The Best Mac and Cheese

Best White Cheddar: Rising Moon Organics Organic Shells & White Cheddar
No clumps here: Kids and adults found this mild, not-too-salty sauce irresistible. A tasty white-cheese alternative for those who don’t cotton to a bright orange dinner.
To buy: $3 for 6 ounces, Whole Foods Market.

Best Frozen: Trader Joe’s Mac ’n Cheese
The good-enough-for–grown-ups blend of Gouda, Havarti, Swiss, and Cheddar might just allow you to pass this dish off as homemade.
To buy: $3 for 14 ounces, Trader Joe’s.

Best Multigrain: Annie’s Homegrown Organic 5-Grain Elbows & White Cheddar
Want to sneak in some extra fiber? Fans were so focused on this pick’s rich, delicious sauce that they hardly noticed the nutritious multigrain noodles.
To buy: $2.50 for 6 ounces, at supermarkets.

Best Fun Shapes: Kraft Toy Story Macaroni & Cheese Dinner
Cute characters—Buzz, Woody, and the gang—and pasta that cooks through evenly (a rarity with novelty shapes) guarantee that kids won’t just play with their food.
To buy: $1.30 for 5.5 ounces, at supermarkets.