I’ve seen people in the United States raving about Goodles, claiming they’re a much healthier alternative to regular mac and cheese. I was pretty surprised to spot them at my local Costco here in Canada, so I couldn’t resist picking up a pack to try! The variety pack includes two flavors: Macaroni and Cheese and Shells and White Cheddar. Are Goodles really as good as everyone says, or are they too good to be true? Find out what I thought in this Costco Goodles review!
Location in Store
These are located in the aisle with soups and pasta beside the other boxed pasta like the Felicia Red Lentil Pasta and the Sprague Organic Lentil Soup. The item number is 2065205.
Taste
I tried both flavors of Goodles and enjoyed them! The Cheddy Mac is similar to your basic macaroni and cheese, while the Shells and White Cheddar has more of an Alfredo-like cheese sauce. The Cheddy Mac reminds me of a healthier, more nutritious version of regular Kraft Dinner, with plenty of cheesy flavor. The Shells and White Cheddar is also really flavorful and tasty. I will say that both flavors taste quite rich and heavy compared to regular boxed mac and cheese, which might not appeal to everyone.
I think this is partly because the cheese sauce is thicker and there’s quite a generous amount of it. The noodles themselves have a texture similar to regular pasta, and you don’t notice any chickpea flavor despite the added chickpea protein.
My four-year-old wasn’t quite as impressed, though! She prefers Annie’s mac and cheese and didn’t finish her bowl of Goodles. Overall, I enjoyed both flavors and think they’re a tasty alternative to traditional boxed macaroni and cheese.
Cost
The 1.36-kilogram pack from Costco contains eight 170-gram boxes and costs $21.99 CAD. That works out to just under $3 per box, which isn’t particularly cheap compared to buying a case of Annie’s or Kraft Dinner. You’re definitely paying a bit more for the higher protein content and more nutritious ingredients. Each box comes with a powdered cheese sauce.
Convenience
Goodles are really easy to prepare. Simply boil some water, add the pasta and cook for 9–11 minutes. Then stir in the milk, cheese powder and butter. The butter is optional, but I always like to add a little bit for extra creaminess!
I recommend serving Goodles with a side salad or some steamed broccoli. You could also get creative and turn them into a casserole or add some chicken and peas to make a more complete meal. The best-before date is just under two years from the date I purchased the pack, so they have a nice long shelf life.
Nutrition
Calories
One prepared half-box serving of the Shells and White Cheddar contains 270 calories, four grams of fat, 54 grams of carbohydrates, nine grams of fibre, six grams of sugar, 16 grams of protein and 580 milligrams of sodium. The carbohydrates and sodium are definitely on the higher side, but I like that there’s also a good amount of protein and fibre, which helps make this a more filling mac and cheese option.
One prepared half-box serving of the Macaroni and Cheese contains 260 calories, 4.5 grams of fat, 53 grams of carbohydrates, eight grams of fibre, seven grams of sugar, 16 grams of protein and 670 milligrams of sodium. Compared to the Shells and White Cheddar, this flavor is slightly higher in fat, sugar and sodium, while the calories and carbohydrates are a little lower. Both flavors provide an impressive 16 grams of protein per prepared half-box serving!
Ingredients
I like that Goodles contain several nutritious ingredients, including chickpea protein, broccoli, spinach, kale, pumpkin, sweet potato, sunflower seeds, cranberries and mushrooms. I also appreciate that the added sugar comes from dried maple syrup rather than refined sugar. The Goodles contain both wheat and milk. Also, Goodles is the first boxed macaroni and cheese to earn a Clean Label Project Purity Award.
Scoring
Taste: 8/10
Cost: 6.5/10
Convenience: 8.5/10
Nutrition: 7/10
Overall
Give it a try!
I was really hoping my four-year-old would love Goodles because they’re high in protein and have added vegetables, but unfortunately, she wasn’t a fan. I enjoyed both flavors, though, and as I mentioned earlier,
I’ve heard lots of adults rave about them! Goodles are basically a more nutritious version of the macaroni and cheese many of us grew up eating, without any of those unusual “healthy” flavors. If you’re looking for a way to enjoy cheesy mac and cheese while getting some extra protein and vegetables, I think Goodles are worth trying!
In the USA.
Not the ones here in Canada at Costco but I think there might be a gluten-free option in the US.
Actress Gal Gadot.
Have you tried the Costco Goodles? What did you think of them?
Please note that this review was not paid for or sponsored by any third party. This product was purchased by Costcuisine for the purpose of producing this review. The opinions in this review are strictly those of Costcuisine. Costcuisine is not affiliated with Costco or any of its suppliers. In the event that Costcuisine receives compensation for a post from the manufacturer of a product or some other third party, the arrangement will be clearly disclosed (including where the manufacturer of a product provides Costcuisine with a free sample of the product).
