Aldi Has A 'Great Velveeta Knockoff' Some Shoppers Swear By - Tasting Table

Aldi sells Cheese Club Shells and Cheese that customers describe as a Velveeta knockoff. The product is typically priced around $1.55 for a 12-ounce box, which is about a dollar less than Velveeta. Reddit users report preferring the Aldi version, citing fewer chemical aftertaste issues and better overall flavor. Some people enhance the meal by adding ingredients such as chili, bacon, fried onion and peppers, garlic, mushrooms, tuna, or other mix-ins. Others share cooking tips, including saving some drained pasta water to mix back with the cheese packet and watching the noodles closely to prevent overcooking and gumminess.

"Currently priced around $1.55 for a 12-ounce box - which may vary depending on your specific location - this is notably cheaper than its Velveeta counterpart, which costs about a dollar more. Though Tasting Table called Velveeta the best microwave mac and cheese brand, fans on Reddit swear by this Aldi dupe. One user says, "For some reason I can't stand velveeta lately so these are my go to unless I pick up the fancier Kraft.""

"Another mentions, "I've actually started preferring these to the Velveeta. I don't know if it's just me, but the Velveeta brand has a weird chemical aftertaste sometimes that I haven't gotten with the Aldi version." Some users even suggest combining the Aldi mac and cheese with other ingredients like chili for a more well-rounded meal. One Redditor shares, "We tried this a couple of weeks ago and really liked it, added some extra stuff to it, like bacon, fried onion & peppers, garlic and mushrooms, turned out to be quite a hearty meal for two with a salad.""

"While this Aldi spin on a Velveeta favorite is excellent as is, some Redditors share how to make it even better. One states, "Keep a tablespoon or two of the drained pasta water (or just don't fully drain it) to mix back in with the cheese packet." Another advises, "The shells and cheese are yummy, but the noodles over cook so fast if you don't watch them and get real gummy.""

Read at Tasting Table