Mac and cheese (Photo by P Maxwell Photography on Shutterstock)
In the world of fast food, where burgers and fries often steal the spotlight, there’s an unsung hero that’s been quietly winning hearts and satisfying cravings: mac and cheese. This classic comfort food has found its way onto the menus of many popular fast food chains, offering a creamy, cheesy respite from the usual fare. From quick-service restaurants to fast-casual spots, the humble mac and cheese has been elevated, reimagined, and sometimes even revolutionized. In this article, we’ll dive into the cheesy, gooey world of the best fast food mac and cheese, exploring the top spots that combine convenience with that homestyle taste we all know and love. Get ready to discover which chains are serving up the most irresistible bowls of this comfort food classic. Don’t agree? No worries, we would love to hear from you in the comments below!
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Best Fast Food Mac and Cheese, According to Critics
1. Popeyes Homestyle
Popeye may love to eat spinach, but the fast food chain has raised the level of the side dish to new heights. As you read the reviews, it’s clear why the chain’s mac and cheese is a fan favorite. Eat Pallet calls this “the nostalgic version of what grandma used to make.” The website says, “The true homemade flavor and gooey finish complement the thick cheddar sauce.”
This mac and cheese is rated as number one on The Daily Meal‘s list, saying it’s “nothing short of perfection.” You can’t get much better than that! “The cheese sauce is the real star, though. Somehow, it’s both straightforward and multifaceted. The cheese flavor is strong and leans towards cheddar, yet it’s also complex: There are nutty, tangy, salty, and mellow notes to be found here.”
According to Tasting Table, “If the late Anthony Bourdain blesses something, we listen.” Back in 2017, the popular chef revealed in a Boston Globe interview that the mac and cheese from Popeyes was his guilty pleasure. “This tasty side is made with plenty of real butter, cream, and cheddar cheese,” they write.
2. Panera Bread
Panera Bread came under fire after an employee revealed the mac and cheese was frozen and thawed out in the stores. The company struck back, saying it’s frozen because it does not contain any preservatives and if shipped fresh, it would spoil. Whatever you may think about the fresh/frozen debate, the company does make a tasty mac and cheese.
What’s so great about it? Eat Pallet loves the “unique twist of the recipe because instead of the traditional cheddar cheese sauce, Panera bread uses creamy and tangy white cheddar sauce to coat every bit of the macaroni shell.” If you love flavor, you won’t be disappointed because “The strong savory flavors and rich taste linger in your tastebuds.”
If you love mac and cheese heavily smothered in cheese, Mac and Cheese Club says this version is the “perfect band-aid for a bad day…Unlike many other fast food mac and cheese options, their pasta is very saucy. So saucy that it will leave some behind in the bowl, which is especially impressive considering the sauce-trapping qualities of the pasta.”
Guilty Eats knows a good mac and cheese, saying, “The Panera version is smooth and velvety. The cheese isn’t too overpowering, and the pasta is cooked al dente, which is the real way pasta should be eaten.”
3. Chick-fil-A
If you’re lucky enough to live near a Chick-fil-A that serves mac and cheese (not all do), you’ll be impressed. Tasting Table encourages you to make sure your phone eats first, saying “The cheese pull is 100% Instagram-worthy.” It is “baked to liquid perfection” and it could “easily fool you into thinking you’re eating homemade.”
The cheesiness is what stands out for Eat Pallet. “We like this version of mac and cheese because they use not just one but three cheese blends: parmesan, cheddar, and romano.” Having it baked in the store was also a plus, giving it “extra layers of crispy cheese.”
Erie Street Pub calls it a “delicious and well-crafted side dish” that is “topped with parmesan cheese for added texture and flavor.” What more could you want?
4. Dave’s Hot Chicken
This popular chicken restaurant is quite literally spicing up the mac and cheese world. Eat Pallet loves the al dente noodles with added spices to “ramp up” the flavor. The website says the “creamy and smooth cheese sauce goes well with a healthy dose of peppery goodness.”
If you like things hot, Tasting Table says, “The spiciness adds a whole new level of flavor we didn’t know was possible in mac and cheese.” It may not be your mom’s mac, but Cleveland.com says, “It is a satisfying alternative.”
5. Noodles and Company
This fast food chain probably isn’t the first one you think of when you think mac and cheese, but since all they do is noodles, it would make sense to do mac and cheese well. The Daily Meal touts all four versions of mac and cheese the restaurant offers including the gluten-sensitive mac. However, the humble Wisconsin mac and cheese is the “star of the show” giving you “simply everything you could want out of a bowl of mac and cheese, from its pleasantly al dente noddles to its glossy cheese sauce.”
The company’s Buffalo Chicken Mac is first on Tasting Table‘s list of the best fast food mac and cheese. “This delicious mac is topped with Parmesan-crusted chicken, Frank’s RedHot Buffalo Wings Sauce, and scallions. The Buffalo sauce added punchiness, while the chicken provides the extra bulk needed to make this feel like a full meal and not just a side dish,” according to the website. “It’s close to perfect, and for that reason, it comes out as the victor in this battle of the macs” (Tasting Table).
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