Calories in Macaroni and cheese, box mix with cheese sauce, prepared
Generic food Meals and Dishes
Macaroni and cheese, box mix with cheese sauce, prepared contains 164 kcal per 100 g. A typical serving of 1 cup prepared (189 g) provides about 310 kcal.
Roughly 56% of its calories come from carbohydrates, with 27% from fat and 16% from protein (estimated with general energy factors).
That is less energy than the typical item in meals, entrees, and side dishes on FoodFactly, where the median is 197 kcal per 100 g across 81 foods.
100 g provides 19% of the Daily Value for phosphorus, 13% of the Daily Value for Thiamin (B1) and 11% of the Daily Value for Vitamin B12.
The data comes from USDA FoodData Central: SR Legacy, where most core values were measured by laboratory analysis.
Nutrition facts
| Nutrient | Amount per 100 g | % DV |
|---|---|---|
| Calories C | 164 kcal | |
| Total fat M | 5 g | 6% |
| Saturated fat C | 1.6 g | 8% |
| Trans fat C | 0.092 g | |
| Cholesterol M | 8 mg | 3% |
| Sodium M | 460 mg | 20% |
| Total carbohydrates C | 23.1 g | 8% |
| Dietary fiber M | 1.2 g | 4% |
| Total sugars M | 1.6 g | |
| Protein M | 6.7 g | 13% |
| Vitamin A ? | 22 µg | 2% |
| Vitamin E M | 0.54 mg | 4% |
| Thiamin (B1) M | 0.16 mg | 13% |
| Riboflavin (B2) M | 0.09 mg | 7% |
| Niacin (B3) M | 1.2 mg | 7% |
| Pantothenic acid (B5) M | 0.42 mg | 8% |
| Vitamin B6 M | 0.025 mg | 1% |
| Vitamin B12 M | 0.27 µg | 11% |
| Calcium M | 85 mg | 7% |
| Iron M | 1.2 mg | 7% |
| Magnesium M | 15 mg | 4% |
| Phosphorus M | 234 mg | 19% |
| Potassium M | 80 mg | 2% |
| Zinc M | 0.65 mg | 6% |
| Copper M | 0.067 mg | 7% |
| Manganese M | 0.22 mg | 10% |
% DV: percent of the FDA Daily Value for adults (reference amounts). Letters show how each value was obtained: M measured, C calculated, L label, Z assumed zero, I imputed. Vitamins and minerals not listed were not reported by the source.
Nutritional breakdown
- Protein 16%
- Carbohydrates 56%
- Fat 27%
Approximate share of calories, using general energy factors (4 kcal/g protein and carbohydrate, 9 kcal/g fat, 7 kcal/g alcohol).
Vitamins and minerals, % Daily Value per 100 g
Nutritional insights
- Protein6.7 gbelow the median for meals, entrees, and side dishes (median 7.5 g)
- Fiber1.2 gbelow the median for meals, entrees, and side dishes (median 1.5 g)
- Sugars1.6 gbelow the median for meals, entrees, and side dishes (median 3.1 g)
- Fat5 gbelow the median for meals, entrees, and side dishes (median 5.5 g)
- Saturated fat1.6 gbelow the median for meals, entrees, and side dishes (median 1.8 g)
- Sodium460 mgabove the median for meals, entrees, and side dishes (median 423 mg)
- Protein per 100 kcal4.1 gprotein density, useful for comparing foods with different calorie levels
- Water63.6 gwater per 100 g, which largely explains differences between raw, cooked and dried forms
Full nutrient profile
Fats and cholesterol (2)
| Monounsaturated fat C | 2.2 g |
|---|---|
| Polyunsaturated fat C | 1 g |
Sugars and starch (7)
| Starch M | 19.4 g |
|---|---|
| Sucrose M | 0.01 g |
| Glucose M | 0 g |
| Fructose M | 0 g |
| Lactose M | 1.3 g |
| Maltose M | 0.27 g |
| Galactose M | 0 g |
Individual fatty acids (45)
| EPA (omega-3, 20:5 n-3) M | 0.012 g |
|---|---|
| DHA (omega-3, 22:6 n-3) M | 0 g |
| ALA (omega-3, 18:3 n-3) M | 0.23 g |
| Linoleic acid (omega-6, 18:2) ? | 0.79 g |
| SFA 4:0 M | 0.045 g |
| SFA 6:0 M | 0.033 g |
| SFA 8:0 M | 0.028 g |
| SFA 10:0 M | 0.059 g |
| SFA 12:0 M | 0.066 g |
| SFA 14:0 M | 0.22 g |
| SFA 16:0 M | 0.81 g |
| SFA 18:0 M | 0.3 g |
| SFA 20:0 M | 0.019 g |
| MUFA 18:1 ? | 2.1 g |
| PUFA 18:3 ? | 0.23 g |
| PUFA 20:4 M | 0.003 g |
| SFA 22:0 M | 0.011 g |
| MUFA 14:1 M | 0.017 g |
| MUFA 16:1 ? | 0.043 g |
| PUFA 18:4 M | 0 g |
| MUFA 20:1 M | 0.057 g |
| MUFA 22:1 ? | 0.002 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) M | 0.002 g |
| SFA 15:0 M | 0.024 g |
| SFA 17:0 M | 0.016 g |
| SFA 24:0 M | 0.006 g |
| TFA 16:1 t M | 0.008 g |
| TFA 18:1 t M | 0.061 g |
| TFA 22:1 t M | 0 g |
| TFA 18:2 t not further defined M | 0.022 g |
| PUFA 18:2 CLAs M | 0.015 g |
| MUFA 24:1 c M | 0.002 g |
| PUFA 20:2 n-6 c,c M | 0.003 g |
| MUFA 16:1 c M | 0.035 g |
| MUFA 18:1 c M | 2 g |
| PUFA 18:2 n-6 c,c M | 0.75 g |
| MUFA 22:1 c M | 0.002 g |
| PUFA 18:3 n-6 c,c,c M | 0.001 g |
| MUFA 17:1 M | 0.006 g |
| PUFA 20:3 ? | 0.003 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans-monoenoic C | 0.069 g |
| MUFA 15:1 M | 0 g |
| PUFA 20:3 n-3 M | 0 g |
| PUFA 20:3 n-6 M | 0.003 g |
| PUFA 22:4 M | 0.003 g |
Carotenoids (8)
| Retinol M | 22 µg |
|---|---|
| Tocopherol, beta M | 0.02 mg |
| Tocopherol, gamma M | 1.1 mg |
| Tocopherol, delta M | 0.05 mg |
| Tocotrienol, alpha M | 0.02 mg |
| Tocotrienol, beta M | 0.18 mg |
| Tocotrienol, gamma M | 0 mg |
| Tocotrienol, delta M | 0.11 mg |
Other components (4)
| Water M | 63.6 g |
|---|---|
| Ash M | 1.6 g |
| Energy C | 686 kJ |
| Vitamin A, IU ? | 72 IU |
Other forms of Macaroni and cheese
Raw, cooked, dried and processed versions are separate records with their own measured values.
