Panera Mac & Cheese: Price, Calories and Nutrition (2026)

Panera Mac & Cheese is the side that regularly outsells the main: tender shell pasta folded into a creamy white cheddar sauce, rich enough that people order it as the meal. It started as a kids-menu item and a side, and customer demand turned it into a standalone order. The white cheddar sauce is the differentiator: sharper and less processed-tasting than the standard orange cheddar sauce, and the reason copycat recipes for this specific mac and cheese fill the internet. In 2026 a small runs from $6.39 at most US cafes, with 470 calories per small according to Panera’s official menu boards.

Panera prices vary by cafe and market, and delivery orders run higher with fees and tips. Panera’s own site has listed the small at $6.39, while older aggregators still show $4.99, so the from $6.39 figure is a market-varied estimate; the older $4.99 listings are stale. The large runs 950 calories, which is essentially two smalls. The small is the standard side portion and the right order for most people.

Last updated: June 17, 2026

Table of contents

• What is in the Mac & Cheese
• Mac & Cheese nutrition facts
• Mac & Cheese ingredients and customization
• Allergens
• Mac & Cheese vs Broccoli Cheddar Soup
• Getting the best value on the Mac & Cheese
• Frequently asked questions

What is in the Mac & Cheese

Shell pasta in a creamy white cheddar cheese sauce. That is the whole dish, and Panera has wisely resisted the urge to add breadcrumbs, bacon, or truffle oil to the standard build. The shells are the right shape for the job: they cup the sauce instead of letting it slide off. The white cheddar sauce is smooth, sharp, and rich, made with real cheddar rather than cheese product.

At 470 calories for a small with 21 grams of protein, it is a genuinely filling side. The 27 grams of fat, 17 of them saturated, is the honest cost of a cheese sauce this good. The 1200 milligrams of sodium is high for a side dish and the number to watch. The 37 grams of carbs come from the pasta, and the 8 grams of sugar is relatively low.

The large at 950 calories is a full meal and then some. It exists for sharing, for very hungry people, and for the customers who order mac and cheese as dinner without apology. The small is the side portion; the large is a commitment.

Mac & Cheese nutrition facts

Full nutrition breakdown for one small Mac & Cheese, based on Panera’s official nutrition values, consistent with 2026 menu boards.

Nutrient	Amount per small
Calories	470
Total fat	27g
Saturated fat	17g
Cholesterol	80mg
Sodium	1200mg
Total carbohydrates	37g
Dietary fiber	1g
Sugars	8g
Protein	21g

The 470 calorie small is just under a quarter of a 2000 calorie day, and the 21 grams of protein is the best protein figure of any side in this batch. The 17 grams of saturated fat is most of the daily guideline’s recommended limit in one side dish, and the 1200 milligrams of sodium is the bigger concern. The 80 milligrams of cholesterol is moderate.

Context against the large: 950 calories, which doubles everything and is a full dinner on its own. Panera does not disclose trans fat for this item. Compared with the Broccoli Cheddar Soup’s 230-calorie cup, the mac and cheese small is more than twice the calories, which is why it works as a side to a light salad but not as a side to a sandwich.

Mac & Cheese ingredients and customization

The standard build is shell pasta and a white cheddar cheese sauce made with milk, cream, and cheddar.

Customization is limited because the dish is already finished, but the usual moves apply. It pairs with everything on the menu as a side, and it is a popular Pick Two component. Some regulars ask for it with black pepper or hot sauce at the table. The bread bowl version exists at some cafes and turns the small into a much bigger meal. There is no light version on the standard menu, and there probably never will be: this is the indulgent side, and Panera sells it as such.

Allergens

This dish contains milk (cheddar, cream) and wheat (pasta), and soy may be present depending on the sauce preparation. Panera’s kitchens handle egg, tree nuts, peanuts, fish, and sesame, so cross-contact is possible. It is vegetarian but not vegan, and the dairy content rules it out for anyone with a milk allergy. Guests with severe allergies should speak to the cafe staff before ordering, since the shared kitchen handles flour and dairy throughout the day.

Mac & Cheese vs Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Panera’s two cheese-heavy comfort items, settled with numbers. Mac & Cheese (small): 470 calories, 27g fat, 17g saturated fat, 80mg cholesterol, 1200mg sodium, 37g carbs, 1g fiber, 8g sugar, 21g protein, from $6.39. Broccoli Cheddar Soup (cup): 230 calories, 15g fat, 9g saturated fat, 45mg cholesterol, 960mg sodium, 17g carbs, 1g fiber, 6g sugar, 9g protein, from $5.29.

The soup is the lighter pick by a wide margin: less than half the calories, nearly half the fat, and 240 fewer milligrams of sodium. The mac and cheese brings far more protein and the satisfaction of a real starch. The soup is the comfort side; the mac and cheese is the comfort meal.

Pick the Mac & Cheese when you want the richer, more filling option, the best protein of any side, and the dish people write copycat recipes about. Pick the Broccoli Cheddar Soup when you want the lighter comfort order, fewer calories, and the classic Panera soup experience. The mac and cheese costs about a dollar more.

Getting the best value on the Mac & Cheese

• The small is the value size: 470 calories for from $6.39, versus the large at 950 calories for roughly double the price. The small satisfies most people as a side.
• As a Pick Two component, a small mac and cheese with a half salad is a complete, filling lunch for less than a sandwich plus a side.
• MyPanera rewards run side-dish deals and free-item offers. A free bakery item with your mac and cheese is a common promotion.
• The large is the sharing play. Split between two people as a side, it beats two smalls on price per ounce, but only if you were going to eat that much anyway.

Frequently asked questions

ManuBite Team. We track fast food prices and nutrition across the USA so you always know what your meal really costs, in dollars and in calories.