Turning That Classic Box of Mac & Cheese Into Something Better

The ever classic boxed Mac & Cheese (yes, I know, generic picture – brand trademarks and all of that). I’m not sure I know any who has eaten it at some point or another.

This is another item I keep on hand as a staple, because even though it is technically not an ingredient (or is it?) it’s as versatile as the tortilla for quick fix meals. There’s always the classic additions – add some tuna, throw in cut up hotdogs, or mix in some peas. Here are some other additions that can make a meal out of it:

• Mix in leftover taco meat – or even just add some taco seasoning
• Mix in leftover sloppy joes
• If you’re like me and like BBQ sauce, mix a little in to your next batch
• Mix in a little italian seasoning…or even some ranch dressing seasoning
• Spice it up a bit with a little cayenne pepper or a splash of hot sauce
• One of my favorites – toss a little liquid smoke in it, if you have it on hand (if you’ve ever had smoked mac & cheese, about as close as you can get without a smoker of your own!)

Just a few possible additions off the top of my head. But maybe you’re not looking for additions – maybe you just want good ol’ plain mac & cheese, but are looking for it to be a little more elegant (without going through the deep dive bake it in the oven version). All it takes is a small tweak to the instructions; instead of milk, use heavy cream or sour cream for a much creamier version of the basic powder package with just butter or milk. Typically I go the heavy cream and butter route, and add in a handful of shredded cheese if I have it on hand. The additional cheese can change the flavor a bit even, depending on what you use; cheddar will make it a sharper flavor, mozzarella is milder, colby-jack falls a bit in-between – you get the idea.

Just another all around versatile item that I tend to keep as a staple around our house; by itself, it’s good – change the ingredients slightly or use it as an ingredient, you have yourself a good dinner in the makings without doing much (especially if you do it in combination with my other rambling The Versatile Tortilla).

Happy cooking!