If you are looking for comfort food, Trader Joe’s mac and cheese could be the best one yet. People love them; hence why they do not last on the shelves.
Trader Joe’s has a huge lineup of mac and cheese options to choose from. They range from the high caloric to the low caloric ones, which are healthier.
The store’s mac and cheese is a Trader Joe’s private label brand and is cheaper than other stores.
Contents
What Kind of Mac and Cheese Does Trader Joe’s Sell?
Trader Joe’s stocks numerous mac and cheese options. They include:
Trader Joe’s Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
This is one of the best-frozen mac and cheese in the store. However, it is seasonal and can only be found in fall or autumn. It is quite flavorful and contains 250 calories a serving.
Joe’s Diner Mac ‘n Cheese
If you want to experience it best, put it in the oven to feel the cheese’s crispiness. Disclaimer: it takes about 5 to 6 minutes to cook, which is rather long.
Its cheese sauce is tasty and combines Havarti, Swiss, and gouda, while its noodles are typical elbow-shaped. It contains 720 calories for the two servings.
Trader Joe’s French Onion Macaroni & Cheese
This mac and cheese flavor can be summarized as tasting like French onion soup as it has lots of onions.
It lacks enough cheese, which might bother you if you’re a cheese lover. It also has lots of calories; 960 per container.
Trader Joe’s Hatch Chile Mac & Cheese
You are probably wondering how peppers would taste in mac and cheese, but you would be surprised at how good it complements the dish. If anything, this mac and cheese option is nothing but full of flavor. In addition to that, it is a large serving and inexpensive at the same time. How amazing is that?
If you feel like the chiles from Mexico are not enough, consider adding crispy jalapenos; they will take your dish to an upper notch.
Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Mac & Cheese
Trader Joe’s gluten-free mac and cheese is the perfect option if you want something gluten-free.
It is similar to the Joe’s Diner Mac and Cheese but has a few variations. With calories as high as 600, you should not eat this dish every day.
Note that the rotini pasta has a tough texture; hence, it is a bit chewy. However, that minor inconvenience should not stop you from digging in.
Trader Joe’s Pepperoni Pizza Mac & Cheese
If you love creamy cheese sauces in your mac and cheese, you may want to sit this one out but don’t; not just yet. This is not to mean that it lacks a sauce entirely since there is a red one- only that it’s not in plenty.
The mac and cheese with pepperoni is full of flavor. It has two servings with 580 calories; therefore, this should not be eaten daily if you are on a diet.
Reduce Gilt Mac & Cheese
You will notice how tiny the elbow noodles are in this mac and cheese, especially if you have ever tried the rest.
As the name suggests, it is a low-calorie mac and cheese with a tasty creamy sauce. Therefore, if it has been your dream to eat mac and cheese without the guilt of taking too many calories, this is it.
How Much is Mac and Cheese at Trader Joe’s?
Trader Joe’s mac and cheese is quite affordable. However, the price differs from one type to another, as seen below.
| Mac and Cheese | Cost |
| Trader Joe’s Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese | $2.99 |
| Joe’s Diner Mac ‘n Cheese | $2.99 |
| Trader Joe’s French Onion Macaroni & Cheese | $4.99 |
| Trader Joe’s Hatch Chile Mac & Cheese | $2.99 |
| Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Mac & Cheese | $3.49 |
| Trader Joe’s Pepperoni Pizza Mac & Cheese | $2.99 |
| Reduce Gilt Mac & Cheese | $1.99 |
Trader Joe’s Mac and Cheese Ingredients.
Trader Joe’s mac and cheese ingredients differ, but the primary ones have to be cheese and macaroni.
The following are some of the ingredients:
Trader Joe’s Mac and Cheese Nutrition Facts.
Mac and cheese have a lot of calories, and dividing the package into two portions is unreasonable since it comes frozen. Many options are not healthy except the reduced guilt mac and cheese, which has under 300 calories. Its counterparts, on the hand, have calories as high as 960; therefore, watch out for such if you pay attention to what you eat.
How to Make Trader Joe’s Mac and Cheese.
To make tasty mac and cheese, you need to have the following ingredients:
- A pound of macaroni
- A cup of grated swiss cheese, cheddar, Havarti cheese, and gouda.
- A teaspoon of salt or pepper and garlic powder.
- A tablespoon of cornstarch and Dijon mustard
- Two cans of evaporated milk
- A ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes
Instructions:
- Assemble all the ingredients, and using medium heat, boil the evaporated milk and combine the cornstarch and cheeses.
- Take the cheese blend and mix it with the evaporated milk while stirring.
- As soon as it thickens, throw in the garlic powder, mustard, pepper, red pepper flakes, and salt.
- Add the cooked macaroni and thoroughly mix with the sauce.
- Place it in a baking dish and add a cup of cheddar over it.
- Lastly, put it in the oven for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.
If you love mac and cheese bites and have an air fryer, you can preheat them before placing them inside. After that, air fry the bites at 360 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes if they are round in shape and eight if flat. From there, remove them and devour them how you like them.
Trader Joe’s Mac and Cheese Recipe
You can try out the below Trader Joe’s mac and cheese recipes to amaze your guests;
Trader Joe’s Mac & Cheese with Italian Sausage and Spinach.
Ingredients:
- Trader Joe’s Frozen Mac And Cheese
- Baby Spinach
- ½ lb Italian Sausage Links
Directions
- Cook the mac and cheese according to instructions.
- Cook sausages until they brown. Add spinach and cook for two minutes.
- Transfer the mac and cheese to a skillet and stir in the sausage and spinach.
- Serve.
Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
Trader Joe’s butternut mac and cheese are seasonal, but this does not mean that you cannot make it yourself. This recipe shows you how to do that. We promise that it will taste almost the same as the one in-store.
If you want to spice up your basic mac and cheese, you could add the following.
- Cheddar
- Spinach-artichoke dip
- Sausages and baby spinach
- Roasted pieces of cauliflower
- Chili and green onions
- Bacon
Are Trader Joe’s Mac and Cheese Good?
Yes! Trader Joe’s mac and cheese options are amazing, and there is so much to love about them.
Here are what customers say about them;
FAQS
Does Trader Joe’s have Vegan Mac and Cheese?
Yes. It launched the premade vegan mac and cheese option available in stores.
Is Trader Joe’s Mac and Cheese the Same as Annies?
No. As much as there are speculations that they taste the same way and have almost similar ingredients and directions, they are different. Trader Joe’s mac and cheese has a bolder and richer flavor than Annie’s.
Is Trader Joe’s butternut squash mac and cheese seasonal?
Sadly, Trader Joe’s butternut squash mac and cheese is seasonal and only available during the fall and autumn. We, therefore, recommend that you pick multiple pieces when they are restocked.
How long is Trader Joe’s frozen mac and cheese good for?
If put in the freezer, Trader Joe’s mac and cheese can last three months. However, If you refrigerate it, it will last up to five days. We recommend that you check the expiration date to ensure that you do not eat expired food.
Is Trader Joe’s mac and cheese bad for you?
Trader Joe’s mac and cheese is not the ultimate healthy food, as it is high in cheese, carbohydrates, and fats. Apart from the Reduced Guilt Mac and Cheese, which has around 300 calories, the others should be consumed cautiously.
Conclusion
Trader Joe’s mac and cheese options are a great delight and will do nothing but make you crave for more. Remember it is your one-stop store when you need some comfort food on that bad day. They’ve got you whether you need a healthier mac and cheese option or not. Try these options today and be the judge!
