How to Make Boxed Mac and Cheese Better

Macaroni and cheese is the ultimate comfort food — pasta in a creamy, cheesy sauce. It’s food that both kids and adults love. While you may prefer homemade mac and cheese, the boxed version can make a quick snack or even a hearty meal. It’s easy to make and hits all the right spots.

Boxed mac and cheese is great on its own, but it’s understandable if you’re bored and looking to jazz it up. We have you covered with these boxed mac and cheese hacks.

How to make boxed mac and cheese better

There are a few things you can do to make boxed mac and cheese better.

Add salt to the boiling water

When the water boils, add salt to the water to flavor the macaroni.

Cook pasta al dente

Instead of cooking for the time recommended in the instructions, cook the pasta for slightly less time so it’s al dente — firm to the bite.

Make the sauce separately

Instead of adding the cheese powder and sauce ingredients directly to the cooked macaroni, make the cheese sauce separately. While you make the sauce, sit the pasta in a bowl and add some butter to stop the pasta from sticking. Once the sauce is ready, add pasta to it and stir gently.

Use half-and-half

To make the sauce creamier, substitute milk with half-and-half instead.

Add extra cheese

Substitute half the butter needed for the sauce with two to three slices of American cheese.

How to make boxed mac and cheese extra creamy

American cheese and half-and-half are not the only ingredients that make the sauce creamier. Try these dairy products:

Shredded cheddar

Mix half a cup of shredded cheddar with all the butter that the box recommends.

Feta cheese

Add one-third cup of feta cheese to the recommended amount of butter.

Cream cheese

Replace half the butter with two tablespoons of cream cheese.

Heavy cream

Substitute heavy cream for some of the milk in the sauce.

Sour cream

Substitute some of the milk with sour cream for a tangier and creamier mac and cheese.

Greek yogurt

Greek yogurt is like cream cheese or sour cream. Add a little at a time to the sauce.

How to make extra creamy boxed mac and cheese in one pot

To save time and utensils, use this cooking hack to make creamy mac and cheese using only one pot:

• In a medium pot, add water, butter, milk, and macaroni and bring to a boil.
• Add the cheese powder from the box and bring the mixture to a simmer for eight minutes.
• Stir the mixture gently as it simmers.
• Season with salt and pepper after eight minutes, and stir in some extra cheese. Your creamy mac and cheese is ready!

What can I add to boxed mac and cheese to make it better?

If you want to elevate the mac and cheese dish or enhance the flavors, you can add a variety of other ingredients, from spices and condiments to vegetables and meat.

Protein

Adding your favorite protein to boxed mac and cheese is one way of elevating it to a well-rounded meal. Try shredded rotisserie chicken, crumbled bacon, cut-up sausages, or cubed ham. Mix it in the mac and cheese or add it on top.

Other proteins you can use to create a flavorsome mac and cheese experience include:

• Pepperoni
• Steak
• Tuna
• Hot dogs
• Fried egg
• Beans

Vegetables

Sneak in a few veggies for a healthy mac and cheese kids’ meal. Veggies will also add nutrition to an adult meal. Try adding sauteed mushrooms, roasted cauliflower or butternut squash, steamed or stir-fried broccoli, or wilted greens like spinach or kale.

Other vegetables that will work well with mac and cheese are:

• Frozen peas (add them to the boiling water with the pasta)
• Sautéed diced onions (sauté the onions in butter before adding the sauce ingredients)
• Frozen mixed vegetables
• Diced cooked carrots
• Diced celery
• Corn kernels
• Diced tomatoes or cherry tomatoes
• Sautéed cubed zucchini
• Cooked asparagus
• Sautéed sliced leeks

Sauces and seasonings

Quickly add flavor to your boxed mac and cheese meal with sauces that you may already have in your pantry. Try a hot sauce to turn up the heat or BBQ sauce for a sweet, tangy flavor. A teaspoonful of mustard or a cupful of salsa will also give mac and cheese some kick.

You can also boost the flavor with seasonings and spices. Create a Mexican-inspired dish with taco seasoning, or transform plain old mac and cheese with Cajun seasoning. For an Italian twist, add Italian spices and Parmesan cheese to the dish. If you’re craving Greek-inspired mac and cheese, try adding diced onions or shallots, dried dill, and crumbled feta.

Other sauces and seasoning you can incorporate into your mac and cheese recipe are:

• Tomato sauce
• Smoked paprika
• Red pepper flakes
• Cayenne pepper
• Ranch dressing
• Teriyaki sauce
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Truffle oil
• Marinara sauce

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Other ways to make boxed mac and cheese better

You can get creative with boxed mac and cheese recipes with a variety of ingredients, sauces, spices, and seasonings. But there are a few other hacks to make boxed mac and cheese better.

Baking

Make the mac and cheese as per the instructions on the box. Pour it into a buttered baking dish, and top it with extra cheese. Bake or broil till the top is golden and the cheese is bubbling. Your baked boxed mac and cheese is ready to be served!

Toppings

You can make boxed mac and cheese even more special by topping it, usually with something crispy and crunchy. Here are a few topping options:

• Breadcrumbs: Add panko breadcrumbs to boxed mac and cheese before baking. You can also cook panko crumbs or regular breadcrumbs in a pan with some butter till golden brown. Mix in seasoning and cheese if desired. Sprinkle topping on mac and cheese.
• Crispy fried onions: For a delicious crunch, top your mac and cheese dish with store-bought crispy fried onions before serving.
• Crackers: Crush any type of crackers you may have in your pantry, and sprinkle them on top of the mac and cheese before serving.

Browned butter

Brown the butter when making the sauce for a more enhanced flavor in the mac and cheese dish.

Make better boxed mac and cheese at home

Now that you have all the tips and tricks to making better boxed mac and cheese, you can buy the ingredients from Instacart and make the ultimate comfort food that will delight your family.

Instacart

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