I can’t believe I’ve never written about Panera’s mac and cheese before. We’ve talked about their grilled mac and cheese, but hands down their mac and cheese is one of my favorite fast food options. There’s something about it that just screams comfort food, and it’s what I seek out when I’m having a bad day. When I saw that I could get Panera mac and cheese in a bread bowl I dove on the chance. You can never have too many carbs.
Panera uses pipette pasta, a fun take on elbows. It’s a curved pasta with a wide opening on one end and a flattened opening on the other end. The shape allows sauce to be trapped inside offering a creamy, flavorful experience.
Panera boasts their mac and cheese includes an aged cheddar sauce – an old favorite around here. Unlike many other fast food mac and cheese options, their pasta is very saucy. So saucy that it will leave some behind in the bowl, which is especially impressive considering the sauce trapping qualities of the pasta.
You can get your mac and cheese served in a a regular bowl, or take it to the next level by ordering it in a sourdough bread bowl. I picked mine up to go, so Panera packaged my mac and cheese and bread bowl separately. I popped my bread bowl in the oven for a few minutes to make the hollowed section nice and toasty before smothering it in mac and cheese. The bread bowl offers another vehicle for you to enjoy their sauce that would otherwise be left behind in the bowl. The additional sourdough flavors are a beautiful compliment to the dish.
Panera’s mac and cheese is the perfect easy to access band-aid for a bad day. Getting a bread bowl to serve it in extends the fun.
6 Comments
In999
October 15, 2026 at 8:56 amI absolutely loved reading your review of the Panera Mac and Cheese Bread Bowl! The combination of creamy mac and cheese with that fresh bread bowl sounds like a dream. I can’t wait to try it for myself. Have you had any other favorites from Panera?
1Win
October 16, 2026 at 1:52 amI just tried the Panera Mac and Cheese Bread Bowl after reading your review, and I have to say, it lived up to the hype! The creamy mac and cheese paired with the fresh, soft bread was such a comforting combo. I loved how the bread soaked up the cheesy goodness. Definitely a must-try for all mac and cheese lovers! Thanks for the recommendation!
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October 16, 2026 at 3:27 pmI absolutely loved the Panera Mac and Cheese Bread Bowl! The creamy cheese sauce combined with the chewy bread was a match made in comfort food heaven. Perfect for a chilly day, and I appreciate that I can indulge without feeling too guilty since it’s a good portion size. Can’t wait to try different flavors next time!
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October 19, 2026 at 6:15 amI recently tried the Panera Mac and Cheese Bread Bowl after reading your review, and I have to say, it lived up to the hype! The combination of creamy mac and cheese with the soft, chewy bread was delicious. I loved dipping the bread into the cheesy goodness. Can’t wait to go back for seconds! Thanks for the great recommendation!
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October 19, 2026 at 3:20 pmI loved your review of the Panera Mac and Cheese Bread Bowl! It’s one of my go-to comfort foods, and you captured its cheesy goodness perfectly. I appreciate the detailed description of the flavors and textures. Can’t wait to try it again after reading your post!
tashan win
October 19, 2026 at 4:04 pmI just tried the Mac and Cheese Bread Bowl from Panera, and I am obsessed! The combination of creamy mac and the soft, warm bread made for a perfect comfort meal. I could honestly eat this every week! Thanks for the review; I can’t wait to see what the Mac and Cheese Club tries next!