We Tried The New Goodles Range (And It’s All Grown Up)

We always love to see and hear about new innovation coming from the boxed mac and cheese department. And leading the way has been Goodles for some time now. When Goodles announced the introduction of their new Twirly Mac range, we did everything we could to get our hands on the new product.

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Not only are we already big Goodles fans, but the idea of some of these flavors being more suitable for more mature palates is something we were fully on board with. After all, it’s no secret that boxed mac and cheese is not just for kids. Everyone loves the level of convenience and satisfaction they offer.

The three new flavors included in this launch are Alfredo Heights, Cheddar Weather, and Hotshot Jackpot. Now let’s quit dillydallying and get into whether or not these flavors are as good as they sound.

Here’s What We Think

Cheddar Weather Twirly Mac ― Let’s start with the basic flavor, shall we? The Cheddar Weather Twirly Mac has a delightful depth of flavor. Not only does it totally steer clear from any comparison to Kraft mac and cheese, but the lack of intensity from the cheddar is far more palatable for mass consumption. Moreso than any other flavor of Goodles, the Cheddar Weather mac feels like a dish rather than just a side of boxed macaroni and cheese.

It tastes almost as though it’s been made with chicken broth or bouillon and it is slightly herbal. It’s not as heavy as a typical boxed mac. I will be repurchasing these time and time again when my stock gets low because they feel uniquely capable of being easily paired with other things to make a bit of a more well rounded meal… even if that’s just some leftover chicken. 

Alfredo Heights Twirly Mac ― The Alfredo Heights flavor truly lived up to its name. That said, if you do not enjoy alfredo, then this is not the mac for you. But, blindfolded and asked to guess what this flavor was, it’s unmistakable. Rather than a white cheddar mac, this taste far more along the lines of a creamy béchamel made with parmesan. And for many of us Americans, there are a few things that are as comforting as an easy alfredo for dinner. 

This serves up that Italian-American classic with a good for you twist in just around 15 minutes total. Granted, it’s not that sophisticated on its own, but honestly, you could spice this up to be the base for a lot of different things. Personally, I’d recommend to just crack some fresh black pepper on top and call it a day… or more like a cozy night in.

Hotshot Jackpot Twirly Mac ― The Hotshot Jackpot flavor of the new Goodles Twirly Mac was the only one I found disappointing. Part of the reason I found it disappointing was because of how capable Goodles is of releasing a well-executed chili flavor, thanks to flavors they’ve already released like the Down The Hatch flavor. Instead, this flavor has an abundance of rich, interesting add-ons at the detriment of the cheddar flavor. 

Where I was expecting this to taste like you mixed some chili crunch into the Cheddar Weather Twirly Mac, it instead just taste like a non-spicy version of the Buldak Carbonara. If you like the convenience of a boxed mac and cheese and the benefits that Goodles offers, but aren’t the biggest fan of aggressively cheesy meals, then this might be the flavor for you. 

What all of these new flavors had in common, of course, was the new pasta shape. The longer and more curly shape really does emulate a bite-size ramen noodle. And its departure from the classic small pasta shapes does give the illusion of being a bit more sophisticated, perhaps even for a more adult audience. Across all three macs, the noodles were consistently impressive in flavor and texture.