20 Easy Ways To Make Boxed Mac And Cheese Even Better

While we almost always prefer the homemade stuff, there's something undeniably nostalgic about boxed mac and cheese. Those blue boxes Kraft mac and cheese, complete with their packet of powdered cheese, carried us through our childhoods. Now, they make for a quick meal that the whole family will love; we like to keep our pantry stocked with a couple boxes of mac at all times for dinnertime emergencies.

Lately, when it comes to mac and cheese, we've been thinking outside the blue box. Boxed mac and cheese is great all on its own, but we've devised a few creative twists that completely reinvent the tried-and-true dish. These easy, unique, and whimsical ways to upgrade a box of mac and cheese can turn any boring dinner into a real event. Whether you're ditching the powdered cheese packet or adding a few secret ingredients, these boxed mac and cheese hacks will completely change the game. Is it suppertime yet?

Add Cream Cheese

We have a trick up our sleeve to make the creamiest mac and cheese ever. Most boxes will instruct you to boil the pasta, then drain and add butter, milk, and cheese powder to the pot, mixing well to form a sauce. To make your mac extra creamy and rich, stir in a tablespoon or two of cream cheese into your cheese sauce. You'll thank us later.

Replace The Milk

The package instructions may call for milk, but don't let that box you in. Instead of reaching for regular milk, opt for heavy cream or even half-and-half. Either choice will result in a richer, creamier mac and cheese than versions made with just plain milk.

Upgrade The Cheese

If you have a "cheese drawer" in your fridge like I do, you may have a few random blocks of cheese leftover from recipes. Instead of letting these bits and bobs waste away unused, grate them and stir a handful into the cooked mac and cheese, and sprinkle some more on top for good measure. Here are a few of my favorite cheesy upgrades...

Gruyere

This nutty, rich Swiss cheese is one of our favorites , showing up in our best quiches and French onion soup. It melts well, making it perfect for mac and cheese.

Smoked Cheddar

Smoke brings great depth to barbecue, and it does the same for mac and cheese. Check the speciality section at your grocery's deli for smoked cheddar; it shreds easily and melts beautifully. Remove and discard the rind for the ultimate smoothness.

Pimiento Cheese

Store-bought pimiento cheese is a wonderful convenience, and it's perfect for stirring into mac and cheese. Of course, you can always make it yourself, and save the extra for tomorrow's afternoon snack with your favorite crackers.

Goat Cheese

Soft, creamy, and fluffy, goat cheese is a great way to take that blue box from classic to fancy with very little effort. Start with just a few tablespoons—the tanginess of goat cheese can overwhelming to some palates.

Fontina

This salty, creamy Italian cheese needs to make it into more if your recipes. It has way more flavor than mozzarella, and it's just as creamy. Give it a try—you might just find yourself swapping it out for mozzarella in your favorite pizza and calzone recipes.

Give It A Cheffy Twist

If you want to take that blue box up a notch, you can steal some easy tricks from restaurant chefs that will make a big flavor difference. Here are a few of our favorites.

Brown the Butter

Browned butter is the secret ingredient to multi-dimensional flavor in both baked goods and savory dishes. It adds richness and depth of flavor to boxed mac and cheese—and all it takes is a few extra minutes on the stovetop. Just heat it in a stainless steel skillet (you can use any skillet, but a lighter one is best so you can keep an eye on the color) until melted, the foam has subsided, and the color if the butter is a rich caramel color, about 7 minutes.

Make A Homemade Cheese Sauce

Instead of using the powdered cheese packet that comes with a box of mac and cheese, take an extra five minutes to make a homemade cheese sauce, like we do in our Best-Ever Macaroni and Cheese recipe. You can use any type of cheese, but we prefer sharp Cheddar.

Bake It Like A Fancy Restaurant

If you already love the flavor of boxed mac and cheese as-is, but want to make things just a touch fancier, then this hack is for you. Prepare the boxed mac and cheese according to package directions, draining the noodles when they're just barely al dente (slightly undercooked). Make the cheese sauce, then dump the cheesy noodles into a casserole dish. Top with breadcrumbs and a handful of cheese and broil until the top is golden brown. You've got a fancy-looking, oven-baked dish of mac and cheese.

Turn It Into A Main Dish With Meat

Adding protein to your mac and cheese is a quick, easy way to turn it into a well-rounded meal. With just about every kind of meat at your fingertips, the options are nearly endless. Here are a few of our favorites.

Rotisserie Chicken

One of the greatest gifts your grocery deli has to offer, rotisserie chicken is rich in flavor, easy to shred, and therefore upgrades mac and cheese to dinner status in a jiffy.

Crispy Bacon

I mean, why not? Bacon makes everything better—mac and cheese is no different. If you're rushed, zap precooked bacon in the microwave and stir it in. If you have the time, cook the bacon in the skillet and add it and some of the bacon drippings to the mac and cheese for extra bacony goodness.

Ground Beef

Is mac and cheese with ground beef technically homemade Hamburger Helper? Umm...yes. So what? There's something incredibly comforting about macaroni and cheese that tastes like a cheeseburger. It goes without saying, but be sure to brown the ground beef first.

Pulled Pork

Barbecue mac and cheese? Yes ma'am! WIth its smoky flavor, barbecue pork is a perfect partner for creamy mac and cheese. You can even drizzle the top with little bit of your favorite barbecue sauce to cut through all the cheesy flavor.

Mix In New Flavors To Create Magic

When it comes to boosting the flavor of boxed mac and cheese, adding mix-ins is a great tactic. You can completely change the flavor profile of of regular old mac and cheese with these fun combinations.

Millionaire Mac and Cheese

With few premium ingredients and a couple of extra steps, you can make mac and cheese taste like a million bucks. Stir in crispy cooked thick-cut applewood bacon into the box mac that has been prepared with truffle butter instead of regular butter. Top with panko breadcrumbs that have been toasted in bacon fat and seasoned with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika.

Taco Boxed Mac and Cheese

Taco Tuesday, but make it mac and cheese. Prepare the boxed mac and cheese according to package directions, then mix things up by adding cooked ground beef, shredded pepper Jack cheese, and a packet of taco seasoning to your mac and cheese.

Cajun Boxed Mac and Cheese

If you love gumbo and crawfish, this Cajun twist on boxed mac and cheese is for you. Prepare the pasta according to package directions. Add 2 teaspoons of Cajun seasoning to the cheese sauce, then fold in the pasta along with sauteed Andouille sausage, onion, and bell peppers. If you really want to go big, ditch the cheese packet and use freshly-shredded pepper Jack cheese.

Pizza Boxed Mac and Cheese

For this flavor twist, prepare the mac and cheese according to package directions, then add in shredded mozzarella. Pour the mac and cheese into a casserole dish, then top with marinara sauce, more mozzarella, and pepperoni. Broil until cheese topping is melted and golden brown.

Cacio e Pepe Boxed Mac and Cheese

For this flavor twist, we recommend starting with a box of white cheddar mac and cheese. Prepare the mac and cheese according to package directions, then add in shredded Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese and a generous dash freshly cracked black pepper.