Peapod, an online grocery service, has introduced a Flamin' Hot Mac & Cheetos Meal Kit, combining a great snack with an even better dish. Like the baked mac & cheese with breadcrumbs on top, it subs in crunchy, delicious Cheetos. As a lover of Flamin' Hot Cheetos, I obviously couldn't resist trying.
The meal kit comes with extra virgin olive oil, bacon, onion, salt, flour, whole milk, grated cheddar cheese, grated fontina cheese, Parmigiano cheese, dijon mustard, cavatappi pasta, hot sauce, and of course, Cheetos. It comes with two types of Cheeto flavors actually, white cheddar and flamin' hot chipotle ranch. The ingredients are all pre-cut and measured out so the only work you have to do is the cooking.
Making the Flamin' Hot Mac & Cheetos
While making the kit, I found the instructions mostly easy to follow. The directions give a helpful tip for pulverizing the Cheetos, which I recommend using. I placed the Cheetos in a plastic bag, wrapped it in a towel, and hit the bag until they were finely crushed.
However, I also think some things could have been made more clear. For example, I recommend saving a little milk from the quart provided to add towards the end to make sure the mac stays creamy. I had to grab extra milk because I didn't know that I would need/want more.
At the end, I baked the mac at 400ºF for eight minutes and then I broiled until the Cheetos on top started to brown. The meal kit did not specify how long to bake or broil, so I just had to keep an eye on it.
I also think it would've been interesting to mix more of the Flamin' Hot Cheetos into the cheese instead of just placing the bits on top. This would probably add more flavor to the mac and cheese, so I would try it next time.
Worth It?
In one word: Yes. This is a great combination of two of my favorite foods. I really liked the addition of onions for some extra flavor. Making the meal kit made my whole house smell amazing. While it took longer than the expected 30 minutes, this meal kit was worth the time and the wait. I ate it fresh out of the oven and had another serving the next day, and it was just as good.
The Flamin' Hot Mac & Cheetos Meal Kit was a big hit. It goes for only $23.99 and serves up to six people. It's available for home delivery in the Chicago, New York, Baltimore, and DC markets while supplies last. If you want to try it, check out Peapod and give it an order. And if it's not in your area, you can always check out these places to have even more Flamin' Hot Cheetos in your life.