“Marinara Mac” – Kraft Pizza Mac and Cheese – Food Review

Many of us have experienced the dilemma of choosing between mac and cheese and pizza for a meal, but what if you could have both?

Earlier in 2025, Kraft debuted a limited-edition pizza mac and cheese flavor, expanding its pasta lineup. As someone who’s been a long-time eater of the classic American comfort food, I wanted to give it a try and see how much it resembled an actual pizza. 

Overall, the dish surprised me with its succulence and ease of preparation. When shopping around for the seasonal item, the appearance of the box caught my eye. Its vibrant red color and pizza-slice design enticed me to buy it. 

The cooking instructions are the same as a box of Kraft’s original mac and cheese, with the only change being in the cheese powder, so there is no need to alter your routine. Upon opening the container of powdered cheese, the scent of tomato sauce hit me immediately, which excited me, as the seasoning seemed promising. 

When I mixed the dehydrated cheese with the boiled macaroni, I observed almost right away some tiny green specs, which I assumed represented the herbs you can put on pizza, enriching the cooking journey. 

Once I tasted the cooked dish, one distinct flavor revealed itself, while there were other flavors that my palate was unable to perceive. On my first bite, the tomato sauce announced itself with tang and a hint of sweetness, which enhanced the pasta’s flavor. 

However, what I did not taste were any herbs, as I did not sense a bitter or peppery flavor, which was kind of a letdown. As I continued to take more bites of the mac and cheese, the flavors stayed consistent throughout, with the most prominent flavor being the cheese itself. 

With this in mind, I do think improving the potency of any herb-like ingredients used in the making of the cheese powder would improve the general quality of the dish. 

Considering that the limited-release item was inexpensive, as it only cost me $2.10 at Walmart, I would say that it’s a worthwhile purchase for a meal if you want an elevated version of the creamy staple. Though I wouldn’t expect too much out of it, because while it did include a major flavor that is found in real pizza, that being red sauce, it fails to deliver zest or any herbal taste.