I Tried Goodles Cheddy Mac and It Blew Away My Expectations

Mac and cheese is, without a doubt, one of the few foods that still holds the power to teleport me back to my childhood. As a lifelong fan of its cheesy and gooey nature, I have admittedly become a bit of a mac and cheese snob, and have grown to prefer a proper homemade version over the easy, store-bought options of my past. Long gone are the days of mixing powdered cheese with milk; my adult palate not only craves more, but it also deserves better than that. 

Recently, however, I stumbled upon the Goodles brand of boxed mac and cheese and was impressed by their dedication to creating a nutrient-packed product: Goodles Cheddy Mac boasts 14 grams of protein, 6 grams of fiber, and 21 nutrients from plants. I was intrigued by this, and knew I needed to try it out.

This is your basic, boxed mac and cheese recipe. Begin by adding 6 cups of water to a pot, bringing to a boil. Once the water is boiling, go ahead and tear your Goodles box open, remove the packet of powdered cheese, and pour the macaroni into the pot. Give it a good stir, then let it boil for about 8 to 9 minutes. Strain out the water, making sure not to rinse the macaroni afterwards, and return to the pot. 

Next, pour in the packet of powdered cheese, 1/4 cup of milk, and, optionally, 2 tablespoons of butter. Grab a large spoon, stirring well until everything is incorporated and has a smooth, creamy texture. Serve hot and enjoy!

The snob in me wants to not boost Goodles up too much, but I was seriously impressed. For a product that has that many nutrients packed into something that costs roughly $3.39 per box, I was not expecting it to taste like the boxed mac and cheese of my childhood. 

At first, I was thrown off by the bright orange color of the end product, but I quickly put my worries behind me once I tasted that sweet first bite. This mac and cheese isn’t going to save the world — and they definitely have not reinvented the wheel — but I can honestly say that Goodles does a fantastic job at offering a feel-good version of boxed macaroni and cheese, and there is nothing to hate about that. For what it is, the taste is great, and if I had children that I was trying to feed on a budget, Goodles would get thrown into the grocery cart for sure.

1. Double or nothing. If you are preparing a meal for the whole family, double up the recipe and make two boxes at once. Goodles boxes are perfect as a meal for one — or as a side dish for two or more. Plus, it’s so tasty, you’re going to be going back for seconds.
2. Butter makes it better. Depending on your diet, if you are looking for a more rich and creamy texture, add 2 tablespoons of butter when stirring in the milk and cheese
3. Creativity is just intelligence having fun. Mac and cheese comes in many different forms. How good your recipe is depends solely on your creativity. Consider these ingredients to be an art canvas for which you can add your mark and create something fantastic.