I tried mac and cheese from 6 fast-food chains, and the winner blew away the competition

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I tried mac and cheese from 6 fast-food chains, and the winner blew away the competition

Mac and Cheese Chick fil a

Irene Jiang / Business Insider

I tried the mac and cheese from six chains, and Chick-fil-A's was by far the best.

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Mac and cheese is fun.

There's just something about a warm, gooey, cheesy bowl of mac that brings me back to the days before I had to worry about rent, medical bills, and the looming climate apocalypse.

Read more: I tried the signature burgers from 5 major fast-food chains, and the winner was obvious

Armed with a handful of lactose pills, I went on a quest to find the best mac and cheese the fast-food world has to offer. I ate the mac and cheese from six chains' Manhattan locations: Popeyes, Boston Market, Panera, KFC, Subway, and Chick-fil-A.

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Each one was melty and cheesy, but only one offered a tangy and rich flavor that left its competition in the dust.

Here's how they compared:

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Popeyes has truly won my heart with its fried chicken. But I wasn't sure if its mac and cheese would win me over too.

Popeyes has truly won my heart with its fried chicken. But I wasn't sure if its mac and cheese would win me over too.

I was concerned by how quickly my mac came out. It was as if the cashier had whipped it out of a storage rack.

I was concerned by how quickly my mac came out. It was as if the cashier had whipped it out of a storage rack.
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It tasted like pre-packaged cafeteria food. There was a layer of film on top, and the pasta itself was mushy yet brittle.

It tasted like pre-packaged cafeteria food. There was a layer of film on top, and the pasta itself was mushy yet brittle.

The sauce was decently cheesy, but also kind of watery. It was mostly just bland.

The sauce was decently cheesy, but also kind of watery. It was mostly just bland.
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I was disappointed by Popeyes' mac. Only the chicken will keep me coming back.

I was disappointed by Popeyes' mac. Only the chicken will keep me coming back.

Read more: I ate 8 chicken sandwiches from fast-food chains, and the best was also the cheapest

Boston Market was the only chain that sold mac and cheese with rotini noodles instead of the more traditional elbow macaroni.

Boston Market was the only chain that sold mac and cheese with rotini noodles instead of the more traditional elbow macaroni.
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It was slightly cheesier and creamier than Popeyes' mac. Mostly, it tasted like Kraft straight from the box.

It was slightly cheesier and creamier than Popeyes' mac. Mostly, it tasted like Kraft straight from the box.

The pasta was hotter and fresher, though, and the rotini worked surprisingly well. Their extra surface area and curly shape allowed for more sauce to soak in.

The pasta was hotter and fresher, though, and the rotini worked surprisingly well. Their extra surface area and curly shape allowed for more sauce to soak in.
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However, the texture was mostly just that of mush.

However, the texture was mostly just that of mush.

I enjoyed Boston Market's mac slightly more than I did Popeyes', but I wouldn't go out of my way to get it when I can just make an equivalent mac at home.

I enjoyed Boston Market's mac slightly more than I did Popeyes', but I wouldn't go out of my way to get it when I can just make an equivalent mac at home.
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Panera hovers in the odd purgatory between fancy and fast.

Panera hovers in the odd purgatory between fancy and fast.

Read more: I ate the same meal at Texas Roadhouse, Outback Steakhouse, and LongHorn Steakhouse. Here's how they compared.

Its mac and cheese was no exception. The wider, shell-like macaroni and white cheese sauce were like a cafeteria version of Annie's white cheddar shells.

Its mac and cheese was no exception. The wider, shell-like macaroni and white cheese sauce were like a cafeteria version of Annie's white cheddar shells.
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But the mixture was more salty than cheesy. The pasta was predictably mushy.

But the mixture was more salty than cheesy. The pasta was predictably mushy.

The sauce was watery rather than cheesy and tasted mostly of milk and salt.

The sauce was watery rather than cheesy and tasted mostly of milk and salt.
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I'd take a box of Kraft over Panera's plain mac and cheese any day. However, Panera does have several loaded mac options which might taste better.

I'd take a box of Kraft over Panera's plain mac and cheese any day. However, Panera does have several loaded mac options which might taste better.

Unlike Panera, KFC has no business pretending to be healthy or fancy — so it doesn't.

Unlike Panera, KFC has no business pretending to be healthy or fancy — so it doesn't.
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And honestly, that's a good thing. KFC fully embraces its role as a purveyor of bad-for-you food that tastes good.

And honestly, that's a good thing. KFC fully embraces its role as a purveyor of bad-for-you food that tastes good.

Its mac and cheese tastes artificial and plasticky. It also tastes pretty good.

Its mac and cheese tastes artificial and plasticky. It also tastes pretty good.
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The sauce was cheesier, denser, and slightly sweet. The pasta was mushy and very floury.

The sauce was cheesier, denser, and slightly sweet. The pasta was mushy and very floury.

But I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it overall. Out of the four tasted I'd tasted so far, it was the most satisfying.

But I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it overall. Out of the four tasted I'd tasted so far, it was the most satisfying.

Read more: I ate chicken nuggets from 6 fast-food chains, and the best were also the cheapest

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Subway doesn't really sell anything that traditionally goes with a side of mac. But why not eat mac and cheese with your sub sandwich?

Subway doesn't really sell anything that traditionally goes with a side of mac. But why not eat mac and cheese with your sub sandwich?

Subway's mac was very hot and very creamy.

Subway's mac was very hot and very creamy.
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The pasta was on the thicker side. The sauce, although very creamy, was slightly less salty and cheesy than I would have liked.

The pasta was on the thicker side. The sauce, although very creamy, was slightly less salty and cheesy than I would have liked.

The main taste that lingered after each bite was that of milk.

The main taste that lingered after each bite was that of milk.
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Subway's mac is actually quite satisfying, even if it isn't especially flavorful. It tastes like dairy, if not like cheese.

Subway's mac is actually quite satisfying, even if it isn't especially flavorful. It tastes like dairy, if not like cheese.

Read more: I tasted french fries from 8 major fast-food chains, and the winner surprised me

A new item on the menu, Chick-fil-A's mac and cheese was sold out the first time I tried to buy it.

A new item on the menu, Chick-fil-A's mac and cheese was sold out the first time I tried to buy it.
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I returned early the next day and managed to snag a cup. As soon as I took off the cap, I knew I had something special.

I returned early the next day and managed to snag a cup. As soon as I took off the cap, I knew I had something special.

I've never been particularly impressed by the Chick-fil-A items I've had in the past, but this mac and cheese was a different story.

I've never been particularly impressed by the Chick-fil-A items I've had in the past, but this mac and cheese was a different story.
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It was tangy and rich with the taste of real cheese and heavy cream.

It was tangy and rich with the taste of real cheese and heavy cream.

The texture was also great, with the mac being less mushy than most and the baked cheese adding extra variety to each bite.

The texture was also great, with the mac being less mushy than most and the baked cheese adding extra variety to each bite.
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Out of all the macs and cheese I tried, Chick-fil-A had the best bowl by far. Subway, which was second-best, didn't even come close. Chick-fil-A's mac tasted homemade, like it'd been made from scratch and pulled fresh from a grandma's oven. (Not my grandma — she's also lactose intolerant.)

Out of all the macs and cheese I tried, Chick-fil-A had the best bowl by far. Subway, which was second-best, didn't even come close. Chick-fil-A's mac tasted homemade, like it'd been made from scratch and pulled fresh from a grandma's oven. (Not my grandma — she's also lactose intolerant.)
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