I just saw the new Cheesy Ramen that Kraft Mac & Cheese is getting ready to drop into grocery isles everywhere, and it’s a pretty wild glow-up. The images made me instantly hungry. If you need me, I’ll be hanging out over the sink, cheesemaxxing and making a mess of the kitchen.
Nearly 20 years after the brand last entered a new category with its portable, microwaveable meal cups back in 2006 called Easy Mac Cups (later renamed Macaroni & Cheese Dinner Cups), Kraft Mac & Cheese is taking its famous cheesy goodness out of the mac and cheese aisle and into the ramen aisle with Kraft Mac & Cheese Cheesy Ramen.
Yes, this is exactly what it sounds like.
The new lineup combines the familiar cheese flavor of Kraft Mac & Cheese with ramen in three varieties: Spicy, Chicken and Pork. I won’t lie. I’ll go wild and mix all three flavors together like I’m buffetmaxxing at the Mongolian Grill.
Kraft says the new snack products were inspired by something ramen fans have already been doing on their own: adding cheese to ramen for a creamier, richer bowl that can also help balance out spicy flavors.
Apparently, Kraft noticed. What they didn’t notice is me adding my ramen to chili, clam chowder, and baked beans. We might be gearing up for a ramen renaissance, which can only lead to a true cheese armageddon, because I also add that neon orange cheddar power to everything.
The timing makes sense. According to Kraft Heinz, the U.S. ramen category is currently valued at $2.7 billion and has been growing nine percent year over year. Cheesy ramen itself has reportedly doubled over the past three years, with Gen Z helping drive interest in new ways to customize the classic noodle dish for fast food fun at home.
Kraft is basically showing up to a party that was already happening and bringing its famous, unmistakable taste.
The three varieties each put a slightly different spin on the idea. Spicy combines Kraft’s cheesy flavor with a kick of heat, while Chicken pairs it with the savory flavor of poultry ramen. Pork goes for a heartier combination of bacony ramen and Kraft Mac & Cheese.
These new products contain no artificial flavors, preservatives or dyes. For Kraft Mac & Cheese, this is part of a larger effort by Kraft Heinz to find new places for its established brands. The company previously introduced Kraft Mac & Cheese PowerMac this year, and says the Cheesy Ramen launch is part of its broader $700 million investment aimed at revitalizing its brands and accelerating growth.
But honestly, I am much more interested in the ramen. Give me ten boxes now, and a hot pot of water. I’m ready to go to town.
Kraft Mac & Cheese Cheesy Ramen won’t hit stores until early 2027, so we’re going to have to wait a little while before finding out whether dumping Kraft’s signature cheesiness into a bowl of ramen is genius or something that should have stayed in the kitchen experiments of college students. If you can’t wait, you can also go rogue and combine some already existing ingredients from the local Dollar General.
Kraft says fans who want an early taste can follow the brand on Instagram and TikTok for information about an exclusive first bite. Or they can visit the official Kraft website.
Personally, I have a feeling the Spicy version is going to be the one people start throwing extra stuff into. Because if we’re already putting cheese in ramen, we’re clearly past the point of pretending we’re following the instructions on the package. Let’s fire it up and go. Early 2027 can’t get here fast enough.
