Fakeout Kitchen

Panera-Style Mac and Cheese

This version swaps industrial seed oils and processed additives for grass-fed butter and artisan cheeses to create a rich, nutrient-dense masterpiece.

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Ingredients

  • 8 oz organic sprouted wheat macaroni
  • 4 tbsp grass-fed butter
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup organic whole milk
  • 1/2 cup organic heavy cream
  • 2 cups shredded organic sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup shredded organic Gruyère cheese
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp cracked black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 pinch nutmeg (optional)

Clean swaps

How we upgrade the restaurant version with better ingredients.

  • Canola or Vegetable oil (typical restaurant) → Grass-fed butter — Eliminates inflammatory industrial seed oils.
  • Refined white pasta → Sprouted wheat macaroni — Provides higher protein content and a lower glycemic index.
  • Processed cheese food products → Artisan aged cheeses — Avoids emulsifiers, preservatives, and artificial thickeners.

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the organic pasta until al dente. Drain and set aside.
  2. In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, melt the grass-fed butter over medium-low heat.
  3. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
  4. Slowly whisk in the organic milk and heavy cream, bringing the mixture to a gentle simmer.
  5. Reduce heat to low and gradually stir in the shredded cheddar and Gruyère cheeses, whisking constantly until the sauce is smooth.
  6. Season with sea salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and nutmeg.
  7. Fold the cooked pasta into the cheese sauce, stirring until every noodle is thoroughly coated.
  8. Serve immediately while creamy, or transfer to a baking dish and broil for 3-5 minutes for a golden crust.

FAQ

Is this recipe gluten-free?

To make it gluten-free, simply substitute the sprouted wheat pasta with organic chickpea pasta or brown rice pasta.

How can I make it even creamier without dairy?

Replace the milk and heavy cream with a homemade cashew cream (soaked cashews blended with water and lemon juice).

Cooked it?

Mark it made — add a photo if you like.