Annie’s Deluxe Mac And Cheese Nutrition | Label Facts

Annie’s Deluxe mac and cheese delivers about 310–320 calories, 12 g protein, and 720–770 mg sodium per 1-cup prepared serving, per the label.

Deluxe Mac And Cheese Nutrition Facts Per Serving

Fans reach for these creamy shells on busy nights, but the numbers help you plan. Per the brand’s label, one serving is about a cup prepared with the included cheese sauce. Calories land around the low three hundreds, protein sits near twelve grams, and sugars stay low with no added sugar. Saturated fat runs around four to five grams per serving. The standout line is sodium, which sits between seven hundred twenty and seven hundred seventy milligrams in a single serving.

Here’s a quick side-by-side of three common flavors. The grid uses the manufacturer’s panel for the same serving size. Use it to ballpark the plate before add-ins like buttered breadcrumbs or sausage.

Flavor	Calories	Sodium
White Cheddar (cup prepared)	310	770 mg
Classic Cheddar (cup prepared)	320	770 mg
Four Cheese (cup prepared)	320	720 mg

Those values come from the brand’s product pages. The panel also lists fiber at about four grams and calcium near fifteen percent daily value. If you’re watching blood pressure, that sodium line matters. The FDA sodium guidance sets the daily value at two thousand three hundred milligrams, and one serving here lands near a third of that benchmark.

What Changes The Numbers In The Bowl

The “deluxe” boxes include a ready cheese pouch, so you don’t add milk or butter. That keeps the range tighter than powdered mixes, where recipe choices swing the stats. Still, the plate in front of you can shift. Longer boiling softens shells, which hold more sauce. Vigorous draining leaves less starchy water, which can nudge salt per bite. Swaps matter, too. Toss in bacon bits, and sodium jumps. Stir in peas or spinach, and volume rises while the totals barely move.

Callouts on the back panel help you compare. Fiber stays steady across the three flavors because the pasta base is similar. Protein is stable since each pouch uses real cheese. Where they differ most is seasoning and cheese blend, which is why the four-cheese option lands a touch lower in sodium than the classic cheddar pair.

Prepared Versus Dry Mix

Shoppers sometimes see a shelf tag that shows “dry mix,” which can look lower in calories and sodium. The serving you plate is prepared. The ready cheese sauce is part of the math. If you need the number for unprepared pasta and sauce, the side panel may show a per-ounce dry mix column, but your meal plan should use the prepared line because that’s what you eat.

Serving Size Reality

On paper, the serving reads as about one cup prepared. In practice, a hungry teen may double that without thinking. If you split a box three ways, you’re close to the label math. Split it two ways, and the numbers in the table simply double. That includes sodium. For broader diet targets, the Dietary Guidelines advise keeping sodium lower across the day, so portions matter on pasta night.

How The Three Flavors Compare In Daily Life

White cheddar brings a sharper note. Classic cheddar hits the nostalgic spot. Four cheese is round and mellow. From a nutrition view, your choice only swings a few digits. Calories run from three hundred ten to three hundred twenty. Protein holds at twelve grams, which pairs well with a leafy salad or steamed greens. The swing worth watching is sodium. If the rest of the day’s meals trend salty—deli meat, canned soup, or takeout—pick the lower option here and cut the add-ons.

Smart Add-Ins And No-Salt Swaps

If you like a heartier bowl, lean on extras that don’t bring more sodium. Frozen peas, sautéed mushrooms, or roasted broccoli add volume, fiber, and texture. A squeeze of lemon perks up flavor. Toasted panko in olive oil adds crunch with only a pinch of salt, or none at all. If you want more protein, reach for grilled chicken, white beans, or seared tofu. These keep the profile steady while making dinner more filling.

Add-In Or Swap	Calories Added	Sodium Added
1 cup steamed broccoli	~55	~50 mg
1/2 cup peas	~60	~60 mg
4 oz grilled chicken	~185	~70 mg
1/2 cup white beans (rinsed)	~100	~120 mg
2 tbsp toasted panko	~60	~20 mg
2 strips crisp bacon	~80	~380 mg

Those add-in numbers are common ballparks for plain cooked items. Pantry brands vary. If you use canned beans, rinse them to lower sodium. If you add bacon, you’ve nearly added half a day’s salt in one topping. Flavor tricks like lemon, garlic, black pepper, and fresh herbs punch above their weight with tiny sodium cost.

Label Tips That Make Shopping Easier

Front panels carry warm copy, but the numbers live in the Facts box. Start with serving size, then scan calories, saturated fat, and sodium. The %DV column ties each line to a daily benchmark. For sodium, one hundred percent equals two thousand three hundred milligrams on the label system. A number around thirty means one serving takes a third of the day’s budget. Two bowls climb past sixty. If your day includes salty snacks or a fast-food lunch, reach for the lower-sodium flavor here or a smaller bowl.

Fiber and protein help with fullness. The deluxe boxes bring about four grams of fiber and twelve grams of protein per serving. Pair with veggies and a lean protein and you’ll have a plate that satisfies without leaning on more pasta. If you want to trim calories, fill half the bowl with vegetables and keep toppings light.

Allergens, Storage, And Handling

The pasta contains wheat and the sauce contains milk. If you cook for someone with allergies, check the exact box in your kitchen and read the panel. Store the box in a cool, dry pantry. After cooking, refrigerate leftovers within two hours. Reheat gently with a splash of water so the sauce stays smooth. If the pouch shows damage or the cheese smells odd, don’t use it.

Simple Cooking Tweaks That Keep Stats Steady

Salted water boosts flavor, yet the sauce brings plenty of seasoning. Cook the shells in lightly salted water or plain water to keep the sodium total steady. Drain well, then stir in the sauce off the heat. If you like looser sauce, add a spoon of pasta water and stir until glossy. That trick thins the sauce without extra butter. For a browned top, a quick broil with a dusting of panko gives crunch with little sodium.

Portion Planning For Families

A box lists about three servings. For little kids, that’s usually enough for a shared main with vegetables on the side. For two adults, plan on the whole box and treat it as a side next to protein and greens. Stretch nights work, too: fold in a full bag of steamed broccoli, then portion a level cup per plate. You’ll gain volume and keep the stats friendlier.

Method And Sources

All nutrition figures in the comparison grid and the card come from the brand’s pages for white cheddar, classic cheddar, and four cheese. Daily sodium values reference the FDA label system. If packages change, defer to the panel on the box in your pantry.