Macaroni and cheese has been the old standby dinner or lunch for generations. It was first made popular in the 1930s when times were tough and it was advertised as Kraft Dinner, meaning it was a dinner in a box. Crafty cooks could add what they had on hand to round out the meal, but for a modest price the foundation was already in the compact blue box. Since then it’s become a major comfort food, with some restaurants taking this basic to new heights with their numerous add-ons. But, you can make your own boxed mac and cheese at home better, too, with these hacks. Get ready for some even more delicious macaroni and cheese!

Via: Karl Baron/Flickr

Cook the Packet with the Noodles

A while back on TikTok a new-old way to make boxed mac and cheese was making the rounds. Basically, instead of just boiling the noodles and then draining them, you add the sauce packet into the noodle water and then cook off the excess liquid when the noodles are done. What this does is it allows the cheesy flavor to cook into the macaroni for a better flavor overall. It also means you don’t have to dirty up the colander to drain the noodles! Find out how to do it here.

Via: Nikki Gillespie/TikTok

Make It Like Disney Does

The cooks at the The Taste of Epcot International Food & Wine Festival in Florida serves a version made with toasted panko bread crumbs and garlic herb Boursin cheese. It sounds decadent because it is, but you can make this one simple by using a box macaroni dinner instead of making your own sauce from scratch and just add in the tasty bits to liven it up. Find out how to do it here.

Via: Savannah Rohleder/Unsplash

Add Buttermilk

If you want to add some flavor quickly you can use buttermilk in place of regular milk when you make up your box mac and cheese. This will give it more depth and makes it taste even richer, with just a slight tang. See how to do it here.


Of course you can also jazz up your boxed mac and cheese with some tomato sauce, some sour cream, a few bacon pieces, or a reliable can of tuna fish and some peas (no casserole recipe needed). But, that’s why this product is a best seller year after: it’s so versatile!