Navigating the aisles of your local supermarket can be challenging, especially when faced with an overwhelming array of ultra-processed foods. From flashy packaging to health claims that seem too good to be true, making informed choices about what we eat is more important than ever. Yet, deciphering the real story behind these products can often feel daunting.

Supermarkets, including Whole Foods, offer a spectrum of products ranging from unprocessed and minimally processed foods to ultra-processed options. Understanding this range and the product categories these foods fall into is key to making informed choices about your diet.

This is where having simple insights into food processing becomes invaluable. The WISEcode app helps you easily understand the level of processing in your favorite foods. It also helps consumers identify product categories based on processing levels, making it easier to compare foods commonly found in stores. With just a quick scan, you can distinguish between minimally processed options and those laden with preservatives, additives, and other chemicals, empowering you to make smarter choices for you and your family.

Today, we’re diving into the world of boxed mac & cheese—a beloved comfort food that’s a staple in many households. Our team hit the supermarkets across the country with the WISEcode app to evaluate 25 of the most popular boxed mac & cheese options. The results are in! Discover which brands keep it simple and which ones are packed with additives, preservatives, and other chemicals that could be lurking in your next meal.

Introduction: Why Mac & Cheese Matters

Macaroni and cheese, or mac ‘n cheese as it’s affectionately known, is more than just a quick weeknight dinner—it’s a comfort food classic that brings back memories of family meals and cozy nights in. The creamy cheese sauce and perfectly cooked pasta are hard to resist, making it a staple in kitchens everywhere. But as ultra processed foods have become more common in our food supply, it’s important to take a closer look at what’s really in that familiar blue box. While mac n cheese might seem like a simple dish, many boxed versions are ultra processed, packed with additives and preservatives that can impact your health. By understanding the difference between minimal processing and ultra processed options, you can make smarter choices and enjoy your favorite macaroni and cheese without the hidden downsides.

Clean Eats: Fab Five

At the top of our rankings, three boxed mac & cheese options stand out for their minimal processing. Goodles leads the pack with its “Twist My Parm” Asiago & Parmesan Protein Mac & Cheese and “Shella Good” Aged White Cheddar Protein Mac & Cheese, both tying for first place. Co-founded by actress and philanthropist Gal Gadot alongside a team of food industry veterans, Goodles is revolutionizing the mac & cheese category by offering nutrient-packed, flavorful options that defy the stereotypes of this beloved comfort food. With a focus on fun, health, and innovation, Goodles is proving that mac & cheese can be both joyful and nutritious. These brands pay close attention to the nutrient content of each particular product, ensuring they provide more than just convenience and can be considered for regular, everyday thing consumption within a balanced diet.

Joining Goodles at the top of our least processed is Banza Shells Mac & Cheese White Cheddar Protein Mac. Banza, founded by brothers Scott and Brian Rudolph, is on a mission to inspire people to eat more chickpeas and other beans. Their chickpea-based pasta is a standout for its nutritional benefits and environmental impact. By turning chickpeas into the foods we all love, Banza is making it easier for people to make healthier choices that are good for both their health and the planet.

Rounding out the top five are Amy’s Kitchen Gluten-Free Rice Mac & Cheese and Meijer’s Elbows & Cheddar Organic Pasta with Cheese Sauce. Amy’s Kitchen, founded by Andy and Rachel Berliner in 1987, was born out of a personal need for organic and vegetarian ready-made meals when Rachel was pregnant with their daughter, Amy. Their commitment to clean, organic ingredients continues to set the standard in the industry. When evaluating the nutrient content of each particular product, consumers can better identify which options are suitable as an everyday thing in a healthy diet. Meijer, a family-owned retailer with over 500 stores across the Midwest, shows that private label brands can compete with the best when it comes to keeping things simple and wholesome, making their Elbows & Cheddar Organic Pasta a standout choice for health-conscious consumers.

The Bottom of the Barrel: The Most Processed Boxed Mac & Cheese

And now, we reach the bottom of the barrel—the most processed boxed mac & cheese products that should give you serious pause before adding them to your cart. Cheetos is a resounding loser with the #1 and #2 most processed options. Cheetos proudly claims to be the “much-loved cheesy treats that are fun for everyone,” with their signature “cheetle” dust and mascot Chester Cheetah spreading cheesy smiles wherever they go. But when it comes to nutrition, Cheetos’ mac & cheese is a different story. These products are more about shock value and less about anything beneficial for your health.

