Taking convenience and allergy-friendly to the next level, Daiya Cheezy Mac comes with everything you need inside (the sauce is fully prepared in a shelf-stable packet). Not only dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan, but free of the top allergens.
I received a box of Cheddar-Style Daiya Cheezy Mac at the Food Allergy Blogger Conference, which ended up being the perfect quick meal after a full, early morning of travel. And it couldn’t have been easier to prepare – boil the noodles, squeeze the Velveeta-like sauce on and stir. I added peas to mine and chicken for Tony (he was hungry). Even with the additions, I would say it serves 2 adults, but you can probably get the full 3 servings as noted on the box if making Daiya Cheezy Mac for kids.
Tony liked it and said it tasted very close to other dairy-full boxes of mac and cheese. Mind you, he hasn’t had any of them in decades. But we both agreed that the Cheddar-Style Daiya Cheezy Mac is very kid-friendly. The sauce is smooth and a little sticky, but in a good way! It clings to and fully covers those noodles for a truly creamy pasta.
I thought it was pleasant, with a subdued but notable cheesy flavor and a slight tang. It didn’t quite hit the spot for homemade appeal or guilty comfort food cravings. That said, I certainly wouldn’t turn a bowl away and think that it could be very popular with little ones. I also like that it is relatively nutritious with gluten-free brown rice pasta, plant-based protein, and calcium fortified (20% of the RDA per serving).
Daiya Cheezy Mac also comes in White Cheddar-Style Veggie (with dehydrated vegetables) and Alfredo. If you’ve tried any of the varieties, please share your honest feedback in the comments!
The Facts on Daiya Cheezy Mac
Certifications: Daiya Cheezy Mac is Certified Kosher Parve, Certified Vegan, and Certified Gluten Free.
Dietary Notes: By ingredients, Daiya Cheezy Mac is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegan / plant-based, and vegetarian. Nonetheless, check with the company on their manufacturing processes for all varieties if potential allergen cross-contamination is an issue for you. Processes and labeling are subject to change at any time for any company / product.
For More Product Information: Visit the Daiya Foods website at daiyafoods.com.
10 Comments
I got the regular cheezy mac and made it. I can’t give a review for its taste, because the smell was so horrible I couldn’t even bring myself to take a bite. My teenage sisters ran from the kitchen dry-heaving. I mean, they’re teenagers so they’re overly dramatic but it smelled awful. The consistency of the sauce packet, even after kneading thoroughly, was very oily. I put it in the fridge for the next day, thinking maybe it was just me – I can be sensitive to smells at times. But couldn’t even eat it later. Maybe I got a bad batch or they changed their recipe since the last review here. But no stars from me. 5 stars from my dogs.
I just tried the White cheddar with veggies and I am not impressed. Maybe I’m just picky or it’s been too long since I had mac and cheese or I don’t know, but the pasta was spongy and the cheese tasted really bland. I do hate almost all gluten free pastas though, so I should have expected that at least.
I have heard that many greatly prefer the Cheddar-style to the White Cheddar and Alfredo, but can’t weigh in on comparison since I haven’t tried those versions. Thanks for your feedback Katie!
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I tried the white cheddar veggie variety a few days ago. That one is my favorite. It doesn’t have the sour taste that the others have for some reason. It also keeps well.
Thank you for sharing Stephanie!
I tried both the alfredo and the cheddar macaroni. I liked both varieties, but the cheddar was my favorite. Both of the boxes had a slightly sour taste to me, but sourness in the alfredo was much more pronounced. I fixed this by putting some toasted bread on top as croutons.
I really enjoyed the easiness of this product and the fact that it does not take long to make. I have bought this a few times since I enjoyed it so much.
Thanks for sharing this Jordan – very good idea on the crouton topper!
I have tried the cheddar and Alfredo varieties. The white cheddar veggie is sitting on my shelf waiting for me to try. I enjoyed both of the two that I tried. The Alfredo variety does have a little bit of a sour taste, but not too strong that I can’t enjoy (I have a little bit of sensitivity to some sour tastes). For any variety, don’t try to lick the pan like you would with traditional macaroni and cheese. It could be due to the Velveeta like sauce. I did enjoy the simplicity of it. Boil the macaroni and add the sauce. They taste even better left over the next day.
Thanks so much for sharing your take Stephanie! I agree with you on really tasting sour (and bitter) so these notes are helpful. Good to know it keeps well, too.