This $10.99 Target Freezer Find Is a Weeknight Dinner Win

Wintertime means plenty of dark, dreary days. When it’s pitch black by 5 p.m. and the temperature is hovering at or below freezing, I just want something warm, gooey, and comforting for dinner. Top of mind for the ultimate comfort food on a weeknight? A big helping of macaroni and cheese.

Sure, I could reach for a quick box mix or get to work on whipping up my own roux to make mac and cheese from scratch, but sometimes I want something easy that’s still packed full of flavor. That's why I keep Tillamook Cheddar & Hatch Chile Mac & Cheese on hand in the freezer, and it does not disappoint.

Why I Love Tillamook’s Mac & Cheese

Tillamook is an Oregon-based, farmer-owned dairy cooperative that produces butter, ice cream, sour cream, and plenty of cheese. Living in Oregon, the dairy brand’s sharp cheddar cheese is always on my grocery list because it pairs with everything from crackers and pepperoncini to slices of apple and pear.

Having visited the creamery countless times, I’ve eaten Tillamook mac & cheese hot and fresh from the kitchen at the visitor center. This freezer find is just as good as the wildly delicious mac and cheese I order every time I go.

While Tillamook’s line of frozen mac & cheese includes three flavor options, I’m always reaching for the Cheddar & Hatch Chile. Jumbo elbow noodles are mixed with sharp white cheddar and jack cheese for a bold base of flavor. But the creamy sauce dressing up the noodles isn’t even the best part. The addition of zingy hatch chiles pairs wonderfully with the cheese, with all of the flavors balancing each other out perfectly.

There’s a layer of crispy cornbread on top, almost like a savory streusel topping, adding unexpected texture. It’s not your average frozen or boxed mac and cheese. It’s a freezer aisle find that delivers elevated comfort food.

How To Serve Tillamook’s Mac & Cheese

At $10.99, this frozen aisle buy is a bit pricier than your average frozen meal and definitely more expensive than a shelf-stable box of mac and cheese. However, it does come in a larger 22-ounce box, which is a pretty big portion of mac and cheese. Plus, it’s made without preservatives. I always pick up a box or two to keep in the freezer every time I go to Target, but I’ve also seen it at Walmart and Safeway.  

I prefer to cook my mac and cheese in the oven, but it can also be microwaved and ready in under 10 minutes for an even quicker dinner. With such a large serving, I tend to split it up and get two meals out of it. I like to pair the mac & cheese with veggies such as broccoli or add sautéed onions and peppers directly to the mix. You could also mix in ham, chicken, or even pulled pork for added protein, or simply use it as a side to round out a quick weeknight meal in minutes.