| Food | Calories | Protein | Carbs | Fat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Macaroni and cheese, box mix with cheese sauce, unprepared Raw | 334 | 12.7 g | 46.7 g | 10.7 g |
| Macaroni and Cheese, canned entree Canned | 82 | 3.4 g | 11.5 g | 2.5 g |
| Macaroni and Cheese, canned, microwavable Canned | 134 | 6 g | 14 g | 6 g |
| Macaroni and cheese, dry mix, prepared with 2% milk and 80% stick margarine from dry mix Dried or dry | 190 | 4.9 g | 23.9 g | 8.3 g |
| Macaroni and cheese, frozen entree Frozen | 149 | 5.6 g | 17.3 g | 6.4 g |
Per 100 g. Calories in kcal. n/a: not reported by the source.
Foods with a similar nutritional profile
| Food | Calories | Protein | Carbs | Fat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ravioli, cheese and spinach-filled, no sauce | 150 | 6.6 g | 20.8 g | 4.5 g |
| Chicken or turkey, rice, and vegetables excluding carrots, broccoli, and dark-green leafy; no sauce | 151 | 6.9 g | 19.8 g | 5 g |
| Tortellini, cheese-filled, meatless, with tomato sauce | 149 | 6.2 g | 23 g | 3.7 g |
| Ravioli, cheese-filled, no sauce | 173 | 7.4 g | 21.7 g | 6.3 g |
| Macaroni or noodles, creamed, with cheese | 158 | 4.7 g | 22 g | 5.5 g |
| Beef, rice, and vegetables excluding carrots, broccoli, and dark-green leafy; no sauce | 149 | 7.6 g | 20 g | 4.3 g |
| Chicken or turkey, rice, and vegetables including carrots, broccoli, and/or dark-green leafy; no sauce | 150 | 6.8 g | 18.2 g | 5.5 g |
| Beef, rice, and vegetables including carrots, broccoli, and/or dark-green leafy; no sauce | 149 | 7.5 g | 18.4 g | 4.9 g |
Per 100 g. Calories in kcal. n/a: not reported by the source.
Frequently asked questions
How many calories are in macaroni and cheese?
100 g of macaroni and cheese has 164 kcal. 1 cup prepared (189 g): about 310 kcal.
How much protein is in macaroni and cheese?
Macaroni and cheese contains 6.7 g of protein per 100 g (13% of the 50 g Daily Value), or 12.6 g in 1 cup prepared (189 g). About 16% of its calories come from protein. Compared with other meals, entrees, and side dishes, that is below the median (median 7.5 g).
How many carbs are in macaroni and cheese?
Macaroni and cheese has 23.1 g of total carbohydrates per 100 g, including 1.2 g of fiber and 1.6 g of sugars.
How much fat is in macaroni and cheese?
Macaroni and cheese contains 5 g of fat per 100 g, of which 1.6 g is saturated (8% of the Daily Value).
What vitamins and minerals does macaroni and cheese contain?
Per 100 g, the most notable amounts relative to the Daily Value are phosphorus (19% DV), Thiamin (B1) (13% DV) and Vitamin B12 (11% DV). The full list is in the vitamins and minerals table above.
How much sodium is in macaroni and cheese?
100 g contains 460 mg of sodium, 20% of the 2,300 mg Daily Value.
Does macaroni and cheese have the same nutrition not specified and raw?
No. Per 100 g, macaroni and cheese, box mix with cheese sauce, prepared has 164 kcal, while macaroni and cheese, box mix with cheese sauce, unprepared has 334 kcal. Processing changes the water content, so always use the record that matches how you weigh the food.
Where does this nutrition data come from?
From USDA FoodData Central: SR Legacy, record dated April 1, 2019. FoodFactly last checked it on November 6, 2026. Each value above shows whether it was measured, calculated or taken from a label.
Source of the nutrition information
- USDA FoodData Central: SR Legacy, record 169770. License: CC0 1.0 (U.S. public domain). Source record dated April 1, 2019. Imported November 6, 2026.
Last updated: . Data quality score: 100/100 (how it is calculated).
General nutrition information, not medical advice. Individual needs differ; see our disclaimer.