Kraft Plant Based Mac and Cheese Review

Plant Based Kraft Mac and Cheese is a vegan alternative to Kraft’s classic blue box mac and cheese. Read on to learn some of the pros and cons for these dairy-free boxed mac and cheese flavors in this Plant Based Kraft Mac and Cheese review.

Cheese seems to be the theme of the 2024 product reviews. From pourable, to feta, to cheese shreds I’ve dabbled in quite a few different plant-based cheese options.

With the vast reach of vegan cheeses on the market it only felt fitting to branch into the world of vegan mac and cheese. This new product from the Kraft Heinz Company and NotCo brings the ease of boxed mac and cheese to the plant-based community.

I currently have not made any other vegan boxed mac and cheese options on the market and will not be comparing this brand with other brands but instead sharing how similar or different it is from the original Kraft Mac and Cheese, which I make for my children on the regular.

Please note that these are not products sent to me or items I will earn any commissions on for the review. Simply put, this is a dairy-free product I tried, liked, and could see myself using time and again.

What is Kraft Not Cheese Mac and Cheese?

The Kraft Heinz Company in partnership with NotCo launched their Not Cheese Plant Based Mac and Cheese line at the end of 2023, which is why about half a year later I have finally been able to secure a box in middle Georgia.

This joint venture set out to create a vegan boxed mac and cheese that mimics the ease of Kraft’s blue box mac and cheese with the iconic noodles and orange cheese sauce without any of the animal byproducts.

The mac and not cheese line currently consists of two flavors, Original and White Cheddar Style. Both options were available locally at Kroger so I picked up a box of each to see what they have created.

What ingredients are in Kraft’s Plant Based Mac and Cheese?

For the ingredients it boils down to the pasta and the cheese sauce packet. The plant-based cheese sauce packet consists of:

• Coconut Oil Powder
• Gum Arabic
• Modified Food Starch
• Yeast Extract
• Sugar
• Fava Bean Protein Isolate
• Salt
• Less than 2% of Maltodextrin, Natural Flavor, Dried Pineapple, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid, Medium Chain Triglycerides, and Onion Powder

Non-Dairy Milk for Vegan Boxed Mac and Cheese

Its also important to note that you add a plant-based butter as well as a non-dairy milk to the cooked pasta with the cheese sauce packet which will impact your overall flavor as well as the calorie content of the finished product.

When it comes to selecting the best non-dairy milk for this boxed mac and cheese you will want to consider your dietary restrictions as well as the sugar content of the plant-based milk.

I find most vegan milks to be considerably sweeter than traditional cows milk so selecting the least sweet option will result in a more savory and authentic flavor for the boxed mac and cheese.

For more information about some of the most common non-dairy milk types you can check out my Non-Dairy Milk Guide.

Taste Testing Kraft’s Not Cheese Mac and Cheese

The time for what you probably came for… The Taste Test.

Original. Had a hint of cheddar flavor with a creamy sauce that truly stuck to the pasta noodles. While I didn’t think the flavor was identical to their Original Blue Box Mac and Cheese I felt like it was close enough while also being delightfully nostalgic.

White Cheddar Style. Also hinted at a white cheddar flavor. I felt like the saltiness/flavor was reminiscent to chicken broth or vegetable broth. The sauce also did an incredible job cupping the pasta.

Overall I found the flavor to not be super cheesy but also not off-putting. I could definitely see myself keeping a box on hand for a quick and easy addition to a meal.

What we liked about Kraft’s Plant Based Mac and Cheese

My experience with Kraft’s Plant Based Mac and Cheese was an overall positive one. Some of the things I likes about the product include:

• Simple to make. Simply boil and drain the pasta, add the vegan butter, and plant-based milk, then top with the sauce powder, mix and serve.
• Classic comfort and design. The method is the same as the original and enjoying a full bowl of it gives you all the cozy nostalgic vibes of childhood without any of the dairy.
• Sauce stickiness. I was really impressed with how the sauce for both the Original flavor and the White Cheddar Style stuck to the pasta. I have always felt like the original boxed mac and cheese could have been a thicker sauce that cups the pasta and the Not Cheese really hit the mark with it.
• Reheated well. I made more than I could handle in one sitting and didn’t notice too much of a difference when I reheated the mac and cheese later.

What we did not like about Kraft’s Plant Based Mac and Cheese

While my overall experience was a positive one, here are some drawbacks you’ll want to consider.

• Price. At $3.80 a box its well over twice the price of the original Kraft Mac and Cheese. It’s less than some of the other vegan boxed mac and cheese brands on the shelf but still a bit steep.
• Sweeter than I’d like. As mentioned in the non-dairy milk section I found the milk to add a sweetness to the overall flavor of the mac and cheese.
• Shorter shelf life than traditional boxed mac and cheese. While I don’t tend to keep boxed mac on the shelf for longer periods of time I would like to use sales to stock up on boxes and they only keep about 5-6 months on the shelf from time of purchase.

Final Thoughts and Reflections on this Product

I think if you left go of the idea that this product will be the same as the original blue box mac and cheese you will walk away satisfied. If you keep comparing it to the original you will probably be disappointed.

The taste is close enough, it’s simple and easy to make, and the sauce texture is richer and creamier than the original Kraft mac and cheese. All in all I had a good experience with Kraft X NotCo’s Plant Based Cheese Mac and could see myself buying and making it again.

If you tried this product feel free to leave a comment below! I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences with this product!

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