Cheetos Mac ‘n Cheese in both Flaming Hot and Cheesy Jalapeno flavors take the infamous last spots, landing firmly in the super ultra-processed category. These aren’t foods you’d want to rely on for any nutritional value—they’re loaded with chemicals that make them more of a novelty than a meal. Eating lots of ultra-processed foods like these, which are high in added sugar and sodium, can increase the risk of serious health conditions.

This dismal showing by Cheetos is just the latest in PepsiCo’s ongoing trend of producing highly processed, nutritionally questionable products. Let’s not forget that Quaker, another PepsiCo brand, recently claimed the dubious honor of being the most processed chocolate chip bar in our previous rankings. It seems PepsiCo is determined to stay consistent—in all the wrong ways. Whether it’s a sugary snack or a cheesy comfort food, PepsiCo continues to churn out products that are packed with additives, preservatives, and other undesirable ingredients, making them a brand you might want to avoid if you’re looking for healthier options.

Hill Country Fare’s Original Mac & Cheese is another reminder that even simple-sounding products can be packed with things you’d rather avoid. Hill Country Fare is a brand sold at H-E-B, a supermarket chain with over 400 locations across Texas and Mexico. Despite its name, which evokes the wholesome imagery of the Texas Hill Country, this product is far from the simple, hearty fare you might expect. Instead, it’s loaded with additives that take it straight into the super ultra-processed zone. Like other ultra-processed packaged stuff such as hot dogs, Hill Country Fare’s mac & cheese is associated with health conditions due to its high level of processing. Don’t let the Texas-inspired branding fool you—this is one to leave on the shelf.

Tied for the fourth-worst spot, Cabot Creamery’s Pepper Jack Macaroni and Cheese Shells and Daiya’s Dairy Free Gluten-Free 4 Cheeze Style with Herbs Vegan Mac & Cheese land squarely in the super ultra-processed category. Cabot Creamery, a cooperative owned by farm families for over a century, prides itself on producing award-winning dairy products from healthy, happy cows. But when it comes to their mac & cheese, it seems they’ve lost sight of their roots. Despite the rich, buttery milk that Cabot is known for, this product is loaded with additives that detract from its wholesome image.

On the other hand, Daiya, a company that reimagines cheese with plant-based alternatives, fails to live up to the promise of a healthier option. Acquired by Otsuka Pharmaceutical for $405 million in 2017, Daiya promotes itself as a pioneer in dairy-free, creamy, and satisfying cheese alternatives. But with the level of processing involved, you have to wonder if a pharmaceutical company producing your food is really the direction we should be heading. Not something is inherently bad, but the high level of processing and added sugar in these packaged stuff options makes them less desirable. Daiya’s mac & cheese might promise a life without cheese, but it certainly doesn’t promise a life without a hefty dose of chemicals.

Walmart’s Great Value Original Macaroni & Cheese and Premium Original Shells & Cheese are ultra-processed options that, while easy on the wallet, come at a cost to your health. Eating lots of these ultra-processed, packaged stuff options can negatively impact health due to their high added sugar and sodium content, increasing the risk of health conditions. These low-priced products are filled with artificial ingredients and preservatives, proving that in the world of food, cheaper isn’t always better, especially when it comes to what you’re putting on your plate.

Understanding Cheese Mix: What’s Really Inside?

The cheese mix is the heart of any boxed mac and cheese, but not all cheese mixes are created equal. In some healthier boxed mac options, you’ll find a blend of real cheddar cheese, milk, and just a few stabilizing ingredients to help maintain texture and freshness. These minimally processed cheese mixes deliver that classic cheese sauce flavor without a laundry list of additives. On the flip side, many ultra processed boxed mac products rely on powdered cheese, artificial flavors, and preservatives to extend shelf life and boost taste. These extra ingredients can add up, especially when it comes to added sugars and sodium. If you’re looking for a better choice, seek out products with a real cheddar cheese sauce and a short, recognizable ingredient list. For example, Stouffer’s Macaroni and Cheese Frozen Meal with Broccoli features a real cheddar cheese sauce and skips the preservatives, making it a standout among cheese frozen meal options. When reading food labels, look for boxed mac and cheese with only a few stabilizing ingredients and minimal added sugars to keep your meal closer to homemade.

The Benefits of Chickpea Pasta

Chickpea pasta is changing the game for mac n cheese lovers who want more from their comfort food. Unlike traditional pasta, chickpea pasta is a nutrient dense food, packed with healthy fats, protein, and dietary fiber. Brands like Banza and Goodles are leading the way, offering mac and cheese that’s not only delicious but also supports a balanced meal. By swapping in chickpea pasta, you’re getting all the nutrients you need to stay fuller longer, while still enjoying that creamy, cheesy goodness. It’s a simple switch that can make your favorite mac n cheese a healthier, more satisfying dish.

