Cook for 1-2 minutes or until well combined. Melt butter in large pan and then stir in flour, dry mustard and pepper.

Veggies - broccoli and cheese always is a great combo but you can also add other veggies like cauliflower, spinach or kale.

Crab/lobster - if you want to make this dish the main course and fancy it up a little bit, stir in some cooked crab or lobster.

Just cook and crumble up before stirring in with the pasta.

Bacon - I mean bacon makes everything better.

Nobody said you can't add more to this recipe. Or you can just replace with yellow cheddar.

As far as cheese, I like using just the white cheddar for ease and taste, but you can also add others like Gruyère and Parmesan.

I always use whole milk for sauces, but you can use low fat or skim milk.

Macaroni is my go-to most times for this pasta dish, but other types of pasta like orecchiette, penne or ziti are good substitutes.

Like any recipe, you can swap out some of the ingredients.

Cheese - with any mac and cheese recipe, the cheese is the star and I like to use a quality sharp white cheddar.Roux - by melting butter and then adding flour, you make a roux which thickens the milk as it continues to cook.Macaroni - it is a macaroni and cheese recipe for a reason.And while this recipe is similar, I kick it up a notch by baking as well to get that added texture. However Panera has changed the game with their mac and cheese which is made with white cheddar. The difference is yellow cheddar has food coloring added! The more you know.īut because of boxed mixes like Kraft, I believe yellow cheddar just naturally become more known. If you didn't know, there is actually no difference in taste between white cheddar and the more yellow cheddar. And while the most famous/common is yellow cheddar, this white cheddar mac and cheese recipe is just as good. Or you can go really simple and use just one cheese.

As you can see above, you can add meats like chicken or even more unique sauces like pesto. The beauty of mac and cheese is you really can customize to your liking.

When it comes to comfort food, there is no question that macaroni and cheese is my number one option - from Tuscan chicken mac and cheese to three cheese mac and cheese to pesto goat cheese mac and cheese. Loaded with good white sharp cheddar cheese, this white cheddar mac and cheese recipe is rich and creamy, making it perfect for a side or main dish.

Panera white mac and cheese recipe