7 Of The Best Boxed Mac ‘N’ Cheese Brands You Haven’t Tried Yet

Flickr/Steven Guzzardi

There comes a time in everyone’s adult life when it’s heavily encouraged to outgrow Easy Mac. For your late-night cravings, you should have some more sophisticated boxed mac and cheese options at your fingertips. You deserve it. When you’re just not feeling the microwavable stuff anymore, here are seven boxed mac and cheeses to wrap your head around.

1. Ancient Harvest Pow! Mac And Cheese

Amazon

We’re always on board for a healthier way to eat mac and cheese. Ancient Harvest makes a gluten-free mild cheddar flavor with 16 grams of protein per serving. The pasta for this creamy mac is made with red lentils and quinoa, so we’re talking about a solid amount of plant-based protein here.

2. Organic 365 Mac And Cheese

Amazon

Whole Food’s 365 Everyday Value brand has its very own boxed mac and cheese. The cheddar flavor is made with organic pasta and organic cheddar. It might take a little more effort when it comes to stirring this one, so make sure you have milk or butter on hand to help you out. Compared to the super-processed brands, this cheese tastes pretty real to us.

3. Back To Nature Macaroni And Cheese

Amazon

For another creamy and cheesy option, a company called Back To Nature makes a macaroni and cheese with no artificial flavors or preservatives. This non-GMO line of mac and cheese comes in varieties like classic cheddar elbows, white cheddar spirals and cheddar sea creature-shaped macaroni.

4. Daiya Deluxe Cheezy Mac

Amazon

The vegan brand Daiya makes a dairy-free boxed mac and cheese that’s all kinds of creamy. The gluten-free mac is made with brown rice pasta and the sauce is made with vegan ingredients like pea protein, onion, coconut oil, tapioca starch and annatto for color. For anyone who has to steer clear of dairy, gluten, soy, eggs, peanuts or shellfish, this boxed mac can be your ultimate quick comfort food.

5. Pamela’s Mac N’ Cheese

Amazon

Another gluten-free mac and cheese option is Pamela’s. The pasta is gluten-free and organic (made with all organic white rice flour, pea protein and sprouted brown rice flour). The mac comes in flavors like Spicy Mac N’ Cheese, Creamy Alfredo and Creamy Mushroom. The regular mac comes with a cheesy combo of cheddar, buttermilk and blue cheese. Pamela’s boxed mac is also surprisingly high in protein with 14 grams per serving.

6. Banza Mac And Cheese

Amazon

Banza, a chickpea pasta brand, makes a line of mac and cheese that’ll give you more protein (18 grams per serving), fiber and fewer carbs when your mac and cheese cravings hit. The pasta itself is made with chickpeas, tapioca and pea protein. Banza makes three flavors of the mac and cheese: white cheddar, cacio e pepe and classic cheddar.

7. FishSki Macaroni And Cheese

Amazon

When you’re really feeling like getting out of your Easy Mac comfort zone, FishSki mac and cheese is pretty f*cking cool. The Colorado-based mac and cheese line has a Colorado Hemp CBD Green Chile Mac and Cheese that’s said to help with sleep and anxiety. It officially doesn’t get any cooler. FishSki also makes a red flavor with cheddar, Hatch red chile and bell peppers. There’s also a green version with cheddar, Hatch green chile and garlic.

There’s no reason boxed mac and cheese has to be sad when mac and cheese-minded companies are getting more and more innovative by the minute.

RELATED 

12 Vegan Mac And Cheese Dishes That’ll Rival Your Aunt Debbie’s

5 Incredible Ways To Elevate Your Boxed Mac And Cheese

21 Mac And Cheese Recipes That Will Have Your Mouth Watering