The steam rises off the al dente macaroni shells coated in thick, creamy, bright-as-the-sun-yellow, likely artificial cheese. What you have in front of you is the best damn bowl of mac and cheese.
This isn’t your homemade, spent-hours-in-the-kitchen macaroni and cheese. Heck, this isn’t even your average, I-need-dinner-on-the-table-quick macaroni and cheese.
Ladies and gentlemen, we’re talking about frozen mac and cheese.
That’s right. That “pull back the plastic film halfway” or “puncture the plastic film” frozen meal you admittedly not-so-begrudgingly pop into the microwave on a weeknight so you can satiate your hunger in five minutes or less.
And, yes, there is such a thing as high-quality frozen mac and cheese.
For many of us, we know which mac and cheese entrées to absolutely avoid in the frozen food aisle. But for the rest, no need to take any wild guesses the next time you go grocery shopping.
These are the eight best frozen mac and cheese dinners out there.
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Blake’s All Natural Old Fashioned Mac & Cheese
Any frozen macaroni and cheese that has a breadcrumb topping is a winner in our books. Plus, Blake’s contains no artificial colors, flavors, preservatives or ingredients.
Trader Joe’s Hatch Chile Mac & Cheese
If you want mac and cheese that has a real kick, opt for this hatch chili-infused frozen meal from Trader Joe's. Toss in some chicken while you're at it.
Trader Joe's Hatch Chile Mac & Cheese, $2.99 at Trader Joe's
Banquet Mac & Cheese
Surprised to see Banquet on here? Don’t be! For a lot of people, this particular brand reminds them of their childhood, and it’s precisely why it’s rated so highly on Influenster.
Eating Well Vermont Cheddar Mac & Cheese
For a healthier take on frozen macaroni and cheese, Eating Well has you covered. The whole meal is 320 calories and has 14 grams of protein. Not bad.
Evol Truffle Parmesan Mac & Cheese
In the same vein as Eating Well, Evol is all about bringing customers a healthier alternative to their comfort-food favorites. This particular macaroni and cheese bowl has really positive reviews on Influenster too, with a 4.42 rating out of 5 and over 80 reviews.
Marie Callender’s Vermont White Cheddar Mac & Cheese
All of the frozen macaroni and cheese entrées from Marie Callender’s are probably as close as you can get to the traditional comfort-food dish we all know and love. Just look at the reviews on Influenster. If you want one packed with even more flavor, try Marie Callender’s Vermont cheddar-flavored mac and cheese.
Devour Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese
Blue cheese? Creamy Buffalo cheddar cheese? This frozen meal sounds like a dream. It may be slightly more expensive than other frozen meals, but Devour’s Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese is well-liked (it has a 4.4-out-of-5 rating on Influenster).
Stouffer’s Macaroni & Cheese
We saved the best for last: Stouffer’s Macaroni & Cheese. Hands down, this one has the most and best rating on Influenster (4.69 out of 5 stars with nearly 180 reviews). While it does cost a little more, it’ll feed your whole family. (Or, if you’re solo, it’ll provide for some delicious leftovers later.)
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