheese sauce comes from the freezer in a vacuum-sealed bag, gets submerged into boiling water, removed, opened and plated.

Our Food Beliefs serve as a compass, helping us provide meals that are delicious, and made with high-quality, select ingredients. Clean Foods - Clean simply means we don't fill our pantry with the artificial preservatives, sweeteners, flavors, and colors from artificial sources that are listed on our No No List.

Panera's mac and cheese is made offsite, in a centralized kitchen, then shipped frozen to locations. Employees reheat bags of the mac and cheese individually when customers order the dish.

Panera Mac and Cheese is not the typical yellow or bright orange Mac and cheese you might be used to. It's actually a white/light yellow color because it's made with white cheddar – our most important ingredient!

The policy stands in stark contrast to the vats of frying oil that probably come to mind for many consumers when they hear the words "fast food." But, while you won't find any greasy deep-fryers in a Panera kitchen, you will find frozen mac and cheese.

The brand that Panera uses is called Seneca Apple Chips. Thinly Sliced Tomatoes – You can also use cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes. Crumbled Gorgonzola Cheese – If you don't like gorgonzola cheese, you can use feta cheese or blue cheese.

Panera Forms Partnership with Yellowbird Hot Sauce.

Microwaves are used, but most things are cooked sous vide in a thermalizer, in a traditional oven, or in a small oven similar to a toaster oven, but much hotter and somewhat more advanced.

How long can Panera mac and cheese sit out? ›

Macaroni and cheese, like all other food, can only sit out at room temperature for a maximum of two hours before entering the "danger zone" [2]. The danger zone refers to temperatures between 41°F and 135°F (5°C and 57°C), where food poisoning bacteria can rapidly grow [2].

The unhealthiest lunch order at Panera is…the new Bacon Mac and Cheese Bread Bowl. At Panera, you can order any of the soups or mac and cheese in a bread bowl, which is a bowl made entirely of Panera's Artisinal Sourdough Bread.

The bread with the fewest calories is the whole grain miche with 130 per serving. Other good choices are the whole grain baguette or whole grain loaf with 140 calories (each option also has 3 grams of fiber per serving).

​A new study has found that meals served at fast-casual restaurants such as Panera Bread Co. and Chipotle Mexican Grill, which are often perceived as healthier options, contain more calories than meals at fast-food restaurants like McDonald's.

Pasta: Elbow macaroni is the classic mac and cheese shape, but any other short noodle will work like small shells, cavatappi, gemelli, campanelle, or radiator. Unsalted Butter + All-Purpose Flour: The combination of these creates a roux, which thickens the cheese sauce. Milk: The base of the cheese sauce!

If you've ever been to Panera, I am sure you have had their signature white cheddar mac and cheese. It's creamy, decadent, and total comfort food. Before I went plant-based, I used to love Panera's mac and cheese, however, since it has dairy, I don't eat it anymore. I knew everyone would love a vegan version.

While cheddar cheese is most commonly used for macaroni and cheese, other cheeses may also be used — usually sharp in flavor — and two or more cheeses can be combined. Other cheeses can be used such as Gruyère, Gouda, Havarti, and Jarlsberg cheese.

Macaroni: This homemade mac and cheese starts with a box of uncooked macaroni noodles. Butter and flour: You'll need butter and flour to make a roux for the cheese sauce. You'll also need two tablespoons of butter for the topping. Milk: Use whole milk for the richest flavor and texture.