Kraft Mac and Cheese is a pantry staple, no matter your age. It is easy to make, it fills you up, it is not too expensive, and it is absolutely delicious. Although some may argue that Kraft Mac and Cheese is perfect on its own, in its salty simplicity, I am going to give you a few ways to spice up your Kraft Mac and Cheese to make it taste even better. Why not make it gourmet with a little bit of variety? There are three main ways to spice up Kraft Mac and Cheese and make it just a little bit more exciting each time.
- Try altering your method of cooking
- Add ingredients to expand the meal
- Add fresh seasonings and spices to enhance the flavor
Altering Your Methods:
I will start by providing a few important tips when cooking any kind of pasta. It is first crucial to always salt the water-generously. Then, it is important that you cook the pasta for a few minutes less than instructed, this is crucial in order to obtain the perfect “al dente” pasta. When making Kraft Mac and Cheese it is advised to always make the sauce separately and then add it to the pasta at the end. The key is to have less butter and more cheese in order to get the best possible cheesy flavor. Is it also important that the pasta is not too liquidy. This means that you should be careful with the amount of milk added. The goal is a thick sauce with a good pasta-to-sauce ratio.
If you have extra time on your hands, bake the Kraft mac and cheese and take it to the next level.
After you finish the instructions on the box of the Kraft mac and cheese, take it one step further by putting it into the oven. Simply place the saucy pasta in an oven-safe baking dish and put it in at 350 degrees for around 30 minutes. Do not overbake it or it will dry out and you will lose the delicious creaminess of the dish. Additionally, you can sprinkle breadcrumbs and shredded cheese on top before you bake it for best results.
If you are feeling really creative, try making Fried Mac and Cheese Balls with your Kraft mac and cheese.
Adding Ingredients & Expanding the Meal:
If you would like to expand the meal and make each bite of your Kraft mac and cheese a little bit more unique and exciting, then try adding a variety of ingredients!
- Add other cheeses
- Fresh grated parmesan
- Gruyere
- Shredded cheddar
- Mozzarella
- Fontina
Learn more about Fontina here: 5 Foods that Go Great with Fontina Cheese
- Add veggies
- Broccoli
- Peas
- Spinach
- Artichoke
- Mushrooms
To master your mushrooms see: 7 Best Shimeji Mushroom Recipes that Will Knock You Off Your Feet
- Add protein
- Bacon
- Ham
- Lobster
- Pulled pork
- Sausage
- Tofu
You can even try adding or substituting different pastas!
You can mix any other pasta with the Kraft macaroni for some variation and a heartier meal.
Try:
- More macaroni
- Spaghetti
- Penne
- Farfalle
- Rigatoni
- Fusilli
Adding Seasonings & Enhancing the Flavor:
Now for the most exciting part…how can you enhance the flavor and really spice this Kraft mac and cheese up!?
1. Make it Spicy
Try adding hot sauces like Sriracha, Franks Hot, or Tabasco. Fresh Jalapeños, chili oil, or chili flakes can also be great options to give it a little heat.
2. Add herbs and Italian seasonings. Try any variation of thyme, rosemary, sage, basil, oregano, or parsley.
3. Put in some sautéed garlic. You can never go wrong with lots of garlic.
4. Add truffle oil or any kind of truffle seasoning. This automatically makes anything more gourmet.
5. Mix in pesto or tomato sauce. This adds another flavor and makes it even saucier.
6. Crack in a fresh egg. This is a very classic Italian move to enhance the flavor.
You can’t go wrong with any of these options to spice up Kraft Mac and Cheese. Follow any of these easy steps to turn a family favorite dish into something gourmet….and have fun with it!
Check out Kraft mac and cheese Deluxe to see which variations of flavors are already being sold.
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