- Earlier this week, Chick-fil-A announced that you can now order macaroni and cheese from its menu nationwide.
- Chick-fil-A’s new mac and cheese option is a rare, non-chicken-related addition to its menu that the company has been perfecting since 2017.
- A dietitian weigh in on Chick-fil-A’s mac and cheese nutrition and calories, and offers the healthiest ways you can enjoy the new offering.
Good news Chick-fil-A fans: You can now order macaroni and cheese from the chain’s menus nationwide. Of course, nothing is more delicious than a classic chicken sandwich paired with their beloved waffle fries—but warm, gooey mac and cheese as a side option? Total game changer.
Chick-fil-A doesn’t alter its menu often, especially its sides, so you know the new offering has to be good. In fact, the chain has been so confident in its side selections over the years that their latest macaroni and cheese option marks the first permanent side menu addition in three whole years.
Though it seems like a no-brainer to add mac and cheese to their menu, Chick-fil-A has been crafting recipes and testing out the southern staple in stores around the U.S. since 2017 (because you can’t rush perfection!).
“We have a very high bar when it comes to adding a menu item,” Chick-fil-A executive Amanda Norris said in a statement. “But the feedback from our customers in the test markets made this decision easy.”
But we have to ask: How do the calories stack up? We asked a dietitian to take a closer look at Chick-fil-A’s mac and cheese nutrition and ingredients—plus, tips on how to enjoy it in a healthy way.
What is Chick-fil-A’s mac and cheese made of?
So, after three years of work, you’re probably wondering what is so dang special about Chick-fil-A’s new mac. Well, the recipe involves a unique blend of cheddar, Parmesan, Romano, and American cheeses. Of course, there are macaroni noodles involved, as well as butter, salt, sugar, milk, flour, and more. You can find the full ingredient list on Chick-fil-A’s website. Spoiler: It’s a long list, confirming that it’s pretty highly processed.
Chick-fil-A mac and cheese nutrition facts
As for the nutrient profile, here’s what Chick-fil-A’s Mac & Cheese looks like for the small offering:
- Calories: 260
- Fat: 16 grams
- Saturated fat: 9 grams
- Cholesterol: 40 milligrams
- Sodium: 720 milligrams
- Carbohydrates: 17 grams
- Fiber: 5 grams
- Sugar: 2 grams
- Protein: 11 grams
As for the medium option, here is a glimpse at the nutrition:
- Calories: 440
- Fat: 27 grams
- Saturated fat: 15 grams
- Cholesterol: 65 milligrams
- Sodium: 1,200 milligrams
- Carbohydrates: 29 grams
- Fiber: 8 grams
- Sugar: 3 grams
- Protein: 19 grams
Is Chick-fil-A’s mac and cheese healthy?
Like any other mac and cheese, it’s pretty rare to find a dietitian that would consider the creamy side a healthy option.
“This mac and cheese is made up mostly of refined grains and a blend of cheeses which leads to it being high in both saturated fat and sodium while low in fiber,” says Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, CDE author of 2 Day Diabetes Diet. “Even the small serving contains 9 grams of saturated fat (almost half of your day’s allotment if you consume 2,000 calories per day) and almost one third of your daily sodium intake.”
But just because it isn’t considered a health food, doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy it every now and then. “The new mac and cheese is certainly a comfort food, and since it is rich in sodium and saturated fat, it’s best to limit it to an occasional indulgence like you would with all fast food versus a meal time staple,” Palinski-Wade says.
What’s the healthiest way to enjoy Chick-fil-A’s new mac and cheese?
If you want to give it a try, Palinski-Wade definitely recommends the smaller option. “Since mac and cheese should be an occasional indulgence, choosing the smaller portion would be the better way to go, especially if you are pairing it with additional menu items,” she says. “The larger size contains more than 50 percent of the daily recommended amount of sodium and almost 70 percent of the entire day’s recommendation of saturated fat.”
And considering that the mac and cheese already contains a high amount of saturated fat, sodium, and carbs, Palinski-Wade suggests pairing it with a leaner main option, like the Market Salad—that is, if you can conceptualize going to Chick-fil-A without picking up a chicken sandwich. “The Market Salad is one of the lowest items on the menu in carbohydrates, sodium, and saturated fat,” she says.
If you prefer to go with the chicken sandwich and understandably need to pair it with a side that’s anything but a salad, Palinski-Wade says that there isn’t much of a nutritional difference to grabbing waffle fries and mac and cheese. “Surprisingly, the waffle fries contain fewer amounts of sodium and saturated fat. However, they also contain a higher amount of carbs and less protein, making them a less filling option,” she says. “Both options should be used an occasional indulgence, and it’s best to stick with the small over larger portions when ordering.”
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Currently an assistant editor at Prevention.com, Nicol is a Manhattan-based journalist who specializes in health, wellness, beauty, fashion, business, and lifestyle. Her work has appeared in Women’s Health, Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day, Houston Chronicle, Business Insider, INSIDER, Everyday Health, and more. When Nicol isn't writing, she loves trying new workout classes, testing out the latest face mask, and traveling. Follow her on Instagram for the latest on health, wellness, and lifestyle.
