The classic pantry staple just got a trendy 2026 makeover.
You can’t go down an aisle at the grocery store these days without seeing one word jumping off of boxes, wrappers and cans: protein. Everyone is obsessed with infusing more protein into their diets. And 2026 is gearing up to be this macronutrient’s biggest year yet—even considering that we already have protein popcorn and protein water.
Another nutrient that’s having its moment in the sun is fiber. “Fibermaxxing” has been all over TikTok, and viral recipes like the dense bean salad have become meal-prep staples.
But what if you were to put protein and fiber together into one of America’s most iconic foods? That’s right, a certain little blue box in the pasta aisle just got a major upgrade. Kraft has launched a brand-new mac and cheese, and it’s called Kraft PowerMac. Naturally, I had to give it a try.
What is Kraft PowerMac?
What’s unique about PowerMac is that Kraft actually went back to square one and reformulated its pasta for this product. According to Kraft, it took almost a year to develop PowerMac’s proprietary protein- and fiber-enriched noodles. The result is a mac and cheese with 17 grams of protein and 6 grams of fiber per serving.
There are two flavors available: original and white cheddar. I tried the original flavor.
How does Kraft PowerMac taste?
The first thing I noticed when looking at the box of PowerMac was the cook time. It says the pasta should be cooked for 13 to 14 minutes—almost double the cook time of regular Kraft mac and cheese. My pasta was still very firm after 13 minutes, so I let it cook for another minute. I wish I had kept cooking it for at least another minute after that—or maybe even two. Normally, I like an al dente pasta, but for Kraft mac and cheese specifically, softer is better.
Everything else about preparing the PowerMac is the same. Aside from the noodle being firmer and denser, this tasted exactly the same as regular Kraft mac and cheese. I was really impressed!
Normally, when I eat these “protein” foods, they either have a slightly off-putting taste or a weird texture, or they make me feel full almost immediately. This PowerMac did none of that. Sure, the noodle was firmer, but I think most of that was an issue with the cook time. I felt pleasantly satiated after finishing my bowl.
Then I realized that I had eaten almost the entire box in one sitting. I mean, isn’t every box of Kraft mac and cheese a single serving when you’re an adult? So I did the nutrient math to see how much protein and fiber I had just consumed. Since there are about 2.5 servings in one box, I had eaten about 42 grams of protein and 15 grams of fiber in one meal. It’s genuinely surprising that I didn’t feel too full after eating it, but it was nice to stay satiated for hours after finishing my lunch.
Would I buy Kraft PowerMac again?
If you had told me that one day my job would be to taste mac and cheese, I never would have believed you. And yet, here we are! I like that the PowerMac feels almost identical to the OG version. I would definitely keep a few boxes in my pantry. Honestly, I would probably buy this again over the regular version. It’s not something I eat frequently, but I do like having it for days when I need a quick meal.
When is Kraft PowerMac available?
Kraft PowerMac will begin rolling out at major grocery stores nationwide in April, with a 7.5-ounce box retailing for $2.99. The PowerMac will be available in original and white cheddar flavors. Kraft indicated that it will be expanding with more varieties in the future. It’s unclear if that means different shapes, flavors or formats (like EasyMac, for instance). Regardless, if you’re a mac and cheese enthusiast, watch this space.
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