Full Rankings of Boxed Mac & Cheese from Least to Most Processed

Lightly Processed

• Tie for FIRST Place

• Goodles Twist My Parm Asiago & Parmesan Protein Mac & Cheese

• Goodles Shella Good Aged White Cheddar Protein Mac & Cheese

• Banza Shells Mac & Cheese White Cheddar Protein Mac

• Tie for FOURTH Place

• Amy’s Kitchen Gluten-Free Rice Mac & Cheese

• Meijer Elbow’s & Cheddar Organic Pasta with Cheese Sauce

These cheese brands are recognized for their minimal processing and higher quality ingredients.

Moderately Processed

• Tie for SIXTH PLACE

• Annie’s Shells & White Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese

• Muscle Mac Mac N Cheese High Protein

• Tie for EIGHTH PLACE

• Annie’s Shells & Real Aged Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese

• Goodles Mac & Cheese Smokey Dokey

• Meijer Shells & White Cheddar Organic Pasta

• Target Good & Gather Organic Shells & White Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese

• Target Good & Gather Elbows & Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese

• Tie for THIRTEENTH Place

• Kraft Original Mac and Cheese Dinner

• Freak Flag Organics Organic Aged Cheddar Mac & Freak

These moderately processed options often include processed culinary ingredients, such as refined flour or oils, which increase their processing level compared to the top-ranked products.

Ultra Processed Foods

• Tie for FIFTEENTH Place

• Kraft White Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese Dinner

• Walmart Great Value Original Macaroni & Cheese

• Freak Flag Organics Four Cheese Mac & Freak

• Daiya Dairy Free Cheddar Style Vegan Mac and Cheese

• Kraft Thick ‘n Creamy Mac N Cheese

• Walmart Great Value Premium Original Shells & Cheese

Many of these ultra-processed options are shelf stable, relying on preservatives and specific processing methods to extend their shelf life without refrigeration.

Super Ultra Processed

• Tie for TWENTY FIRST Place

• Cabot Creamery, Pepper Jack Macaroni and Cheese Shells, Super Ultra Processed

• Daiya Dairy Free Gluten Free 4 Cheeze Style with Herbs Vegan Mac & Cheese, SUPF

• Hill Country Fare, Original Mac & Cheese

• Cheetos Mac ‘n Cheese, Flaming Hot Flavor

• Cheetos Mac ‘n Cheese, Cheesy Jalapeno Flavor

Some frozen products, such as Stouffer's macaroni and cheese, rely on colder temperatures to maintain freshness and feature cooked pasta, making them less processed than their shelf-stable or boxed frozen counterparts that require more preservatives.

As we continue to peel back the layers of the food industry, it’s clear that not all mac & cheese is created equal. From the most processed to the least, our rankings reveal the hidden ingredients that could be impacting your health. WISEcode decodes what’s in our food to build the world’s most comprehensive nutrition database, creating simple, user-friendly tools that help everyone personalize their nutrition to their goals. Our app uncovers 3,748 hidden processed ingredients in your food and provides simple insights to help you make healthier choices tailored to your needs. Stay informed, stay healthy, and join the conversation by following us on social media for more insights into the foods you love.

Tips for Making Healthier Choices

Choosing a healthier boxed mac and cheese doesn’t have to be complicated. Start by looking for minimally processed options that feature cooked pasta and a real cheddar cheese sauce. Check the ingredient list for recognizable items and avoid products with lots of added sugars or high sodium content. To boost the nutritional value of your meal, try adding your own mix-ins—think frozen peas for extra fiber, shredded cheese for more protein, or a spoonful of Greek yogurt for creaminess and healthy fats. Chickpea pasta versions are a great way to increase protein and fiber, making your mac n cheese more filling and nutritious. Remember, reading food labels and being mindful of what goes into your boxed mac can help you enjoy this classic comfort food as part of a healthy diet.

Future of Healthy Mac & Cheese

The future of mac n cheese is looking brighter—and healthier—than ever. As more people seek out nutrient dense foods and try to avoid ultra processed foods, brands are responding with innovative products that put real ingredients front and center. From chickpea pasta to real cheddar cheese sauce, today’s best boxed mac options offer better nutritional value without sacrificing taste. Dietitians stress the importance of looking at the whole picture: consider the level of processing, the ingredient list, and the overall nutritional value when choosing your next mac n cheese. By making informed choices and focusing on lesser processed foods, you can enjoy your favorite cheesy dish as part of a balanced, healthy diet, no guilt necessary.