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10 Ways To Make Boxed Mac And Cheese Feel More Grown-Up And Gourmet

Homemade Macaroni and Cheese in a Bowl
Brent Hofacker - stock.adobe.com - illustrative purposes only

Here Are 10 Ways To Make Mac And Cheese Feel More Grown-Up And Gourmet

Homemade Macaroni and Cheese in a Bowl
Brent Hofacker – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only

Boxed mac and cheese will always have a special place in my heart, and maybe it’s because it was one of my favorite things to eat as a kid.

Now that I’m well, grown up, I still enjoy boxed mac and cheese, but I am always coming up with ways to make it feel more gourmet. Read on for 10 of my favorite ways to do this!

Grab Some Boursin

NORWALK, CT, USA - FEBRUARY 20, 2024: Package from garlic and herbs cheese from Boursin on kitchen counter
miro – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only

Boursin is amazing in any pasta dish, but if you add a heaping spoonful of this into your mac and cheese, it’s heavenly. Promise.

Whip Up A Quick Buffalo Mac And Cheese

Buffalo chicken wing with cayenne pepper  sauce served hot with celery sticks and carrot sticks with blue cheese dressing for dipping and beer
istetiana – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only

Buffalo sauce is one of the best things ever invented, hands down. Mix in some buffalo sauce to give your mac an interesting twist, and consider throwing in some rotisserie chicken.

You can also sprinkle in ranch seasoning or toss in some blue cheese to tone down the heat.

Treat It Like Tacos

myviewpoint - stock.adobe.com - illustrative purposes only
myviewpoint – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only

Cook up some ground beef and season it with taco seasoning. Drain out the grease, and mix it in with your boxed mac and cheese.

You can add more taco seasoning to the mac or top it with sour cream, guacamole, or salsa. Who doesn’t love tacos?

Treat It Like Carbonara

spaghetti carbonara on a blue plate
Bernd Jürgens – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only

Carbonara is a pasta dish that requires cured pork (pancetta is usually the substitute), eggs, a hard cheese (like Parmigiano Reggiano), salt, and black pepper. While the origin story of the dish is hotly debated, many say it originated in Italy’s Lazio region.

To make your boxed mac and cheese feel like a carbonara, cook your pasta as usual. Next, fry up some pancetta or bacon to add in at the end.

Then, work on your sauce. Get a bowl, crack two eggs in, and then add black pepper, and whisk in your boxed mac and cheese powdered sauce (if it seems too dry, you can always add in a splash of the pasta water). When your pasta is done, drain it and toss it into the sauce, along with the pancetta or bacon. Keep tossing for about a minute, and then serve.

Get Creative With Your Seasonings

Woman eating mac and cheese in her apartmen. Drinks orange juice.
Mediteraneo – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual person

Simply adding in some seasonings, like garlic powder, smoked paprika, or any other seasoning you love, is a low-effort way to add pizzazz. Fresh herbs can also be something to think about.

Go Cajun

Cajun shrimp and sausage penne pasta in a bowl
fahrwasser – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only

If you want to consider a cajun spin, get some andouille sausage, fry that up in a pan, and mix it in with your mac. You can also sprinkle in some cajun seasoning if you want to double down on this flavor profile.

Consider Meat

FomaA - stock.adobe.com - illustrative purposes only
FomaA – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only

Rotisserie chicken, cooked ground beef, or cooked pulled pork are also great options to add in if you want some protein and flavor.

Add In Extra, Freshly Grated Cheese

Heap of Grated pizza cheese close up texture
rokvel – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only

You can never make mac and cheese too cheesy, so if you add in extra, freshly grated cheese, that just ups the wow factor. Gruyere, parmesan, or cheddar are some of my preferred ones.

Consider Some Spice

JHVEPhoto – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only

If you like heat, try sriracha, a little hot sauce, or even red pepper flakes to make it a little more spicy.

Swap Out The Milk

karegg - stock.adobe.com - illustrative purposes only
karegg – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only

Milk is one of the main ingredients for boxed mac and cheese, but if you swap it out for crème fraîche, half-and-half, or heavy cream, that will give you a more luxurious texture.

What’s your favorite way to make boxed mac and cheese feel more gourmet?