In order to suit many people’s likings, mac and cheese brands offer a large selection to choose from, including different types of noodles and cheese.
Brands sell the convenient, easy to make meals at most local grocery stores.
A popular mac and cheese seller, known by its bright yellow and blue box is known as Kraft Mac and Cheese.
According to USA Today, “During the Great Depression, Kraft introduced its boxed macaroni and cheese, a meal for four costing 19 cents, when it came out in 1937. The product sold 9 million boxes in its first year on the market.”
Kraft offers a variety of different versions of their mac and cheese meals, starting with types of cheese. They have Original, White Cheddar, Sharp Cheddar, Ranch and Alfredo. However, their original flavor of classic cheddar is what they do best.
The original flavor has the best taste and comes in fun shapes.
You can buy your Classic Original mac and cheese in the shape of Spongebob characters, Super Mario characters or Paw Patrol.
Overall, Kraft seems to have the largest variety when it comes to an easy mac and cheese meal, however the powdered cheese packet, though convenient, doesn’t taste like real cheese.
A rediscovering brand that has taken a classic comfort food with a natural twist is Annie’s, another popular brand that launched their organic mac and cheese business in 1989.
Annie’s makes their mac and cheese with organic pasta and offers a vegan version. Annie’s is tastier than most mac and cheese options on the market. Annie’s has a richer flavor and the cheese tastes like real cheese. The best version they sell is the shell white cheddar mac and cheese.
Though having a bit of a grainy texture, the taste is great and the shell-shaped noodles are significantly better than other noodle types.
Annie’s incorporates additional healthier alternatives like no artificial flavors, synthetic colors or preservatives.
A classic favorite for many is a cheese sauce that differs from the rest, by being liquid instead of powder. Velveeta shells and cheese were introduced in 1984. The product is prepared with 2% milk in the cheese sauce. Velveeta promotes itself as “velvety smooth,” however their cheese sauce for the noodles is way too much.
It is too thick and heavy, making you feel full after only eating a little bit of it.
The cheese also tastes extremely artificial and is not enjoyable.
A comforting mac and cheese option that seriously strikes out in the flavor department, is Cracker Barrel mac and cheese. Cracker Barrel mac and cheese features a rich blend of cheeses that taste like extreme comfort food.
The macaroni is cooked perfectly and the texture of the cheese sauce is velvety. It has the ideal thickness avoiding bites feeling overly heavy.
The portion sizes are generous making it a great choice for either a meal or side dish.
The best part of this particular mac and cheese is that you can dine in or out with it.
Cracker Barrel’s numerous restaurant locations allow for customers to order the meal dining style. In addition, the mac and cheese can be found as a box meal sold at many local grocery stores.