10 Fast Food Chains With the Best Mac and Cheese
Mac and cheese is one of the ultimate comfort foods. Many fast food restaurants have mac and cheese on their menu, making it a perfect side dish or a delectable meal on its own.
While mac and cheese is a less common menu item than burgers or fries, the fast food chains on our list offer delicious mac and cheese dishes that are sure to please.
If you’re craving mac and cheese and don’t have the time or energy to make it yourself, we’ve got you covered!
Creamy, cheesy, and delicious, these mac and cheeses at fast food chains are worth trying!
10. Boston Market: Mac and Cheese
Boston Market is a fast-casual restaurant chain known for its variety of comfort foods, especially its signature rotisserie chicken.
There are over 300 Boston Market locations in 25 states in the US.
Boston Market’s mac and cheese is unique because it’s made with rotini noodles instead of macaroni.
The rotini noodles are then coated in a creamy, decadent cheddar cheese sauce.
Boston Market’s mac and cheese comes in two sizes: regular and large.
The regular size has 260 calories, while the large size is 620 calories.
9. Bush’s Chicken: Macaroni & Cheese
Bush’s Chicken is a Texas-based fast food chain specializing in Southern-style fried chicken with over 80 locations, all of which are in Texas.
Bush’s Chicken’s macaroni & cheese is classic and simple, made with elbow macaroni and a traditional cheese sauce.
Like all sides at Bush’s Chicken, the macaroni & cheese is available in two sizes: single and family.
A single serving of Bush’s Chicken macaroni & cheese has 260 calories.
8. Golden Chick: Mac & Cheese
Golden Chick is another Texas-based fast food chain famous for its signature chicken tenders.
There are 33 Golden Chick locations, most of which are in Texas, but there are two in Oklahoma and one in Louisiana.
Golden Chick’s mac & cheese is also traditional, made with elbow macaroni and a creamy, cheesy sauce.
Golden Chick’s mac & cheese only comes in one size and is meant to be ordered as a side with your favorite chicken tenders, fried chicken, or chicken sandwich.
One serving has 160 calories and contains 8 grams of fat, 520 milligrams of sodium, and 4 grams of protein.
7. Bojangles: Macaroni & Cheese
Bojangles is a Southern fast food chain famous for its Cajun-inspired fried chicken and made-from-scratch buttermilk biscuits.
There are nearly 800 Bojangles locations in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Bojangles’ macaroni & cheese is a classic and basic version of mac and cheese made with elbow macaroni and a creamy cheese sauce.
Like many of its side fixins, Bojangles’ macaroni & cheese comes in two sizes: individual and picnic.
The picnic size is large enough to feed many diners.
An individual serving of Bojangles macaroni & cheese is 280 calories and contains 18 grams of fat, 830 milligrams of sodium, and 8 grams of protein.
6. Popeyes: Homestyle Mac & Cheese
Popeyes is a fast food chain famous for its fried chicken, chicken sandwich, and biscuits.
There are almost 3,500 Popeyes locations in 46 states, plus Washington DC and Puerto Rico.
Popeyes’ homestyle mac & cheese is made with real butter and cream and baked in an oven with a sprinkle of cheddar cheese on top.
The cheese browns and bubbles to create a delicious golden crust.
Popeyes’ homestyle mac & cheese comes in two sizes: regular and large.
A regular serving has 345 calories and contains 25 grams of fat, 700 milligrams of sodium, and 12 grams of protein.
5. Church’s Chicken: Baked Mac & Cheese
Church’s Chicken is another Texas-based fast food chain specializing in fried chicken.
There are nearly 900 Church’s Chicken locations in 26 states and Washington DC.
Church’s Chicken’s baked mac & cheese is made from elbow macaroni, creamy cheese sauce, and a sprinkle of cheddar cheese on top, which creates a delicious golden crust.
Church’s Chicken’s baked mac & cheese comes in two sizes: regular and large.
A regular serving has 210 calories and contains 12 grams of fat, 920 milligrams of sodium, and 9 grams of protein.
4. KFC: Mac & Cheese Bowl
KFC is one of the largest and most famous fried chicken fast food chains, with almost 4,000 locations in all 50 states.
Although KFC has served mac & cheese as a side item for a long time, the mac & cheese bowl is a relatively new addition to their menu.
KFC’s mac & cheese bowl is one of the most unique fast food mac and cheese dishes out there.
It’s made from a base of KFC’s signature rich and creamy mac & cheese, but it’s topped with bite-sized pieces of crispy chicken and a sprinkle of a three-cheese blend.
You can choose the crispy chicken bites to be regular or spicy.
One KFC mac & cheese bowl has 660 calories.
3. Chick-fil-A: Mac & Cheese
Chick-fil-A is another famous fried chicken fast food chain, beloved for its chicken nuggets, chicken sandwiches, and waffle fries.
There are nearly 3,000 Chick-fil-A locations in 47 states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico.
Chick-fil-A’s mac & cheese is made from a special cheese blend, which includes Parmesan, Romano, and cheddar cheeses.
Each batch of Chick-fil-A mac & cheese is baked in-restaurant to create a deliciously crispy layer of cheese on top.
Chick-fil-A’s mac & cheese comes in two sizes: small and medium.
A medium serving has 450 calories and contains 29 grams of fat and 20 grams of protein.
2. Noodles & Company: Wisconsin Mac & Cheese
Noodles & Company is a fast-casual restaurant chain dedicated to serving different kinds of noodle dishes from all over the world.
There are over 450 Noodles & Company locations in 31 states.
Noodles & Company sells several kinds of mac and cheese, including a gluten-sensitive version and a version topped with buffalo chicken.
However, their most classic mac and cheese is the Wisconsin Mac & Cheese.
Noodles & Company’s Wisconsin Mac & Cheese is made with elbow macaroni, cream, and a classic blend of cheddar and jack cheeses.
Noodles & Company’s Wisconsin Mac & Cheese comes in two sizes: small and regular.
A regular serving has 980 calories and contains 38 grams of fat, 1,560 milligrams of sodium, and 42 grams of protein.
1. Panera Bread: Broccoli Cheddar Mac & Cheese
Panera Bread is one of the largest bakery and cafe chains, famous for its sandwiches, soups, salads, and bread.
There are over 2,000 Panera Bread locations in the US.
Panera Bread sells a few kinds of mac and cheese, but one of its best is the broccoli cheddar mac & cheese, a spinoff of Panera’s fan-favorite broccoli cheddar soup.
Panera’s broccoli cheddar mac & cheese is made with pasta shells, a creamy cheese sauce, tangy white cheddar, seasoned broccoli, and shredded carrots.
It comes in two sizes: small and large.
You can also order your broccoli cheddar mac & cheese in a bread bowl.
Each order also comes with your choice of a side, including a French baguette, apple, or bag of chips.
A large-size broccoli cheddar mac & cheese at Panera has 740 calories and contains 48 grams of fat, 1,930 milligrams of sodium, and 25 grams of protein.
Conclusion
If you’re hungry for the comforting, classic creaminess of mac and cheese, the delicious fast food mac and cheeses on our list are ready to satisfy your craving.
They make the perfect side to fried chicken or chicken tenders but are just as gratifying as your main dish.
