The Clever Boxed Mac and Cheese Trick We Wish We Knew About Sooner

Homemade mac and cheese is a food that has warm, hearty comfort written all over it. But life moves at the speed of light and we don't always have time to make a mac and cheese scratch, which is why boxed mac and cheese is such a godsend. The humble grocery staple is great on its own and it can be made better when you add in some extra ingredients to give it a little more flavor.

We recently read about a boxed mac and cheese recipe from our friends at allrecipes that we knew had to try: French onion mac and cheese. This easy spin is so simple but it's going to be a favorite around our house!

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The Hack That Elevates Boxed Mac and Cheese

To make it, all you have to do is boil the pasta according to the package directions. But when you get to the part where you add milk and/or butter? Don't. Instead, mix in ¼ cup of sour cream and half of the provided cheese packet. Add in two tablespoons of French onion soup mix, blending it all carefully so it's not too salty. If it's not salty enough for you, add a bit more soup mix. If it's not cheesy enough, add more powdered cheese. If the sauce gets too thick, add a splash of milk.

The sour cream gives the mac and cheese a little bit of tanginess and a lot of creaminess and that French onion soup mix brings a savory oniony flavor to everything it touches, including the classic dip and burgers , so it's no surprise it works with mac and cheese too.

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Other Ways to Make Boxed Mac and Cheese 10x Better

If you want to make it an entire meal, you can add in some bacon bits or veggies, too. Roasted or steamed broccoli or cauliflower are great, but so are frozen peas . You can also stir in some shredded cheese for a richer flavor— cheddar , gouda, or Parmesan would all be great. Keep these simple tricks in your back pocket for when you need a quick comfort meal that feels like you spent hours on it (but didn't).

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