With all that gooey cheese and carb-filled pasta- it’s no surprise that macaroni and cheese always ranks in the top ten of America’s popular comfort foods. Today, I review three boxed vegan and gluten-free mac ‘n cheese. O Organics is traditional, made with gluten-free pasta; Annie’s uses an unexpected grain; and Banza replaces the traditional grains with vegetables.  

According to Whole Foods 2023 Foods Trend Report, foods that remind us of childhood are making a comeback. Of course, one of the nostalgic foods is mac and cheese (19 Food and Drink Trends for 2023 – Parade: Entertainment, Recipes, Health, Life, Holidays).

O Organic Gluten-free Vegan Mac, Cheddar Style

O Organics is the Albertsons store brand. The macaroni is traditional, except that the pasta contains the gluten-free grains of corn, rice, and quinoa. You’ll need 1/3 cup of dairy-free milk to mix with the powdered cheese, and you can add vegan butter. I found the flavor to be too mild, with the cheese tasting watered-down.

Ingredients:

Organic Corn Flour, Organic Rice Flour (Organic Brown Rice Flour, Organic White Rice Flour), Organic Quinoa Flour, Organic Palm Oil Powder (Organic Palm Oil, Organic Rice Syrup Solids, Organic Pea Protein, Organic Sunflower Lecithin, Tocopherols, Organic Rosemary Extract), Sea Salt, Organic Corn Starch, Organic Rice Syrup Solids, Organic Natural Flavors, Lactic Acid (Vegan), Contains 2% or Less of: Sunflower Lecithin, Organic Annatto Extract.

Annie’s Vegan Cheesy Rice

Annie’s mac ’n cheese version contains rice instead of pasta, which was an unexpected but tasty surprise. It also contains ¼ cup of hidden veggies per serving. It does not require dairy-free milk, but you’ll need 2 tablespoons of vegan butter to add to the vegan cheese powder.

Rice is a staple in many countries and another comfort food. It was nice to have another flavor and texture besides pasta. While there was a slight sulfurous smell from the cauliflower, it was not off-putting and I could not taste it. The cheeze had a genuine cheese taste, and the seasoning was perfect. I’ve lived on rice and beans, and this was a new tasty way to enjoy rice. In fact, I could have served the dish with a side of meat or protein to make it a complete meal.

Ingredients:

Organic White Rice, Organic Rice Syrup Solids, Organic Palm Oil, Cauliflower Powder, Sea Salt, Organic Corn Starch, Organic Pea Protein, Natural Flavor, Lactic Acid, Sunflower Lecithin, Silicon Dioxide (For Anticaking), Organic Annatto Extract (For Color), Mixed Tocopherols (Vitamin E) and Organic Rosemary Extract to Protect Flavor.

I’ve also reviewed Annie’s organic Vegan Mac along with Daiya, Amy’s, and Pamela’s here:

https://liveglutenanddairyfree.com/gluten-and-dairy-free-mac-n-cheese/

Banza Plant-Based Mac with Chickpea Pasta

Banza replaces grains with chickpeas and other vegetables: peas, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin.

The mix requires ½ cup of unsweetened dairy-free milk, and vegan butter is optional. I couldn’t taste the veggies, but instead a great smoky cheddar cheese flavor.

Note that directions say that there will be foam when you boil the pasta, which I am grateful they warned me about.

Ingredients: Chickpea Pasta: Chickpeas, Pea Starch, Tapioca, Xanthan Gum.

Vegan Cheese: Sweet Potato, Coconut Oil Powder (Coconut Oil, High Oleic Sunflower Oil, Gum Acacia), Nutritional Yeast, Sea Salt, Pumpkin, Tapioca, Annatto Extract, Turmeric Extract, Paprika Extract (color), Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Paprika, Xanthan Gum, Vegan Natural Flavor, Onion, Garlic.

Not Reviewed

• Follow Your Heart Cheezy Carrot Super Mac

Vegan, but contains wheat

• Kraft Gluten Free Original Macaroni & Cheese Dinner

Gluten-free, but contains milk

Conclusion

O Organic Gluten-free Vegan Mac’s cheddar flavor is weak, tasting diluted. I recommend Annie’s Vegan Cheesy Rice and Banza Plant-Based Mac with Chickpea Pasta for their great taste and the addition of vegetables. I really enjoyed the smoky flavor of Banza and Annie’s rice dish can be a complete meal with a side of protein.

Fun Food Fact

July 14 is National Macaroni and Cheese Day.

Did You Know?

There is a traveling Mac N Cheese Festival Tour.

Quotes

“I’m a carb queen. I’ll always order macaroni and cheese, but I don’t want it to be fancy. I want it to be as close to Kraft Services as it can possibly get! ” — Drew Barrymore

“Bless this highly nutritious microwavable macaroni and cheese dinner and the people who sold it on sale. Amen.” — Kevin McAllister (from Home Alone)