The $1.25 Dollar Tree Find So Good I Buy It by the Armload

I always keep a couple in my pantry.

By
Kris Osborne
Kris Osborne
Kris Osborne
Kris has over 12 years of experience creating food content for both print and digital. Growing up in her family's restaurant set her up for a lifelong love affair with food and it’s clear why. Previously worked as a columnist on healthy snacks. Currently she can be found on Simply Recipes. 
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Published July 01, 2025
Kris Osborne
Exterior of a Dollar Tree store with parked cars in front

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In an app on my phone, I keep a list titled "Kid Lunch Ideas" that I can turn to for inspiration. I suspect my daughter will eventually tire of her beloved nacho bites, and I want to be prepared. The list includes recipes for sandwiches on a stick, tortellini soup, ham and cheese quesadillas, Italian pasta salad, and more. 

With my husband frequently out of town for work lately, I haven't had extra time to meal prep in advance. And if there's one thing I really hate, it's standing in my kitchen at 7:30 a.m. staring into empty lunchboxes. So, when I saw Annie's mac and cheese cups (the Yummy Bunnies & Cheddar version) at Dollar Tree, I bought an armload of them for this exact kind of lunch emergency.

Annie’s Yummy Bunnies & Cheddar

  • Price: $1.25 for 2 cups
  • Why I Love It: The individually-sized mac and cheese cups are great for a last-minute lunch. I like that they heat up in the microwave in minutes and are easy to pack in a lunchbox.
Annie's Yummy Bunnies & Cheddar mac and cheese cup

Simply Recipes / Kris Osborne

Why I Love Annie's Mac and Cheese Cups

Like most things at Dollar Tree, they're only $1.25, which I consider a steal. The same mac and cheese cups sell on Amazon for $4.99 for a two-pack! But the best part is that they take me all of five minutes to prepare. I add water, microwave, mix in the cheese packet, and transfer it into an insulated container so it stays warm until lunch.

The Yummy Bunnies & Cheddar cups hold adorable bunny-shaped pasta that's a guaranteed win. It's fairly nutritious (5 grams of protein!), beloved by my kids, and comes together in minutes, a fact that cannot be understated on busy mornings.

Besides coming in clutch for last-minute lunch saves, they're ideal for afternoons when my kids come home from school starving and can't wait for dinner, or when I need something quick and satisfying that I know they'll eat. If we're at home, I steam broccoli or stir in some frozen peas to add color and nutrition.

I like having a backup meal that my kids will eat without any fuss. Because they're shelf-stable, it feels like a no-brainer to stash extras in the pantry.

I've always been a fan of Annie's boxed macaroni and cheese, but the $1.25 Annie's cups are a whole new level of awesome. So, yes, I'm stocking up. Because, at this price, they won't last long.

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