I Tried Dr. Praeger’s New Mac & Cheese Stars, Here’s My Honest Review

Dr. Praeger’s has a new frozen snack coming out in May and I got an early taste. Wait—don’t scroll away just because you don’t have kids. I know Dr. Praeger’s is primarily known as a go-to brand for parents trying to sneak veggies into their kids’ diets, but I think this new frozen snack is actually a must-buy for grown-ups, whether or not they need their veggies to be hidden.

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What is this new snack? It’s Dr. Praeger’s Mac & Cheese Stars. They’re made with cheddar, mozzarella, and vegetables like cauliflower, butternut squash, and carrots. And, yes, they happen to be shaped like stars. But can’t a grown-up enjoy a whimsical snack every now and then?

Whether you’re shopping for kiddos or just yourself, read on to get the full review of these new Dr. Praeger bites.

New Dr. Praeger’s!

Dr. Praeger’s Mac & Cheese Stars

Pros: These frozen mac and cheese bites punch way above their weight. I’ve tried a lot of frozen mac and cheese balls, and so often they’re flavorless and boring. These have a light and crispy coating. They’re oily—but in a really good, decadent way. And the innards are gooey and cheesy. There is a definite squashy flavor, but if you’ve ever had butternut squash mac and cheese then you’ll know that’s a good thing. This is the kind of kid food I would be happy to eat off my children’s plates after they’ve inevitably slid out of their seats and run off to pretend to be Pokemon. It’s also the kind of kid food I would serve to grown-ups. These would be so cute as party snacks.

Cons: If you don’t like butternut squash mac and cheese, then you probably aren’t going to love these. While my colleague Gwynedd and I really, really enjoyed them, our other Sporked colleague Ariana was not into them. I think she was hoping for a more traditional mac and cheese flavor. That also means that the hidden vegetables aren’t that hidden. Kids will probably be able to tell there’s more than just cheese in with the mac. Also, the stars themselves aren’t the firmest. They fall apart a bit when you try to pick them up. Forks might be necessary, or at least a lot of napkins.

Rating:

8/10

Sporks

About the Author

Hi! I’m the editor-in-chief of Sporked. I will never turn down a fresh-shucked oyster but I’ll also leap at whatever new product Reese’s releases and I love a Tostitos Hint of Lime, even if there is no actual lime in the ingredients. Why you should trust me: I have been writing about food and beverages for well over a decade and am an avid at-home cook and snacker. I began my career writing about fine dining and recipes, moved into cocktails and spirits, and now I talk about groceries. If you can eat it or drink it, I’ve probably written about it. What I buy every week: Trader Joe’s dried okra. Appleton Farms prosciutto from Aldi. Some sort of Trader Joe’s cheese (I’m into the aged gouda at the moment). Frozen waffles (usually the Eggo Cinnamon Toast Minis). Spindrift water (loving the Cosmopolitan right now). Favorite ranking: Smoked salmon. Imagine me as Scrooge McDuck but instead of coins I’m diving into a vault of slippery smoked salmon slices. Pure joy. I also found some real steals in that taste test! Least favorite ranking: Canned oysters. I had such high hopes for this but it quickly became a chore. The kitchen smelled like an uncleaned aquarium.