CLEVELAND, Oh – Whether it was that concoction that depended on the blue and yellow box you cooked in your dorm room, or that crusty casserole of deliciousness that grandma pulled out of her oven when visited when I was little, macaroni and cheese always had the power to make even the worst day a little better.
And let’s face it, there are those days when we all need a big bowl of the ultimate comfort food.
We all know that the best tasting mac ‘n’ cheese comes from your home kitchen, but these days busy schedules just don’t accommodate the time it takes to make it from scratch. And during these dog days of summer, who wants to heat up the kitchen?
When that craving hits, and you’re in a pinch, many fast food outlets have taken up the challenge of providing pasta and cheese that suits them. The Best Of Cleveland team took on the challenge of finding which fast food emporium served the creamiest mac ‘n’ cheese dish.
We visited eight different fast-food chains around town and found 10 varieties of mac ‘n’ cheese. In their quest to find the most satisfying, they tried them all, then ranked them from worst to best to give you a guidebook to the best Fast Food Mac ‘n Cheese in Northeast Ohio.
Mr. Chicken: Regular
No. 10 Mr. Chicken: Regular Mac & Cheese See the article : Meet the first vegan Food Network winner “The Great Food Truck Race”.
– Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com
KFC: Regular
Our Thoughts: When you go to a fried chicken shop in the South, you expect more than the traditional sides that are served alongside the fried star of the meal; But Mr. Chicken’s Mac ‘n Cheese was a huge disappointment. On the same subject : Costco raises prices on soft drinks at restaurants, roast chicken. To be clear, none of us can get through one bite. The noodles were overcooked and watery, while the cheese sauce was gritty and tasted like cheddar had been aged a few years too long.
No. 9 KFC: Regular Mac & Cheese
– Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com
Calories: Individual 140 Large 540
Price: Individual $2.99 Large $4.69
Panera: Broccoli Cheddar
Menu Description: Elbow macaroni topped with a rich and creamy cheddar cheese sauce. Read also : Stuffed fries and stuffed grilled cheese at this food truck: Food Finds.
Our Thoughts: Nothing rich and creamy about this. We weren’t even sure that the mac ‘n’ cheese we were served had been made the same day we visited, and we arrived just in time for lunch. The noodles were hard to chew; and the “cheese” sauce was left on one side of the bowl and had little or no cheese flavor despite its creamy appearance.
No. 8 Panera: Broccoli Cheddar Mac & Cheese
Chick-Fil-A: Regular
– Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com
Menu Description: Shell pasta in a creamy cheese sauce and spicy white cheddar, simmered with seasoned broccoli and carrots.
Our Thoughts: If you’re trying to get more vegetables into your child’s diet, mac ‘n’ cheese may be the perfect vehicle to do so. But don’t count on them not noticing the veggies in Panera’s Broccoli Cheddar. The vegetables are brightly colored and not cooked to mush. They tasted fresh, but the pieces are tiny and left us wondering why we even bothered. While the noodles were well cooked and firm, the cheese sauce was a bit on the runny side and left behind a decidedly artificial chalky aftertaste.
Slim Chickens: Regular
No. 7 Chick-Fil-A: Regular macaroni and cheese
– Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com
Menu Description: A classic macaroni and cheese recipe featuring a special blend of cheeses including Parmesan, Cheddar, and Romano. Baked in the restaurant to form a crispy top layer of baked cheese.
Our Thoughts: The promise of “baked in the restaurant” was evident in the bowl of mac ‘n’ cheese we were served as there were some of those crunchy bits in the corner mixed into the bowl . For some mac ‘n’ cheese lovers they may be the perfect addition, for others, it may be off-putting. You will have to decide how you feel about them, just know that having them as part of your dish is a possibility. Unfortunately, not all the cheese was melted, so, not as creamy as we had hoped and the noodles were a bit on the mushy side.
No. 6 Slim Chicken: Mac & regular; cheese
Panera: Regular
– Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com
Calories: Regular 440 Large 1,330
Price: Regular $2.99 Large $5.49
Menu description: At Slim’s, mac & cheese is not JUST kid food. This classic Southern side is a grown-up portion to complete any creamy, cheesy meal.
Dave’s Hot Chicken: Regular
Our Thoughts: Finally — a fast-food outlet that served a hearty noodle cooked al dente. We could find two different types of cheese in the dish – and there was plenty of that hot cheesy goodness to enjoy. Kids will definitely enjoy this, but then, so will adults.
No. 5 Panera: Regular Mac & Cheese
Arby’s: White Cheddar
– Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com
Price: Regular $6.99 Large $10.69
Menu Description: Fruit crust pasta in a blend of rich cheeses including our aged white cheddar cheese sauce.
Popeye’s: Homestyle
Our Thoughts: Interestingly enough, two macs from the same restaurant tasted decidedly different. This mac ‘n’ cheese offering from Panera was without the vegetables but gave us a much cheesier experience. The sauce was thicker — you’ll have to stir this one before you enjoy it — and while it didn’t have a strong cheddar flavor, it ranked right on top of its satisfying flavor.
No. 4 Dave’s Hot Chicken: Mac & Cheese
– Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com
Our Thoughts: The chicken here is spicy and they don’t fail to add a healthy dose of peppery goodness to the mac ‘n’ cheese as well — which is a good thing. The visible spices add to the flavor of the firm noodles and the smooth, creamy cheese sauce. Is it your mom’s mac ‘n’ cheese? No. But it is a satisfactory alternative.
No. 3 Arby’s: White Cheddar Mac ‘n Cheese
Arby’s: Loaded
– Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com
Menu Description: Smooth white cheddar and creamy Mac ‘n’ Cheese made with elbow macaroni.
Our Thoughts: This is another dish that benefits from a healthy shake before diving in. The sauce is thick and full of white cheddar goodness. The pasta was not overcooked and went well with the cheese sauce. All in all, above average mac ‘n’ cheese.
No. 2 Popeye’s: Homestyle Mac & Cheese
– Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com
Calories: Regular 345 Large 1,035
Price: Regular $4.09 Large $7.09
Menu description: Mac & Cheese made with real butter and cream and topped with shredded cheddar cheese to create a golden brown crust when baked in the oven.
Our Thoughts: Looking for “true homemade taste” and texture, this could become your favorite fast food mac. Gooey for sure, so give it a healthy shake before diving in. The sauce is thick and cheddar-y. The noodles are firm enough to withstand all that cheese. This is the dish you expect to have at a Southern cook-out or a church lunch, or “what grandma used to make.”
No. 1 Arby’s: Loaded Mac ‘n Cheese
