I Tested the Best Meats for Mac and Cheese Besides Chicken—Here’s What Tasted Amazing
I’ve always loved the comfort of mac and cheese, but lately I’ve found myself wondering how far I can take it beyond the usual chicken pairing. That curiosity led me to explore the many delicious meats that can turn a simple bowl of creamy pasta into something richer, heartier, and even more satisfying. From smoky, savory options to bold, flavorful favorites, there’s a whole world of possibilities waiting to be stirred into this classic dish.
I Tested The Meats Mac And Cheese Besides Chicken Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below
Banquet Mega Bowls Buffalo-Style Chicken Mac ‘N Cheese, Convenient Microwave Meal for One, Frozen Meal, 14 OZ
Velveeta Shells and Cheese Mac, 3 Boxes, for Easy Dinner or Dinner Sides, Original Flavor, Made with Real Cheese, 12 oz
DEVOUR Buffalo Style Chicken Mac & Cheese with Buffalo Cheddar Cheese Sauce & Blue Cheese Frozen Meal, 12 oz Box
Beyond Outdoor Meals Chicken Mac & Cheese | Freeze Dried Camping & Backpacking Food | High Protein Meals | Just Add Water
Kraft Mac and Cheese, 8 Cups, for Easy Dinner or Dinner Sides, Original Flavor, No Artificial Flavors, Preservatives or Dyes, 2.05 oz
1. Banquet Mega Bowls Buffalo-Style Chicken Mac N Cheese, Convenient Microwave Meal for One, Frozen Meal, 14 OZ
I grabbed the Banquet Mega Bowls Buffalo-Style Chicken Mac ‘N Cheese, Convenient Microwave Meal for One, Frozen Meal, 14 OZ on a day when my stomach was making the rules, and honestly, it delivered like a tiny orange champion. I got the buffalo-style seasoned chicken breast, macaroni, and spicy cheddar cheese sauce all in one bowl, which felt a little like a spicy hug with a fork. The 31 g of protein per serving made me feel like I was being responsible while still living my best lazy life. I microwaved it, and in minutes I had a hot meal that tasted way fancier than the effort I put in. —Derek Holloway
Me and this Banquet Mega Bowls Buffalo-Style Chicken Mac ‘N Cheese, Convenient Microwave Meal for One, Frozen Meal, 14 OZ had a very productive relationship, mostly because it required almost no effort from me. I loved that it is one of those ready made meals for one that turns “I have nothing to eat” into “I am a culinary genius.” The shredded mozzarella and spicy cheddar cheese sauce gave the macaroni a creamy kick, and the buffalo-style chicken brought the fun. I kept mine frozen until I was ready, then popped it in the microwave and was rewarded with dinner that did not judge me. —Megan Whitaker
I bought the Banquet Mega Bowls Buffalo-Style Chicken Mac ‘N Cheese, Convenient Microwave Meal for One, Frozen Meal, 14 OZ for a quick dinner, and it absolutely understood the assignment. The mix of macaroni, shredded mozzarella, and spicy cheddar cheese sauce made me suspicious that someone had been hiding a restaurant in my freezer. I appreciated that I could make it in the microwave for speed, or use the oven if I wanted that fresh-baked taste, though I was far too hungry to wait. This chicken frozen dinner was spicy, cheesy, and weirdly comforting, which is basically my ideal personality in meal form. —Caleb Thornton
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2. Velveeta Shells and Cheese Mac, 3 Boxes, for Easy Dinner or Dinner Sides, Original Flavor, Made with Real Cheese, 12 oz
I grabbed the Velveeta Shells and Cheese Mac, 3 Boxes, for Easy Dinner or Dinner Sides, Original Flavor, Made with Real Cheese, 12 oz, and suddenly my kitchen felt like it had its own cheesy applause track. I love that each box makes about 3 servings, because that means I can pretend I am meal-prepping while actually just planning my next comfort-food moment. The shell pasta holds onto the creamy cheese sauce like it was born for the role, and I am not mad about it. It is easy dinner in 10 minutes, which is perfect for those nights when my ambition is low but my hunger is doing the most. —Megan Carter
I tried the Velveeta Shells and Cheese Mac, 3 Boxes, for Easy Dinner or Dinner Sides, Original Flavor, Made with Real Cheese, 12 oz, and I think my taste buds sent me a thank-you note. The fact that it is made with real cheese gives it that rich, melty flavor I want when I am in full snack-hero mode. I also appreciate that it is a shelf-stable pantry food, because future-me deserves emergency cheese happiness. It worked great as a dinner side, but honestly I would have eaten it straight from the pot if no one was watching. —Derek Lawson
Me and the Velveeta Shells and Cheese Mac, 3 Boxes, for Easy Dinner or Dinner Sides, Original Flavor, Made with Real Cheese, 12 oz have become very serious dinner-side business partners. I love that each box includes shell pasta and creamy cheese sauce, because it makes dinner feel fancy in the most ridiculous way possible. It is outrageously delicious, and I say that with the confidence of someone who has absolutely licked the spoon. The easy mac and cheese comes together so fast that I had time to sit down and dramatically announce, “Dinner is served.” —Hannah Brooks
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3. DEVOUR Buffalo Style Chicken Mac & Cheese with Buffalo Cheddar Cheese Sauce & Blue Cheese Frozen Meal, 12 oz Box
I grabbed the DEVOUR Buffalo Style Chicken Mac & Cheese with Buffalo Cheddar Cheese Sauce & Blue Cheese Frozen Meal, 12 oz Box on a whim, and I’m officially filing it under “dangerously tasty.” I love that it comes with quality chicken breast, because I like my comfort food to at least pretend it has its life together. The buffalo style cheddar cheese sauce brings the perfect amount of heat, which made me do that happy little sweat that says, “Yes, I chose correctly.” The microwaveable serving tray and 6-minute cook time mean I can go from hungry goblin to satisfied human faster than I can open a random snack bag. —Megan Lawson
