Mac and cheese should be a profit anchor. But cheese ratios creep, portion scoops get heavy, and suddenly the math breaks.
This guide is a U.S.-focused mac and cheese cost calculator. Use it to set a stable cheese ratio, price add-ons correctly, and protect your margin bowl by bowl.
Quick Summary
- The cheese ratio decides the profit
- Price add-ons (bacon, chicken) separately
- Portion by cooked weight, cost by dry weight
- Packaging and toppings still count
U.S. Ingredient Benchmarks (Retail)
These are BLS U.S. city average prices. Use them as a sanity check, then replace with your supplier invoices.
| Item | Latest U.S. city average | Unit cost | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spaghetti and macaroni | $1.311/lb (Dec 2025) | $0.08/oz | Pasta base cost anchor |
| Cheddar cheese, natural | $5.789/lb (Dec 2025) | $0.36/oz | The biggest cost driver |
| Butter, stick | $4.408/lb (Dec 2025) | $0.28/oz | Roux + sauce cost |
| Flour, white, all purpose | $0.554/lb (Dec 2025) | $0.03/oz | Thickening cost |
Portion Standards to Lock In
- Dry pasta ounces per serving
- Cheese ounces per serving
- Milk ounces per serving
- Portion scoop size (cooked weight)
- Add-on ounces per serving
- Packaging cost per serving
Example: Classic Mac and Cheese Bowl
Portion assumptions (example):
- Dry pasta: 3.5 oz (yields ~9 oz cooked)
- Cheddar: 3 oz
- Butter: 0.5 oz
- Flour: 0.4 oz
- Milk: 5 oz ($0.20 example)
- Seasoning: $0.05
- Packaging: $0.35
Cost Breakdown
| Item | Portion | Unit Cost | Line Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry pasta | 3.5 oz | $0.08/oz | $0.28 |
| Cheddar | 3 oz | $0.36/oz | $1.08 |
| Butter | 0.5 oz | $0.28/oz | $0.14 |
| Flour | 0.4 oz | $0.03/oz | $0.01 |
| Milk | 5 oz | n/a | $0.20 |
| Seasoning | 1 portion | n/a | $0.05 |
| Packaging | 1 set | n/a | $0.35 |
| Total | $2.11 |
Price Targets
| Target Food Cost % | Menu Price |
|---|---|
| 22% | $9.59 |
| 25% | $8.44 |
| 28% | $7.54 |
If you sell below $7, reduce cheese ounces or raise price.
Add-On Pricing (Bacon Example)
Add-ons should be priced separately. Bacon is the most common profit leak.
Bacon add-on cost = 1 oz x $0.42 = $0.42
Add-on price at 25% = $0.42 / 0.25 = $1.68Round to $1.75 or $2.00.
Portion Control Tips
- Weigh cooked pasta once per shift
- Use a fixed scoop for every bowl
- Do not let kitchen staff “eyeball” cheese
Consistency is the margin.
Do This Now: Weekly Mac and Cheese Checklist
- Weigh cooked pasta portions per bowl
- Update cheese and butter prices from invoices
- Recalculate bowl costs if any ingredient moved >5%
- Check add-on pricing (bacon, chicken) vs. cost
- Audit portion consistency during peak hours
Related Guides
- US Menu Pricing Calculator
- Food Cost Ratio Guide
- Prime Cost Guide
- US Restaurant Portion Control Guide
- US Delivery App Pricing Guide
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