If you’re like me, you were probably excited and intrigued when you heard about Jack’s new menu item. The thought of deep fried macaroni and cheese is pretty darn cool. But unfortunately, not all ‘cool’ ideas result in great products. Such is the case with the Cheesy Macaroni Bites. My initial excitement has turned to overall disappointment.

Size-wise, they’re a little bit larger than a chicken nugget, but thinner. They look good enough. In fact, the coating is a thing of beauty, with just the right color and texture you would expect from a tasty deep fried snack. It’s crispy, golden brown, and breaks away with a satisfying crunch, revealing the soft noodles and cheese packed inside. The shell is nice, no doubt. The problem — crust to filling (flavor) ratio is way off.

You cannot taste enough Mac N Cheese! More specifically, cheese. The coating is simply overpowering. The end result is a snack that’s not very cheesy, doesn’t remind me of the traditional dish, and tastes pretty bland. I wanted to like these. I really did. Heck, I was ready to LOVE these. But I’m sorry, they’re not worthy of the love.

I’ve tried them 3 times, at 3 different locations. There were slight differences in how well-done each order was cooked, with some being darker brown and more crunchy than others, but the bottom line was always the same — crust steals the show.

The photo above was taken after slicing one in half with a knife, after my attempts to photograph a bitten piece proved too sloppy. As you can see, the noodles are plentiful and everything appears in order, but looks can be deceiving. What you can’t detect from the picture is the lack of richness or strong flavor in the cheese sauce. And between the thick coating and the pasta, the cheese is muted and doesn’t stand a chance of making much of an impact on your taste buds.

I still believe in the basic idea. I’m sure there’s a way to make this work, but this is not the right balance. They need a thinner shell, and to increase the cheese content.

The Cheesy Macaroni Bites from Jack in the Box failed to deliver the beloved taste of the classic favorite I was hoping for. The flavor of macaroni and cheese is not strong enough, or satisfying enough for me to desire eating them again. They don’t taste bad, they’re OK, but the ‘average’ label is totally appropriate here. Nothing special.

Price: $2.99 (6 piece) / Website: JackInTheBox.com

Fast Food Critic Score: C

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Nutrition Facts - Jack in the Box, Cheesy Macaroni Bites (6 piece).

Calories - 440
Calories from Fat - 230
Total Fat - 25 grams
Carbs - 41 grams
Saturated Fat - 10 grams
Trans Fat - 4 grams
Cholesterol - 30 milligrams
Sodium - 1220 milligrams
Protein - 13 grams

Jack in the Box has contacted FFC to announce the introduction of an interesting new item, Cheesy Macaroni Bites. They’re calling it a tasty twist on the traditional dish. Featuring wedges of macaroni noodles and real Kraft cheese enveloped in a crunchy tempura-style coating. Easy to eat on the go, and a perfect snack or side order.

“Mac ‘N’ Cheese is an American classic that’s universally loved,” said Teka O’Rourke, director of menu marketing and promotions for Jack in the Box Inc. “Our new Cheesy Macaroni Bites offer the same great flavor of the original dish, but in a unique, finger-food style that’s very convenient and portable.” Jack’s new Cheesy Macaroni Bites are priced at $1.69 for three pieces and $2.99 for six pieces. Available today!