Arby’s has introduced a new side dish, and I couldn’t resist checking out their loaded mac and cheese. Their original dish is fantastic with perfectly cooked elbow noodles smothered in a flavorful aged cheddar sauce. However, Arby’s has taken their already fantastic mac and cheese and elevated it to a new level by smothering it with bacon, diced chicken strips, and ranch.
Many fast food chains offer similar mac and cheese dishes, but it’s hard to improve on perfection. However, Arby’s has managed to do just that, and with spectacular results. Their aged cheddar sauce is tangy and full of flavor, making it stand out above the rest.
My first foray into their new mac and cheese was not as stellar. To be fair, we visited late in the evening, and I think we got the last dredges before they closed up. That’s not to say it was bad, but it could have been better. I followed the instructions stuck to the outside of the box and stirred my mac and cheese, which was fine. But my second time ordering it was during the lunch rush. Everything was hot and fresh. This time I didn’t stir in the toppings and I enjoyed this order much better. The cheese sauce shone out a little more clearly when it wasn’t competing with ranch, but the ranch complimented the chicken beautifully. When you try it, definitely leave it layered and see how you like it. You can always stir it together later if you decide this isn’t for you.
Chicken, bacon, and ranch are a classic pairing, and Arby’s perfectly encapsulated that with their new loaded mac and cheese. Layering their classic mac and cheese with a tried and true combination is a genius move on their part and I can’t wait to see what they come up with next.
