This New Costco Mac & Cheese Is Lightyears Better Than The Original

Costco’s prepared meals can be pretty divisive. Some are absolutely incredible and incredibly convenient, like the new Pork Belly Ramen Kit. Others, like the hefty pan of simple macaroni and cheese, aren’t exactly crowd-pleasing favorites.

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The Kirkland Signature Macaroni & Cheese in particular is one highly contested pick. Some Costco shoppers adore it, but others call it bland and tasteless. Luckily, if you’ve been on the fence about picking it up — or tried it previously and weren’t a fan — there’s a new prepared meal available in-warehouse that takes the original and turns it into something so much better.

Costco’s Mac & Cheese Gets a Hearty, Smoky New Spin

If you’ve never tried Costco’s Kirkland Signature Macaroni & Cheese, you might wonder why it’s so divisive. Well, while some find it creamy and cheesy, albeit a bit unseasoned, others have strong feelings. Just take this Reddit review, for example: “It’s basically a garlic Alfredo sauce over cavatappi noodles, with a LOT of shredded cheddar added. It’s bland, overly cheesy, has a slimy/sticky texture, and the noodles [are] gummy.”

Not exactly an appealing description, right? Well, luckily there’s a new spin on this classic dish popping up in warehouses: a Smoked Pork Mac & Cheese. 

This prepared meal takes Costco’s macaroni and cheese and smoked pork and brings them together. While the smoked pork isn’t a fan favorite by any means (I personally often skip right over it in-store), it gets new life in the mac and cheese.

The new take on these two items delivers a creamy serving of cavatappi noodles topped with Alfredo sauce, Romano and Parmesan cheeses, and that familiar shredded cheddar topping. With the smoked pork in the mix, you’ll get a 4-pound container of food that’ll easily feed a crowd. 

The end result is Kirkland Signature Smoked Pork Mac & Cheese, a brand-new Costco prepared meal that takes two somewhat basic items that already existed and combines them into one that’s so much better (and more satisfying). 

Yes, Kirkland Signature’s Smoked Pork Mac & Cheese Is Worth Trying

The price on Kirkland Signature’s Smoked Pork Mac & Cheese is a bit steep at about $5 per pound — or about $20 per container. But those who’ve tasted it say it’s worthwhile.

One Costco shopper summed it up as “My new favorite thing from Costco.” It’s also endlessly customizable, and it can be leveled up flavor-wise with the addition of barbecue sauce, stronger, bolder cheeses sprinkled over top, or even popping the entire pan in your smoker for extra smoky smoked pork. Even better? Pair this hearty mac and cheese with a side like your favorite veggie, and it offers enough to feed up to six people.

While some Costco shoppers say “The mac itself is still pretty bland,” others note that the trick is to avoid overcooking the pork. The meat can dry out if the meal is cooked too long, so make sure you err on the side of less time in the oven (or even air fryer) versus longer for even meltier cheese or crispier edges.

Overall, if you love cheesy mac and the savory edge that smoked pork can add, this will be a must-try for you. And with temperatures dropping, it’s bound to become a staple comfort food from Costco.