The Kraft Heinz Co. has debuted its first lineup of Kraft Mac & Cheese inspired by restaurant-style flavors. The “Restaurant Edition” products are rolling out nationwide this month to address a consumer shift toward at-home dining.
The new line features three varieties: Parmesan Pesto with gemelli noodles, Romano Cacio e Pepe with pipette noodles and Monterey Jack Caramelized Onion with cavatappi noodles. Each 9.5-ounce box contains 30 percent more food than the brand’s classic blue box and carries an MSRP of $3.49.
“Restaurant Edition brings quality, affordability, and the experience of dining out together – all without leaving home,” said Sara Roashan, associate director of mac & cheese innovation at Kraft Heinz.
“Consumers crave restaurant-inspired flavors, and we knew Kraft Mac & Cheese could make them more accessible without demanding a high level of kitchen expertise. You can treat yourself, your family, or host a dinner party with the simple Kraft Mac & Cheese format you know and love.”
The products utilize a durum wheat semolina pasta blend designed for an al dente texture and include real, premium cheeses. Each serving contains 10 grams of protein. The preparation remains consistent with the brand’s core products, requiring only the addition of milk and butter.
The development process involved testing more than 40 flavors to identify profiles that balanced bold taste with consumer familiarity. The company noted that the specific pasta shapes were selected to better hold the cheese sauce compared to standard elbow macaroni.
“Consumers crave restaurant-inspired flavors, and we knew Kraft Mac & Cheese could make them more accessible without demanding a high level of kitchen expertise,” Roashan explained.
“Restaurant Edition brings quality, affordability, and the experience of dining out together – all without leaving home. You can treat yourself, your family, or host a dinner party with the simple Kraft Mac & Cheese format you know and love.”
Headquartered in Pittsburgh and Chicago, Kraft Heinz reported 2025 net sales of about $25 billion. The company operates across eight product platforms globally.
[RELATED: Kraft Heinz Becomes NFL’s First Condiment Partner In Five-Year Global Deal]