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17 macaroni hacks shown with a creamy bowl of macaroni and cheese topped with crispy breadcrumbs, herbs, and spices.
Linda

17 Macaroni Hacks That Upgrade Any Bowl

These easy macaroni hacks turn boxed mac and cheese or plain elbow pasta into a creamier, richer, more flavorful meal using simple upgrades like brown butter, shredded cheese, cream cheese, pasta water, spices, protein add-ins, and crispy panko topping.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 bowls
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 390
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Base Macaroni
  • 1 box boxed macaroni and cheese Kraft or your favorite boxed mac
  • 2 tbsp butter brown it for a richer, nutty flavor
  • 1/4 cup milk or evaporated milk evaporated milk makes the sauce creamier
  • 2 tbsp reserved pasta water add more as needed for a glossy sauce
Creamy Cheese Upgrades
  • 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese or smoked gouda, gruyère, fontina, or white cheddar
  • 1 tbsp cream cheese or sour cream for a silkier sauce
Flavor Boosters
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
  • 3 drops hot sauce or to taste
  • 1 pinch black pepper optional
Optional Protein Add-ins
  • 1 can tuna drained, optional
  • 1 cup rotisserie chicken shredded, optional
  • 1/2 cup cooked ground beef or smoked sausage optional
Crispy Baked Topping
  • 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 tbsp melted butter for the panko topping
  • 2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese optional

Equipment

  • medium saucepan
  • Colander
  • wooden spoon or spatula
  • Small skillet
  • Baking Dish

Method
 

  1. Cook the macaroni: Boil the pasta from the boxed macaroni according to the package directions. Before draining, reserve about 1/4 cup of the starchy pasta cooking water.
  2. Brown the butter: In the same warm pan, melt the butter over medium heat and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, swirling occasionally, until it smells nutty and small golden-brown bits appear.
  3. Build the sauce: Add the drained macaroni back to the pan with the cheese powder, milk or evaporated milk, cream cheese or sour cream, and 2 tablespoons of reserved pasta water. Stir over low heat until smooth and creamy.
  4. Add extra cheese: Stir in the shredded cheddar, smoked gouda, gruyère, or fontina until fully melted. Add another splash of pasta water if the sauce looks too thick.
  5. Season it: Stir in garlic powder, smoked paprika, hot sauce, and black pepper. Taste and adjust carefully, especially if using a salty boxed cheese packet.
  6. Make it a full meal: Fold in drained tuna, shredded rotisserie chicken, cooked ground beef, crispy bacon, hot dogs, or smoked sausage if desired.
  7. Optional baked finish: Transfer the mac to a small baking dish. Mix panko breadcrumbs with melted butter and parmesan, scatter over the top, and broil for 3 to 5 minutes until golden and crisp.
  8. Serve: Serve hot while the sauce is glossy and creamy. Add sliced green onions, extra black pepper, or more hot sauce if you like.

Notes

For the creamiest boxed mac, use evaporated milk instead of regular milk and stir the sauce over low heat. For a low-sodium version, use half the cheese powder packet and build flavor with garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and black pepper. For a dairy-free version, use cashew cream with nutritional yeast instead of the boxed cheese sauce.