Goodles launched a new variety and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. This is the Hotshot Jackpot – a cheddar mac and cheese loaded with chili, garlic, soy, and scallions. It’s an unexpected flavor combination for boxed mac and cheese.
Pasta
Goodles’ marketing had me convinced I wouldn’t like this shape. The picture on the box looked like long ribbon-like noodles that needed to be twirled onto the fork. Even the name of twirly mac made me take a beat. I prefer my mac and cheese to be fork friendly, and pasta that you have to work to keep on the fork is anything but. However, upon closer inspection they are shorter. Almost like a fettuccine noodle was cut into strips. They scoop onto the fork easily, no twirling required.
We do need to be realistic here. This is pasta that is made to cook quickly, and the texture suffers a bit. There’s no bite to the pasta. It’s all one texture and it’s just slightly too soft. Not enough to completely forego this box, but this isn’t one that you’ll want to serve to your boss.
Sauce
The sauce is where Hotshot Jackpot really surprised me. Sharp cheddar shines through, but is layered with garlic and soy for a depth of umami, with just enough chili heat to keep things interesting. This is not a spicy mac and cheese, so heat-avoidant consumers will enjoy it just as much as more adventurous eaters. The seasonings add complexity I wouldn’t expect in a boxed mac and cheese. This mac and cheese is fast enough for a busy weeknight but flavorful enough to feel like a treat, earning it a place in our weeknight rotation.
Preparation
Like other varieties of boxed mac and cheese, the selling point is the limited prep. You will have to boil 6 cups of water, cook the pasta for around 7 minutes, and drain before adding 1/3 cup of low-fat milk and optionally a tablespoon of butter (always add the butter). This is a significant decrease from the 30 minute hands-on cook time you’ll see from homemade mac and cheese. The limited prep time is great for busy nights, or those who physically can’t spend a ton of time in the kitchen. This mac and cheese is an elevated version of our favorite convenience food and it does it so well.
Reheating
Reheating leftover mac and cheese tends to be a coin toss. Will it be as good (or better?) than before or will it turn into a greasy mess?
Hotshot Jackpot surpassed expectations! After a day or two in the fridge, the spices had a little more time to mingle together and I zapped it in the microwave for around a minute with no extra milk needed. Since the noodles were already soft, I didn’t notice any texture difficulties and it was just as good on day two.
Add a Fork
This is one of Goodles’ best varieties to date. At $3 a box, it’s great to keep on hand for busy weeknights or when you’re feeling some comfort food that packs a ton of flavor. Standard boxed mac and cheese has to be seasoned before it hits this level, but Goodles provides it all in the box. This one will have a permanent spot in our weekly meal rotation.
