Kraft Is Launching 2 New Mac & Cheese Flavors

There’s nothing quite like sitting down with a bowl of Kraft Mac & Cheese, but sometimes that standard processed cheese flavor can get a little, shall we say, boring. And Kraft sort of knows it. The company says that “a majority of fans — Gen Z in particular — are hungry for more intense, exploratory flavors but prefer to try them in familiar products from trusted brands.” So, it’s answering the call.

Starting today, Kraft Mac & Cheese is available in two new taste-tempting varieties, Jalapeño and Ranch, allowing fans the opportunity to go on a little bit of a taste exploration while still enjoying the classic meal.

The Ranch combines the taste of Kraft’s iconic Mac & Cheese with the creamy and tangy flavor of one of America’s most popular dressings, while the Jalapeño adds a dash of spice to the cheesy meal.

However, this is more than just a casual addition to the brand’s portfolio. According to Kraft, it conducted a substantial amount of research before choosing the two flavors, reviewing an astounding 27 flavors and 40 different concepts before settling on Ranch and Jalapeño as the two flavors to launch. (Though, what I’m hearing from this is there are 25 other unique flavor options out there we might see come down the pipeline in the future. Also, someone’s job at Kraft was to try 27 different kinds of Mac & Cheese – talk about a dream job.)

While its in-house taste testers definitely played a role in the flavor’s selection, Kraft says that one of the most common “Mac hacks” it’s seen people doing on social media is adding Ranch dressing or seasoning to its traditional blue box of Mac and Cheese, making that addition a bit of a no-brainer. It says that the spice trend is also “getting hotter and hotter, literally,” which moved it to choose that Jalapeño flavor.

The flavors were also both big hits in a recent sweepstakes on social media where it asked fans to submit their idea for a new flavor for a chance at winning $10,000. Submissions included creamy pesto, Sriracha Mac & Cheese, and even pickle flavored, but the brand says that thousands recommended Ranch and Jalapeño.

Want to get your hands on a box? Both flavors are now on shelves nationwide with a suggested retail price of $2 a box. And if you want to try out some “Mac hacks” of your own at home, may I suggest this Reddit thread on “pimping out Kraft Mac and Cheese” for a bit of inspiration.