Steakhouse Mac & Cheese (Side)

What's in the Steakhouse Mac & Cheese (Side)?

At 440 calories per serving, the Steakhouse Mac & Cheese (Side) represents about 22% of a 2,000-calorie daily intake. On the macronutrient side, roughly 15% of those calories come from protein, 57% from fat, and 27% from carbohydrates — a profile typical of Outback Steakhouse's Side section. Sodium is often the line to watch with sit-down chain entrees, and this dish delivers 820mg, or about 36% of the FDA's daily reference value. If you're watching salt, pairing the Steakhouse Mac & Cheese (Side) with a side salad (dressing on the side) and water rather than a sweetened beverage is the standard mitigation. Like most items at Outback Steakhouse, the dish is built for shareable portions and is plated at restaurant scale rather than a strict single serving. Boxing half of it before you start is one of the simplest ways to bring the per-meal calorie load down meaningfully without giving up the experience.

How this fits a 2,000-calorie day

One serving of the Steakhouse Mac & Cheese (Side) supplies 440 calories, which represents roughly 22% of a 2,000-calorie reference day. That is on the lighter side for a sit-down restaurant entrée and gives a comfortable margin to add a starter, a side, or even dessert without crowding the day's caloric budget.

The macronutrient split lands at roughly 15% protein, 27% carbohydrate and 57% fat by calorie share — a useful frame because raw gram counts often understate how much of a dish's energy actually comes from fat. Protein delivery at 17g is in the ordinary mid-range for the category — enough to anchor a meal, not high enough to be the dish's selling point.

Sodium clocks in at 820mg, or about 36% of the FDA's 2,300mg daily reference value. That is well within a reasonable share for a single meal and gives plenty of room for the rest of the day. Saturated fat is the other line worth watching at 16g — about 80% of the daily reference value — primarily a long-term cardiovascular consideration rather than a single-meal one.

Allergen profile

Milk Wheat

The Steakhouse Mac & Cheese (Side) is flagged for Milk and Wheat in the chain's posted allergen panel. The dairy component is most often in the sauce, the cheese topping or the butter used to finish the plate; an unsauced or sauce-on-the-side preparation can sometimes reduce — but rarely eliminate — the exposure. Wheat exposure typically comes from breading, pasta, the bun or batter; chains that publish gluten-friendly menus list specific substitution paths. Cross-contact in a shared kitchen is always possible, so when in doubt, ask the floor manager.

How it stacks up against the casual-dining category

Across the 35 Side entries we track in this category — averaging 375 calories and 688mg sodium per serving — the Steakhouse Mac & Cheese (Side) at Outback Steakhouse sits roughly 17% heavier than the category average. It also delivers 132mg more sodium than the typical Side item we list, which is the more useful number if you're cross-shopping menus on the way to a reservation.

For direct cross-shopping, here are the closest Side matches we track at competing chains:

Ordering strategy

If the Steakhouse Mac & Cheese (Side) is the entrée you want, the highest-leverage adjustments are usually the ones that change the surrounding meal rather than the dish itself. Because the entrée itself is moderate, you have headroom for an appetizer or a starter side without dropping into restrictive territory — useful for a longer dinner where the goal is to stretch the meal rather than minimize it. Sauces, dressings and finishing oils are routinely the largest hidden source of calories on a casual-dining plate; getting them on the side gives you direct portion control without changing the dish you actually want to eat.

Ingredients summary

Cavatappi, cheddar sauce, parmesan crust

The bottom line

The Steakhouse Mac & Cheese (Side) from Outback Steakhouse is a light entry on the chain's menu at 440 calories and 820mg of sodium per serving. Protein content is on the lower side for an entrée — pairing with a protein-forward side or starter is the obvious adjustment. Anyone tracking sodium specifically — including most people on blood-pressure medication — should weigh this dish against the chain's lower-sodium options on the same menu before committing.