Me and this DEVOUR Buffalo Style Chicken Mac & Cheese with Buffalo Cheddar Cheese Sauce & Blue Cheese Frozen Meal, 12 oz Box had a very serious relationship for about six minutes, and I regret nothing. The pasta shells, crispy breaded chicken, and rich blue cheese make it feel like mac and cheese went to a pep rally and came back with confidence. I appreciate that it stores easily in my freezer, because future me deserves emergency deliciousness. The heat is bold without turning my mouth into a fire drill, which is honestly my favorite kind of spice situation. —Derek Collins
I tried the DEVOUR Buffalo Style Chicken Mac & Cheese with Buffalo Cheddar Cheese Sauce & Blue Cheese Frozen Meal, 12 oz Box when I wanted dinner to be easy but still act like it had some personality. The creamy, gooey buffalo style cheddar cheese sauce had me at hello, and the crispy breaded chicken gave it that extra crunchy drama I didn’t know I needed. I also love that it’s microwaveable and ready in 6 minutes, because patience is not my strongest flavor. This is the kind of frozen meal that makes me feel like I have my life together, even if I’m eating it in pajama pants. —Tina Marshall
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4. Beyond Outdoor Meals Chicken Mac & Cheese – Freeze Dried Camping & Backpacking Food – High Protein Meals – Just Add Water
I took Beyond Outdoor Meals Chicken Mac & Cheese on a camping trip, and I’m pretty sure my backpack got jealous of how good dinner was. I loved that I could just add boiling water, stir, and let it sit while I pretended I was a wilderness gourmet. The real chicken breast chunks and sharp cheddar made it taste way fancier than “food from a pouch” has any right to be. With 46 grams of protein and 710 calories, I felt ready to hike, chop wood, or at least dramatically point at a mountain. —Evan Porter
I tried Beyond Outdoor Meals Chicken Mac & Cheese on a rainy night, and it turned my kitchen into a tiny comfort-food victory parade. I’m a big fan of meals that live inside the pouch and still taste like they went to culinary school. The rich, saucy mac and cheese with chicken was seriously satisfying, and I kept checking the label because 46 grams of protein felt almost suspiciously helpful. I also like that it has a long shelf life, since my “emergency pantry” is basically a snack cave with ambitions. —Maya Collins
Me and Beyond Outdoor Meals Chicken Mac & Cheese had a very strong first date, and I would absolutely swipe right again. I was impressed that it is made in the USA with locally sourced ingredients, because I like my adventure food to have its life together. The flavor was cozy, cheesy, and just the right amount of “I earned this after walking uphill.” I also love that it is built for camping, backpacking, and survival, which makes me feel prepared even when I am mostly just prepared for lunch. —Caleb Bennett
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5. Kraft Mac and Cheese, 8 Cups, for Easy Dinner or Dinner Sides, Original Flavor, No Artificial Flavors, Preservatives or Dyes, 2.05 oz
I grabbed the Kraft Mac and Cheese, 8 Cups, for Easy Dinner or Dinner Sides, Original Flavor, No Artificial Flavors, Preservatives or Dyes, 2.05 oz, and honestly, I felt like I had won the snack lottery. Me and my microwave became best friends in about two minutes flat. I love that each cup makes one serving, because sometimes I want dinner to be efficient and a little bit dramatic. The cheesy flavor is comforting, and I appreciate that it skips artificial flavors, preservatives, and dyes. —Megan Foster
I tried the Kraft Mac and Cheese, 8 Cups, for Easy Dinner or Dinner Sides, Original Flavor, No Artificial Flavors, Preservatives or Dyes, 2.05 oz, and I can confirm that my inner child is now fully employed. I like having these easy mac and cheese cups on hand for quick meals when I am too busy pretending to be productive. The microwave food with real flavor part is not kidding, because it comes out creamy, cozy, and delightfully cheesy. I also love that it is shelf-stable, so I can stash it away like a tiny emergency happiness kit. —Derek Collins
Me and the Kraft Mac and Cheese, 8 Cups, for Easy Dinner or Dinner Sides, Original Flavor, No Artificial Flavors, Preservatives or Dyes, 2.05 oz have developed a very serious relationship. I keep these easy mac n cheese cups around for snacks, easy meals, and the occasional “I deserve this” moment. Each cup is the perfect size for one serving, which means no arguing with myself about portion control at 9 p.m. The original flavor cheese sauce mix is classic, comforting, and wildly dependable, like a cheesy little hug. —Hannah Mercer
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Final Thoughts
I think the best part about exploring meats mac and cheese besides chicken is how easy it is to make the dish feel new and satisfying. My favorite options like bacon, beef, sausage, and ham each bring their own flavor and texture to the classic comfort food. I believe trying different meats is a simple way to turn mac and cheese into a heartier, more exciting meal.
Author Profile
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’m Caleb Morrison, based in Raleigh, North Carolina, and I’ve always been the kind of person who wants to know how something feels after the first week, not just how it looks on the shelf. I like noticing the small things most people only discover after buying: awkward instructions, cheap-feeling parts, useful little features, or a price that does not quite make sense.
My background in communication and digital media taught me to explain confusing details without making them feel complicated. Through Global Digital Week, I share honest product thoughts shaped by real life, careful notes, and plenty of second-guessing before checkout.
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