My husband, Jake, and I have become quite the connoisseurs of boxed mac and cheese. Since we’re remote workers, it’s unsurprising that this humble dish has become a staple for us at home, but it can be a bit bland and uninspiring.
So, for our work-from-home lunches, we’ve experimented with countless ingredient additions to jazz this dish up—we’ve tried everything from mustard to panko—but time and again, we circle back to one simple yet magical ingredient that never fails to elevate our boxed mac and cheese: salted butter.
This ingredient adds much-needed salinity and a richer taste, but it’s not just about tossing in a pat of salted butter and calling it good. There’s a technique to our madness.
How To Make Boxed Mac and Cheese Better
Melt about one tablespoon of salted butter in a saucepan. Once melted (and you can even let the butter brown for extra flavor), mix in the cooked and strained macaroni. Then, per the box’s instructions, coat the macaroni in cheese powder or sauce before dropping in another tablespoon of salted butter. Let the butter melt and cling to the mac and cheese.
The key is, and don’t neglect this, to continue cooking the mac until the cheese sauce reduces and thickens, about five minutes over medium heat with constant stirring, achieving that lusciously rich consistency akin to what you’d get in a fine restaurant’s mac and cheese.
To see if your cheese sauce has thickened enough, drag a spoon across the bottom of the pan. It should leave a trail that doesn’t fill in quickly. Of course, you can always reduce the cheese sauce to your desired consistency.
And now, what was once goopy, runny, and bland is gourmet.
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My Favorite Mac and Cheese and Butter Brands
This easy salted butter trick works wonders for any boxed mac and cheese, so feel free to use your favorite brand. I do feel high-quality and better-tasting brands will give you more delicious results.
If you share my love for white cheddar, then Annie’s Shells & White Cheddar should be right up your alley. If not, Annie’s Homegrown offers an extensive range of options for adults and children, complete with organic pasta and aged cheddar cheese. I’ve grown fond of this brand as I made a lot of Annie’s food for my son, Phil, when he was a toddler.
As for what salted butter to use, I lean towards brands like Vital Farms Sea Salted Butter or Tillamook’s Sea Salted Extra Creamy Butter, both known for their rich, sea-salted flavor.
More Easy Upgrades for Mac and Cheese
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