What’s the best boxed mac and cheese you can buy? Mac and cheese expert Raquel Lenzie and Food & Wine food stylist Julian Hensarling put 17 grocery store favorites to the ultimate taste test. From Kraft, Annie’s, and Velveeta to Trader Joe’s, Walmart, Aldi, and Whole Foods, they judge each mac and cheese on appearance, texture, and flavor—looking for perfectly cooked noodles, creamy cheese sauce, and balanced flavors that keep you coming back for another bite.
Along the way, they discuss ingredients, parboiled noodles, and the differences between dry cheese powders and squeezable cheese packets. They also explore how noodle shapes affect each bite and what makes a cheese sauce taste balanced. With classic cheddar, sharp white cheddar, and even a dairy-free option in the lineup, Raquel and Julian narrow down their top three before crowning the ultimate #1 boxed mac and cheese.
