I'm not gluten-free. But when it comes to food reviewing that may or may not be a good thing. I can eat everything. Which means I can compare it to a product that it is mimicking.
Testing this out
Now, back when I tried Trader Joe's Gluten-Free Egg Fettuccine I was blown away by how close it was to its gluten-carrying sibling. They absolutely nailed it.
Mac and cheese however it a bit more difficult to nail.
If you are making mac and cheese from scratch gluten will show up in two different ways: the pasta and the roux.
So, TJ's had to figure out a way to avoid both of these.
The biggest flaw here is the pasta. It's close, but not nearly the same level as the gluten-free fettuccine. But those are in different aisles: frozen vs refrigerated.
The pasta seemed a bit mushy for my liking and texturally different. I'm also willing to blame the fact that I used my microwave on this too.
And once again, I'm not sure if it was the microwave but the sauce did not seem quite as thick as I would have liked on a mac and cheese. Mine seemed a bit more watery than some other varieties that I've had.
Not inedible, just different.
As far as the cheese blend goes, it is on par with the other full-fat varieties sold at Traders. Plus, the calorie count will remind you that this is just as caloric as almost everything else in that section (with the exception of the Reduced Guilt Mac and Cheese).
Was it my favorite? No. Does it have to be? No.
This product fills a noticeable gap for many people. And for that, I applaud Trader Joe's for putting this item out there.
So my decision here is split.
If you are gluten free-This is a no-brainer. Try it. Enjoy it!
If you aren't gluten-free- it's ok to skip. You might miss the texture here.
Overall
For $3.49 it's priced in line with the other frozen mac and cheese options.
Would I buy this again? Personally, I would not buy Trader Joe's Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese again. But that is because I can eat anything I want. It didn't nail the texture. But if I was sensitive to gluten, then yes, this is a good option. Not perfect, but a good option.
Product photos
The box of Trader Joe's Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese:
The nutritional information:
Ingredients
Directions
Fully cooked and out of the microwave:
A closer look at this product:
Would I buy this again? For me personally, I would not buy Trader Joe's Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese again. But that is because I can eat anything I want. It didn't nail the texture. But if I was sensitive to gluten, then yes, this is a good option. Not perfect, but a good option.
Want to see more items I've reviewed from Trader Joe's? Click on Thoughts & Reviews of Trader Joe’s for a searchable list.
Did you try it? Let me know what you think in the comments section!
The Bottom Line
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Trader Joe's Gluten Free Mac and Cheese
Product Name: Trader Joe's Gluten Free Mac and Cheese
Product Description: Trader Joe's Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese is a frozen option for those who want pasta but can't have gluten.
Price: $3.49
Summary
Trader Joe's Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese is an option for those who love pasta but can't take the gluten.
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Taste
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Value
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Worthy of Repurchasing
Pros
- Trader Joe's Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese is new and one of only a few gluten-free pasta options currently in the freezer.
Cons
- It still misses the mark compared to the non-gluten-free varieties.
We tried this last week when we were thrilled to find it again - it's virtually the same as the last version of GF mac and cheese they had (blue box, I think it was, but with penne?) but was discontinued a couple of years ago. Since both my husband and I eat GF, this is great to keep in the freezer just in case... but the sodium is still too high for eating regularly. Overall? We're super happy it's back!
Hey Lindsay! Thanks for the insight on this one. It's good to know something similar was on the shelf at one point or another. Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by and share!
I’m glad TJs is labeling per portion as well as per container now for some items- although it’s certainly eye opening (there’s a lot of sat fat here). I know my friend’s kid is GF, and she buys the GF box mix for nights they have a babysitter come, i’ll pass along your review here.
Hey Ttrockwood! I know. I hate it when it is the size of one entree and then it turns out to be two (or more) servings. So easy to overeat. Thanks so much for passing it along. Thanks again for stopping by!