Mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food, and while we all love a great homemade version (like Ree Drummond's extra creamy macaroni and cheese), it's helpful to keep store-bought brands on hand for super-quick meals. If you're wondering how to make boxed mac and cheese better, you should know that you don't have to stick to the directions on the box. Using some simple tricks, you can elevate any boxed mac and cheese so it tastes like you made it from scratch.
This list includes 10 easy ways to doctor up boxed mac and cheese to make it taste better—and suit your mood. Craving a creamier sauce? A couple of additional ingredients like whole milk and extra butter will do the trick. Prefer your macaroni and cheese on the crispy side? There's a quick hack for that, too. You'll also find plenty of ideas for swaps and mix-ins (hello, bacon!) that will transform your standard boxed mac and cheese into a complete and hearty meal. There's even a fun recipe for fried mac and cheese bites that you won't want to miss!
Keep reading for a closer look at how to make boxed mac and cheese better. (And for more cooking hacks, check out this genius guide to elevating boxed cake mix.)
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Is anything more comforting than baked pasta? For that classic crispy finish, double your boxed recipe and prepare as directed, then pour into a buttered baking dish, top with extra cheese, and bake or broil until bubbly and golden on top.
SHOP MACARONI AND CHEESE
Ree loves to boost the flavor of her homemade macaroni and cheese with dried mustard, cayenne pepper, paprika, and thyme, and you can do the same with boxed mac and cheese. Just add one or more of the spices to the pot along with the powdered cheese, milk, and butter, whisking to combine.
SHOP SPICES
Make a shortcut version of Ree's Tex-Mex mac and cheese by starting with your favorite boxed brand. You can use what's in the box for the noodles and cheese, then follow the rest of her recipe for incorporating poblano chile pepper, fire-roasted corn, and other mix-ins.
Get Ree's recipe.
4
Make it a shortcut carbonara
Take inspiration from Ree's shells and cheese recipe and top prepared mac and cheese with diced cooked bacon and peas. If you're feeling fancy, you can even turn it into a quick twist on pasta carbonara by adding a fried egg.
Get Ree's recipe for shells and cheese.
You can turn that packet of powdered cheese into a creamy, delicious sauce with a few quick additions: whole milk, butter, American cheese, and a sprinkle of grated Parmesan.
Get the recipe at Loaves and Dishes.
A crispy layer of breadcrumbs will give your mac and cheese a little extra oomph. For this version, top prepared mac and cheese with a buttery breadcrumb mixture, then broil on low for 10 minutes.
Get the recipe at Cutefetti.
A bowl of mac and cheese is a great place to sneak in some healthy mix-ins (for the kids or yourself). Try adding sautéed mushrooms, wilted greens like kale or spinach, or roasted veggies like Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, or butternut squash.
Get the recipe at Sweetish.co.
Store-bought mac and cheese often comes with tiny shells or straight macaroni, but the best homemade versions call for pasta shapes that really catch all that cheesy sauce. Consider swapping in elbow macaroni or corkscrew-shaped cavatappi (Ree's favorite!) for a quick upgrade. (You can save the noodles that came in the box for soups or pasta salads.)
SHOP PASTA
Mix in a cooked protein for a more complete meal. Italian sausage, grilled chicken, sautéed shrimp, and—of course—bacon are all great additions to mac and cheese.
10
Make fried mac and cheese bites
Fried mac and cheese bites are a fun appetizer, and they're super easy to make when you start with a boxed mix. The coating in this version is crushed cheese crackers. Yum!
Get the recipe at TEXAZ TASTE.
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