6 Best Boxed Mac and Cheeses, According to Taste Tests
We tried 30 boxes so you can buy the best.
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Everyone loves a batch of homemade stovetop mac and cheese. But sometimes there isn't enough time to whip up a recipe from scratch. That's where the best boxed mac and cheese comes in. This pantry staple comes in so many different pasta shapes and types with sauces made from a variety of cheeses. So how do you know which is the best boxed mac and cheese to buy? The Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen cooked up 30 boxes of store bought mac and cheese to find the ones worth adding to your cart.
Our top picks:
Our test kitchen experts cooked each box of mac and cheese per package directions, adding whole milk and the optional amount of butter listed to each, as the box suggested. Our panel of tasters rated each bite for texture and flavor and the highest scored boxes made the coveted list. Read on to hear about the healthiest boxed mac and cheeses, the cheesiest brands and the best to stock up on. Looking for other convenient meals to buy? Try our favorite healthy frozen meals or a top-rated meal delivery service, too!
Annie’s Real Aged Cheddar Shells Macaroni & Cheese Dinner
Our tasters were fans of many Annie's mac and cheese types, including their classic shells and white Cheddar, but this version, made with organic noodles and aged Cheddar, provides a bolder alternative to basic boxes. One taster loved the extra cheesy flavor and the way the shell shape caught the sauce. It's a great pick for those looking for a little extra bite in their boxed mac and cheese.
Walmart Great Value Original Macaroni & Cheese
Mac and cheese is a childhood favorite, and Walmart's box is one of the best mac and cheese options for kids thanks to its ultra-mellow flavor. Tasters noted a firm noodle texture which was well-coated in a slightly tangy, creamy cheese sauce. "This one brings so many feelings of nostalgia with it — the short, thin noodles are super easy to scoop up with a small spoon and the sauce is simple and cheesy, like your basic OG mac," wrote one taster.
If you're eating a gluten-free diet or have Celiac disease, it doesn't mean you can't eat mac and cheese. "Banza reinvented the mac and cheese aisle by using chickpea pasta as the base," says Stefani Sassos, M.S., R.D.N., C.D.N., director of the GH Institute Nutrition Lab. While some tasters noted a slight bean-forward aftertaste in Banza's noodles, it was complemented nicely by the bold white Cheddar sauce. "Not only is this option packed with protein and fiber for a more satiating dish, but it also has a fairly minimal ingredient list," says Sassos. Looking for a healthy mac and cheese option? Give this box a go!
This classic box is different than other types of boxed mac and cheese because it comes with a pre-made sauce instead of powdered cheese. This box took slightly less time to prepare because of the ready-to-serve sauce, so it may be a great option for those in a serious rush or those who don't keep milk or butter on hand. Tasters found the sauce to be mildly cheesy and buttery and the noodles to be tender and soft but still sturdy enough to hold onto the thick sauce.
Kraft White Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese Dinner with Pasta Shells
The brand, known for classic blue box Kraft mac and cheese, suprised our tasters with this white Cheddar and shells version. The thick, rich and slightly sweet sauce coated chewy but tender noodles. One taster wrote: "This has a luscious cheesy flavor and a surprisingly rich and buttery sauce. Yum!" Bulk up the box for dinner with the addition of peas or broccoli.
Looking for something that goes beyond basic cheese? Goodles serves up a variety of fun flavored sauces paired with noodles that pack a ton of nutrition into every bite. "Goodles are a staple in my house because the brand combines great taste with a hefty dose of protein and fiber," says Sassos. "I love that they sneak in tons of hidden veggies like broccoli, spinach and kale. It’s a better-for-you option that I can feel good about keeping in my pantry for our whole family to enjoy." One favorite flavor from the brand: Down the Hatch, which boasts a mild spice from hatch and poblano chiles. Tasters loved the heat matched with creamy cheddar.
How we tested the best boxed mac and cheeses
The experts in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen explored grocery store brands to gather 10 brands and 30 boxes of macaroni and cheese overall. Brands included Kraft, Annie's, Walmart Great Value and Banza. They then divided each box into categories to ensure that comparable flavors were tried together. The categories included: Yellow Cheddar, white Cheddar, flavored and deluxe, with subsections for gluten-free pastas.
Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen staff prepared each box of macaroni and cheese per package directions, noting the cooking time on the box as well as the amount of liquid. They used whole milk in each recipe, when milk was called for, and added optional butter to each pasta, if the box listed an optional amount.
Every sample was blinded for tasters to prevent bias. Tasters used individual vessels to taste each sample. They used tasting sheets to rank each macaroni and cheese on a scale of 1 (worst) to 5 (best), for flavor and texture of sample. Tasters also described the flavor and texture on their sheets, noting the quality of the cheese flavor, the mouthfeel of the pasta and sauce and seasoning.
Why trust Good Housekeeping
As the Associate Food Editor for Good Housekeeping, Becca Miller has over five years of experience conducting taste tests and writing about the most delicious food products for the brand. She researched and organized this taste test and decided on winners based on taste tester feedback. She also consulted Stefani Sassos, M.S., R.D.N., C.D.N., Director of the GH Institute Nutrition Lab, to consult on important health aspects of some brands.
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