It's hard not to love boxed mac and cheese, and making the most out of the creamy pasta
isn't hard. Whether it's meat, spices or extra cheese, here are a few easy hacks to amp up
the flavor and get the most out of every bite.
So, just think about it — mac and cheese by itself is creamy and cheesy, so by using
basic logic, adding more creamy cheese to the mix would only serve to amplify the comforting
effect. And actual cream cheese has the added benefit of providing a slightly tangy taste.
According to one Redditor, you don't even need much cream cheese to make a significant
improvement to the taste and flavor of standard boxed mac and cheese. Simply add a few ounces
of an inexpensive cream cheese to your pot of mac, stir it in, and allow it to melt over
low heat as the flavors meld.
Of course, you'll get the best flavor if you purchase full-fat cream cheese rather than
reduced-fat or fat-free, although the added ingredient won't exactly make your pot of
mac and cheese any healthier. But then again, mac and cheese isn't supposed to be a health
food, so if you plan to indulge, might as well go all in, right?
It makes sense that the first mac and cheese hack you consider wouldn't involve adding
spices to the mix. But the reality is, even a little bit of pepper can go a long way in
amping up the taste of boxed mac and cheese. One Redditor responded to a question about
making mac and cheese better by simply stating,
"A dash of black pepper. Thank me later."
Other proponents of the hack suggested throwing in a lot more than a dash, and one Redditor
gave the hack high praise by saying,
"Black pepper is some gourmet work lunchroom s---."
That highlights an important point — adding black pepper couldn't be cheaper or easier
since you likely already have the spice on hand. Even if you are in the work lunchroom,
you could probably dig up some single-use pepper packets leftover from someone's fast
food lunch.
Sure, standard boxed mac and cheese has some protein in it already — cheese contains
protein, milk has protein, and even pasta has a little bit. But if you're trying to
increase protein intake, mac and cheese is an easy "base" for adding any number of different
protein options. In one Reddit thread on improving boxed mac and cheese, different users suggested
lots of easy options — ground beef, slices of sausage or hot dogs, a can of tuna, bacon,
or even Spam. In fact, one redditor suggested Spam and got pretty specific with the tip,
stating,
"Dice it and get the pieces super crispy. [...] It stretches it and makes it sooo smoky
and luxurious."
Imitation lobster, crab, clams, and even chorizo also made the list.
Obviously, none of these suggestions are high-end meats, so choose the one that fits with your
palate and personal budget. Or, you could always try other options, like shredded chicken
or beef. You could even throw in an egg or two and let it cook while you mix in the cheese.
Kraft even offers up more complex protein-rich recipes like taco bakes and lasagna.
You don't even have to like Cheez-It crackers all that much to appreciate the next-level
genius of adding them to your mac and cheese. In another Reddit thread, Reddit user letitdough
suggested crushing up the crackers and sprinkling them on top of your prepared mac and cheese.
But letitdough wasn't the only Cheez-It genius to offer up tips. Captobvious789 suggested
stirring the Cheez-Its into the cheese sauce, and yet another Redditor went next-level by
saying you should crush the Cheez-Its, mix them with butter, then toast them to make
them extra crispy before sprinkling them on top of your pasta.
No matter how you do it, the gist is the same — take something cheesy, crunchy, and salty
and add it as a topping or a mix-in to your cheesy, gooey pasta. Basically, you end up
with a comfort food flavor explosion. And if you really don't like Cheez-It? Experiment
with other crunchy snack foods, like Goldfish crackers or pretzels.
"Flavor, flavor, flavor!"
"Whoooo!"
"Cruuunch!”
Okay, for the most part, boxed mac and cheese hacks are low-key recipes that are easy to
add to your cooking routine. But there are a few gourmet hacks that are worth test-driving
at least a time or two. That's why you should add deep fried mac and cheese balls to your
repertoire. Really, the concept couldn't be easier. Reddit suggests simply making the
boxed mix according to the recipe and mixing in jalapeños, bacon bits, or other add-ins
for extra flavor. Then you form the mac and cheese into balls and refrigerate to get the
shape in place before coating them in egg and bread crumbs. The last step is to simply
fry the coated balls and serve, turning your basic boxed mix into a somewhat fancier affair.
Another Redditor offered the suggestion of spreading the mac and cheese in a pan and
cutting it into bars before refrigerating, breading, and frying. Bonus points if you
mix some veggies into the mac and cheese before frying to at least serve up a few extra nutrients.
In what can only be referred to as a poor student's mac and cheese hack, Redditor continuousBaBa
suggests taking two college noodle favorites — packages of ramen and boxed mac and cheese
— and pulling a switcheroo on the sauces. You simply make the cheese sauce according
to the mac and cheese directions, but mix the sauce with ramen noodles. Whether you
opt to use the ramen noodle flavoring is really up to you — continuousBaBa suggests against
it, but some of the other Redditors responding to this hack said that using both types of
sauce with both types of noodles is the best hack around. All you have to do is just throw
everything in the pot together. Granted, you'll probably end up eating enough sodium in one
sitting for two or three lifetimes, but if it's an occasional treat? You'll probably
survive.
