This Delicious Condiment Makes Kraft’s New Limited-Edition Mac & Cheese So Good (It’s Definitely Going To Sell Out!)

Ali Domrongchai
Ali Domrongchai
Ali Domrongchai, a Southern-raised, Brooklyn-based food writer, grew up around her family's Thai restaurant that sparked her initial love for food. (Fun fact: her grandparents briefly ran a Thai grocery store in the 70s). In this space, her curiosity on the role that food plays…read more
published Sep 28, 2025
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Two bowls of creamy macaroni and cheese topped with black pepper, next to forks and a small dish of pepper.
Credit: Photo: Joe Lingeman/Kitchn; Food Stylist: CC Buckley/Kitchn
Mac and Cheese

Kraft’s original macaroni and cheese was one of my first childhood meal fixations. Those tubular-shaped noodles coated in that unmistakable highlighter-orange cheese sauce? I could’ve eaten it every single day growing up (years later, the brand still holds up; it won The Kitchn’s very recent boxed mac and cheese taste test!).

While the brand continues to maintain a firm grip in the boxed mac space, that hasn’t kept the geniuses at Kraft from innovating. Hot Honey and Garlic Parmesan are the latest in a line of fun new flavors. I got my hands on a box of the spicier of the two. Here’s my full review. 

What to Know About the New Kraft Mac & Cheese Flavors

Move over Jalapeño and Ranch. A new duo of flavors is coming to shelves this fall. Interestingly, they have two different release dates: Hot Honey Mac & Cheese will be sold exclusively at Target starting September 28, while garlic fans will have to wait a few weeks longer to get their hands on a box of Garlic Parmesan. It hits stores October 20. 

Each box will retail for around $2. Like many of the new flavor drops, these will only be available for a limited time. Expect to see them on shelves through Spring 2026. 

My Honest Review of Kraft Hot Honey Mac & Cheese

You might have noticed that hot honey has become an incredibly popular flavor across grocery shelves this year. The spicy-sweet condiment has found its way into pizzas, sauces, snacks, desserts, and now, boxes of Kraft macaroni and cheese. 

Similar to with the classic, I boiled the pasta, added a splash of milk, a bit of butter (or margarine), and the powdery cheese packet. Once everything was mixed together, I could see little specks of red (from peppers, I assume), but other than that it still retained its iconic bright orange cheesy coloring. I went in with my fork and took a bite … 

So much to like! I first tasted the nostalgic sharp cheddar flavor. Then my tastebuds were hit with a slight kick of spice followed by a sweetness that mellowed the heat. There’s a kick, but I wouldn’t categorize this as burn-your-mouth spicy. If you find yourself adding a little hot sauce to your mac, this is one to try. 

This post originally appeared on The Kitchn. See it there: I Tried the New Limited-Edition Kraft Mac & Cheese Before It Hit Stores — Now I’m Petitioning to Make It Permanent

Ali Domrongchai

Contributor

Ali Domrongchai, a Southern-raised, Brooklyn-based food writer, grew up around her family's Thai restaurant that sparked her initial love for food. (Fun fact: her grandparents briefly ran a Thai grocery store in the 70s). In this space, her curiosity on the role that food plays in building community lead her to pursue a Bachelor’s of Arts in American Studies with a focus on the ways in which pad Thai affects the Thai American experience at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.She joins The Kitchn as an Associate Editor for the Groceries vertical. Before this role, she held staff positions at Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure, and Allrecipes. Her words and recipes have also been featured in Cook's Country, Simply Recipes, and EatingWell. Oh, and most importantly, she can’t go more than a few hours without a sweet treat.

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