The very best boxed macaroni and cheese
Bites of savory, buttery bliss
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The Recommendation

September 6, 2025

Our favorite mac and cheese

Various boxes of uncooked mac and cheese alongside bowls of cooked mac and cheese
Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter

Whether you prefer the milder, sweeter flavor of cheddar elbow pasta or the saltier and sharper taste of white-cheddar shells, macaroni and cheese is a beloved classic for a reason. After taste-testing 19 boxes to find the very best, our favorites consist of the ones you’d expect. But we also found some unexpected winners, including buttery shells that are velvety until the last bite.

Our six favorites — whether you’re team elbows or team shells→

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