When it comes to boxed mac and cheese hacks, the general goal is to make standard mac and
cheese even cheesier, creamier, and more packed with fat and sodium than the original. Which
honestly, makes sense. If you're going to eat comfort food, why not make it as indulgent
as possible? One way to maximize the creaminess of your mac and cheese is to switch out regular
milk for something even creamier, like heavy cream. The result is a thicker, more decadent
mac and cheese, according to Redditor HayleyJ1609, who made the hack by mistake after she started
pasta, then realized she had no milk on hand.
She wrote about the experience, saying,
"Holy cow, it was the most intense mac and cheese ever."
She's not alone — in the same Reddit thread, another Redditor suggested using heavy cream
and additional grated cheese. In other words, take the creaminess and the cheesiness up
a notch. As for what type of cheese to add to the mix, well, that's up to you.
The good news is, lots of Redditors have suggestions when it comes to adding additional cheese
to boxed mac and cheese to level up the taste experience. You can always steal packets of
cheese mix from other boxes of mac and cheese to enjoy twice the cheese, but ultimately,
that just messes up your future mac and cheese-making experience. It's better to add small amounts
of fresh cheese to the mix. Popular suggestions include cheddar, gouda, and Parmesan cheeses.
Although some suggestions offer the simple shredded cheese option, you could also work
in nacho-style cheese dips to make your pasta extra cheesy.
Granted, no one seems to suggest fancy cheeses like gorgonzola, feta, or goat cheese. Maybe
because it doesn't make sense to spend more money on adding extra cheese than you do on
the entire box of mac. But if you happen to have an extra slab of brie sitting around
and want to test it out, go ahead and give it a try. Maybe add some prosciutto and scallions
while you're at it. Who says mac and cheese can't go gourmet?
"I would have to say that it is one of the great comforting foods of all time."
Alright, so adding cream of chicken soup to boxed mac and cheese might seem weird, but
cream-based soups are an excellent base for casseroles. And really, boxed mac and cheese
is just a few ingredients away from being a casserole. Take Reddit's advice and consider
ditching the milk in the standard directions. Instead, add peas and a can of cream of chicken
soup instead. One Redditor said it changed their life. That's high praise for a hack
that's so simple, but it makes sense.
Peas and cream of chicken soup basically turn the standard mac and cheese into a simple
casserole. Throw in some diced pieces of chicken, extra veggies, and a layer of breadcrumbs
on top if you really want to transform the basic pasta into a full-on meal. And for the
full casserole effect, throw the whole thing in an oven-safe dish and cook for about 30
minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit — it'll make those breadcrumbs and the top layer of
cheese and pasta nice and crispy.
If mac and cheese is good, and if grilled cheese sandwiches are good, then what could
be better than combining the two into the ultimate starchy, cheesey, hand-held meal?
While the Redditor who made this suggestion said to simply put mac and cheese between
two pieces of grilled bread, it's not hard to think of ways to make the experience even
better.
For instance, make sure you're not just using toasted bread — load those slices up with
butter before you grill them to amp up the flavor. Of course, don't stop at piling in
the mac and cheese, throw some extra sliced cheese in there — sharp cheddar or pepper
jack might give the sandwich an extra bite. And if you feel you need a little more protein,
grill up some bacon, or grab a few slices of roast beef you can add to your sandwich.
Basically, if the add-in tastes good in a sandwich or with mac and cheese, it'll probably
taste delicious in your mac and cheese sandwich, too.
It's not just Redditors who know a thing or two about mac and cheese hacks. The social
media giant TikTok is filled with video tips to make mac and cheese better. For instance,
TikTok user, saucedupfoods, says that you shouldn't follow the cooking directions as
listed on the box. With this hack, you add the powdered cheese directly to the boiling
pasta water. This way, the cheese melts and cooks into the pasta as the pasta is cooking,
rather than being added to the pasta after it's done.
Of course, this TikTok user also added extra shredded cheese to the recipe, so you have
to assume that at least some of the boxed-version improvement comes from the added cheese. But
a writer who test-drove the hack for The Kitchn admitted that the hacked mac and cheese preparation
did offer a slight improvement to the overall texture and flavor of the meal.
A different Tik-Toker also offered a hack that helps you squeeze the last bit of liquid
cheese from the packet while making mac and cheese. In a video shared by Brooke Lowe,
someone uses a lid to squeeze out the gooey cheese, pressing the packet in between the
lip of the pot and the lid and pulling. Easy, right?
"It's way past my bedtime, but it's hard to sleep when I know the babysitter is treating
herself to a late night helping of my Kraft mac and cheese."
While most boxed mac and cheese modifications don't do anything to improve the nutrient
content of the dish, that doesn't mean you can't opt for a somewhat healthier mac and
cheese dish. Just as you can add almost any protein to boxed mac and cheese, you can also
add practically any cooked veggie. Canned peas are one option that has already gotten
a mention, but don't confine yourself to the little round veggies. Try throwing in sautéed
onions, or cooked broccoli or zucchini. And of course, Redditors aren't short on other
possible suggestions. For instance, roasted cauliflower, fried okra, diced bell peppers,
chopped tomato, and sun dried tomatoes all made this list.
So if you start to think of your boxed mac and cheese as a simple base for a full-fledged
meal, all you have to do is identify the proteins and veggies you like most with your pasta,
and mix them right in. You don't have to mess with the original, but if you're looking for
ways to improve the experience, all while on a budget, it's not a bad way to start.
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