Stouffer’s Just Released Its First Product Outside the Freezer Aisle—and It’s So Good

It may be one of the fastest dinner options yet.

My dad was the first to teach me that, when it comes to entertaining, sometimes it’s OK not to make everything from scratch. My childhood holiday memories always involve a pan of Stouffer’s frozen macaroni and cheese, baked alongside dishes like turkey and green bean casserole. Dad was the holiday chef in our household, and his hot take was that Stouffer’s macaroni and cheese was so good, he didn’t need to go through the effort of actually making the side dish.

Over the years, I’ve introduced my own kids to comforting Stouffer’s frozen meals, like its macaroni and cheese and lasagna, but it’s the brand’s first-ever product to appear outside the freezer aisle that my teens and I are talking about this week. Stouffer’s Supreme Shells & Cheese, the brand’s first shelf-stable food item, is new to select national retailers and Amazon.

Stouffer’s Just Launched New Supreme Shells & Cheese

Stouffer’s is bringing two new varieties of boxed macaroni and cheese to grocery aisles this month. Both meal kits include a box of pasta to cook in boiling water and a packet of pre-made cheese sauce to mix into those pillowy shells.

The cheddar cheese variety features a classic, yellow sauce, while the three cheese variety is a blend of Wisconsin white cheddar, Gouda, and Parmesan that takes the comfort food to a new level.

Priced at $3.99 per box, these two varieties of Stouffer’s Supreme Shells & Cheese are rolling out in grocery aisles now, and will continue to do so throughout 2025. And, if you can’t find the mac at your local grocery store, fear not: It’ll also be available at Amazon.

My Honest Review of the New Stouffer’s Boxed Mac and Cheese

I tried the cheddar cheese variety of Stouffer’s Supreme Shells & Cheese, which the brand claims in a press release has “10% more cheese sauce than the leading shelf-stable shells and cheese product”—and I was impressed. It takes just 10 minutes to boil the pasta, drain it, and mix in the cheese sauce, and the flavors are on point.

I loved the saltiness of the cheddar cheese sauce and the way that extra bit of cheese sauce seeps into the crevices of the shell-shaped pasta. Unlike preparing Stouffer’s frozen mac, there’s no oven preheating or long bake times, so it’s a great go-to to keep on hand for quick meals. What’s more, you don't need to mix milk, butter, and powdered cheese together to create the sauce, as with most boxed mac and cheese. The creamy cheese sauce is pre-mixed and ready to go.

The verdict from my teens, who live on boxed mac and cheese more than I care to admit? “This is really good,” said my 14-year-old daughter between bites. “Yeah,” agreed my 16-year-old son, “It may be the best boxed mac and cheese I’ve ever had. It’s really creamy.”

While we did no scientific research to prove Stouffer’s Supreme Shells & Cheese really is 10% cheesier than its competitors, their high praise says something. I’m already planning on using the next box of Stouffer’s shelf-stable shells and cheese to make my favorite variation of boxed macaroni and cheese: the viral TikTok method of stirring in frozen vegetables to add more flavor.

Read the original article on All Recipes.