My Honest Beecher's Macaroni and Cheese Review

I'm not necessarily new to Beecher's. I'd seen their macaroni and cheese in the Walmart frozen food section, and while I'm always on the lookout for new mac and cheese varieties, the $11 price tag always scared me off. Plus, I was a little skeptical of the "World's Best" title on the box. How good can a box of frozen pasta really be?

However, when I saw people on the Cooking subreddit raving about Beecher's frozen mac, I started to wonder if I'd unfairly judged this brand. Surely, people who cook all the time know what tastes good. With this newfound knowledge in mind, I went back to Walmart and picked up Beecher's "World's Best" Macaroni and Cheese, plus their Smoked Flagship Macaroni and Cheese--a $22 purchase that left me hoping I didn't waste my money.

Ultimately, Beecher's wasn't quite what I expected. However, before I dive into my honest, non-sponsored review, let's take a look at this brand that takes great pride in its frozen pasta.

What is Beecher's?

Beecher's is a Seattle-based company that sells handmade artisanal cheeses and frozen dinners. Their Flagship cheese is the most famous product, but they also sell smoked, aged and flavored cheeses, plus cheese curds and cheese sticks. Other offerings include soup, crackers, sides and entrees, including macaroni and cheese made with Flagship and other blends.

Since Beecher's launched their first store in 2003, they've opened a handful of cafes in the United States and partnered with mass retailers to sell their cheese and frozen products. Flagship and Flagship Reserve have won awards at cheesemaking contests, including Best of Show at the 2022 American Cheese Society competition.

So, is Beecher's all that it's cracked up to be? This humble foodie was about to find out.

"World's Best" Macaroni and Cheese

Before I stuck this pasta in the microwave, I checked the ingredients list to make sure I'm really getting an exclusive product. The box listed some unconventional ingredients, including chipotles, apple cider vinegar, lime juice, honey and garlic powder. This sounded like a taste sensation to me.

For a frozen dinner, this dish looked fairly sophisticated: a large helping of penne with cheese sauce and some kind of crust (it looked like crushed potato chips, but I'm probably wrong) sprinkled on top. Preparation was as simple as heating it up in the microwave.

On the first bite, I noticed that the cheese sauce was pleasantly mild with a cheddar-jack flavor and a touch of heat that left a spicy aftertaste. Penne can be a controversial noodle, but I thought the ridged noodles gave the sauce plenty of space on which to cling.

Still, was it the best mac and cheese I'd ever had? Unfortunately, I'd have to disagree. The flavors were too mild to make this dish truly memorable, and it had that undeniable "frozen food" blandness that reminded me I wasn't eating a home-cooked meal. Maybe this product tastes better if you buy it at a Beecher's cafe, but it probably loses something in mass production.

Smoked Flagship Macaroni and Cheese

Judging by the ingredient list, Smoked Flagship Macaroni and Cheese is nearly identical to the "World's Best" variety. The main difference is the smoked Flagship cheese that promises an earthy, nutty flavor. I love smoked cheeses, so I hoped this would make a bolder impression than the previous dish.

When this product came out of the microwave, a distinctly earthy aroma wafted from the pasta. I quickly sat down and started to eat. Immediately, I noticed that the smokiness drowned out the chipotle puree and gave the sauce a savory, full-bodied taste like aged cheddar.

Still, the sauce had a distinctly mild, nutty flavor that you only get with white cheese. Most macaroni and cheese recipes use cheddar, so I enjoyed trying a new twist on the classic recipe. The penne added texture and dimension to every bite.

However, would I buy this again? Probably not. It's more flavorful than the "World's Best" pasta, but I couldn't quite justify spending $11 on frozen mac. Maybe the Cooking subreddit doesn't actually know everything.

Is it Worth the Hype?

Beecher's macaroni and cheese is a step up from generic store brands. The complex flavors make it clear that you're eating real cheese, not cheese-flavored powder. Still, I don't think it's unique or flavorful enough to warrant the "World's Best" label. Each box did have enough for two servings, but $5.50 per meal is expensive these days.

If you can afford Beecher's high price tag, you'll probably enjoy this brand. However, if you're short on cash, I recommend sticking to the store brand or going to a restaurant where you can order handmade pasta for the same price. Maybe you could even find a Beecher's cafe in your area and try this product in person.

Have you tried Beecher's products before? What did you think? Let me know in the comments.