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Panera Bread Mac and Cheese

Panera Bread Mac and Cheese

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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings: 10
Course: Side Dish
Calories: 408
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb shell pasta
  • 3 tbsp butter
  • 3 tbsp flour
  • 2 cups cold milk
  • 3/4 lb white American cheese
  • 1/4 lb shredded white sharp Cheddar cheese
  • 2 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 dash salt

Method
 

  1. Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain well.
  2. While the pasta is cooking, melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a large pot over medium heat. Stir in the flour to create a thick paste. Then slowly add the cold milk and Dijon mustard, and whisk the ingredients until they're combined. 
  3. Next, add the white American cheese into the white sauce. If the white American cheese is not sliced, cut it into cubes first so that it melts easier.
  4. Once the American cheese has fully melted, stir in the white sharp cheese and a dash of salt. The cheese sauce should be ready at the same time the pasta is finished cooking.
  5. Stir the pasta into the cheese sauce, and serve hot.

Notes

  • If you don't have shell pasta, you can use macaroni, angel hair, or penne pasta.
  • Continually whisk the cheese sauce as you prepare it so that it doesn't burn at the bottom of the pot.
  • To keep the pasta from sticking together while you're cooking it, you can add two tablespoons of olive oil to the water and stir it well.