Cheetos Mac N' Cheese Flamin' Hot...Worth it or Not?

Good news mac and cheese lovers, today is National Macaroni and Cheese Day! Cheesy, gooey, hearty and creamy, America’s favorite comfort food has its very own holiday, celebrated on July 14. Whether you’re a fan of classic, homemade, Macaroni and Cheese, prefer it loaded with lobster, bacon, veggies, or quick and easy from the box—there is a cheesy variation for any taste.

So, when I came across CHEETOS® Mac 'n Cheese FLAMIN' HOT® at my local supermarket, I was intrigued. Was this bright red mac and cheese going to be terrible, or was it going to be my new found craving? There was only one way to find out.

Cheetos's website describes Mac 'n Cheese FLAMIN' HOT® as "the hottest thing since, well, Flamin’ Hot® Cheetos®. This creamy, bold mac with the heat of Flamin’ Hot® Cheetos® will hit the spot with each and every bite. Try it today, and get in on the cheesy goodness!" Everyone enjoys boxed mac and cheese whether they like to admit it or not, so I needed to find out whether the FLAMIN' HOT® variety is a welcome addition to the boxed mac market that has remained mostly unchanged.

The first thing I noticed while preparing is the sheer craziness of the color. This neon red mac and cheese is sure to make an impact no matter who you serve it to. The preparation is the same as any boxed mac and cheese, using butter, milk and the included flavoring packet.

I was nervous to taste the mac and cheese as I didn't know what to expect in terms of flavor and spiciness. The cheesy flavor is almost non existent. The mac and "cheese" just tasted like subtly spicy buttered noodles. It did have some nice heat at the end, which would be delicious paired with the super cheesy flavor of Kraft boxed mac and cheese. It wasn't terrible, but if you're looking for a spicy variation of the cheesy boxed mac and cheese that we all know and love, this is not it. It is not worth consuming all of the Red 40 and artificial flavor.

CHEETOS® Mac 'n Cheese is also available in Cheesy Jalapeno and Bold & Cheesy Varieties. Maybe these would have more cheese flavor as the word "cheesy" is in the names. I'd be willing to try the Cheesy Jalapeno in the future. Maybe it will be everything that I hoped the Flamin' Hot mac and cheese would be!

All in all, I'd say give this a pass for your National Mac and Cheese Day celebration and instead, make the real deal. Check out these recipes that we gathered for last year's National Mac and Cheese Day.