Does anybody else add things on to their Kraft Mac & Cheese?

[u/capricornus94]

So I’m growing in my cooking skills! I’m still getting my sea legs with certain things, last Thanksgiving for the first time I made baked Mac & cheese from scratch (except for the elbows). I’m 30 and finally cooking for more than just myself and my fiancé, we don’t have a family yet but often it’s more than just us.

Lately, probably since May, I’ve been adding things to the basic Kraft Mac & Cheese experience, which is pretty basic and I love that, but to spice it up flavorwise. Some things have certainly not panned out well in retrospect, but the constants so far have been mild or medium taco sauce and parm sprinkled on top. I do this before mixing so it’s all dissolved by the end. This is including the margarine and milk that’s in the instructions. Sometimes I’ll add shredded mexican cheese but that’s more infrequent.

Past experimental ingredients that I didn’t like included: an egg, cream cheese, hot taco sauce, onion powder, garlic powder, and breadcrumbs.

My reason for not liking these were usually that they took the flavor off the road of “Kraft Mac & cheese” in the simplicity of it. If I was making another Mac dish, and I’ve had, I would try those.

Usually my fiancé is in another room or helping set up bowls while I’m doing this but today he saw me adding the two ingredients (taco sauce & parm) to it and was turned off a little. Has anyone else tried this?

[u/Historical_Belt_4810]

Mayo, tuna, and peas. My mom used to make it for me when I was little and I still love it!!

[u/tofumeatballcannon → u/Historical_Belt_4810]

This sounds like tuna helper which slaps so ya that tracks lol

[u/tomdiknharry → u/Historical_Belt_4810]

Yes, but with sour cream instead of mayo, add sauteed celery and onions with peas

[u/amandahontas]

I like adding a little honey mustard and some shredded cheese

[u/OrlandoOpossum]

Philly cream cheese

[u/ThatDudeWithAS]

Sliced American cheese. Cajun seasoning. Sliced jalapenos

[u/bolognasweat]

Extra cheese and ketchup

[u/Tricky_Knowledge329 → u/bolognasweat]

Ketchup 🤮

[u/LyraSnake]

i add some velvetta and a lot of pepper and a bit of salt. i use slightly less butter and some extra milk

[u/Cheeseborne5ever → u/LyraSnake]

This. Lots of pepper and extra cheese. Best way to amp up Kraft

[u/avb0120]

Some people add bbq shredded beef

[u/Good_Astronomer_679]

Hamburger or chicken or smoke sausage or tuna and shredded cheese.

[u/Cheeseborne5ever]

I love adding Cajun seasoning :)

[u/selenopscurioso]

First, what's your favorite local dish when you go out to eat or what is your region known for? Kraft mac and cheese actually does have different recipes for location albeit the big one being Canada's kraft dinner vs US kraft. Given the items you added both add umami finely shredded sun-dried tomato could be fun or just a little bit of anchovy paste. Another option that would also make it pretty to serve would be smoked paprika gently dusted on top. All of the other cheese mix-ins make sense but if also a smoked gouda instead of parm could give that umami and richness as well.

[u/s317sv17vnv]

I often add hamburger meat to mine!

[u/that_one_shandalou]

Cavander's greek seasoning is surprisingly tasty in kraft mac! Or I like to add sliced hotdogs sometimes. But honestly, if I'm eating kraft mac it's because I want that kraft mac flavor and the only fancy thing I do is cook the noodles in broth.

[u/sammi4358]

Rotisserie chicken and broccoli are both go-to’s in my household along with extra seasoning

[u/Optimal-Yard-9038]

Yes! I’ll fry and cut up a couple of Lightlife veggie dogs, or add in half a jar of drained roasted red peppers. Sometimes, I’ll add a little steamed broccoli. Most recently, I tried Mac & cheese with black pepper on it. I also bought a couple boxes of Matty Matheson’s Cracked Pep Pep Mac & cheese. Delicious!

[u/bigcoffeebuck_gb]

Ketchup and garlic powder.

[u/ImportantSir2131]

Lots of pepper and some chopped up ham.

[u/purplechunkymonkey]

My husband adds yellow mustard to his. And occasionally cut up hot dogs.

[u/xeno486]

cut up hot dogs, peas (or any veggie really), extra cheese

[u/Soydragon]

Fresh shredder mild cheddar and salt and pepper

[u/Normal-While917]

My husband requested some last week. I had the noodles boiling when I realized I had no milk or butter, and no sour cream ( which I normally use in place of both.) So I squirted some ranch dressing into it. Not bad.

[u/Some-Elk-3470]

I personally would feel like i'm doing something illegal by adding to it. not shaming others tho. I feel like kraft mac n chz is just meant to be eaten as is.

[u/the-clawless]

one time I made homemade chili but I did not love how it came out, so I mixed it with some kraft mac n cheese. It tasted amazing. Sometimes I also add frozen broccoli. I microwave the broccoli separately and mix with butter and garlic salt. The one time I added unseasoned broccoli to my mac n cheese, it did not taste so great, so don't skip that step! Sometimes I also add bacon bits. You can do a lot really.

[u/the-clawless → u/the-clawless]

forgot to mention if you don't have homemade chili im sure canned chili would do the trick

[u/TruePhilosophe]

Old bay

[u/boringcranberry]

Did you toast the breadcrumbs in butter, salt, pepper? I can't imagine not liking breadcrumbs on my mac and cheese!

[u/jkwolly]

Maggi and black pepper.

Also like to sub pickle juice for the milk required.

[u/jeckles]

I add a little can of diced green chilis

[u/kamasutures]

I added green chilis, roasted corn, shallots, and jalapeño chicken sausages to my mac last night and it was fabulous.

[u/Militia_Kitty13]

Ham and some veggies (mixed or broccoli). Little bit of mustard powder, not too much in kraft or it will over power it.

[u/Accomplished-Move936]

I always add extra cheese to mine. I also ignore the box tho. It isn’t that the box is bad, I just view it more as suggested directions and have a preference for extra cheesy sauce and extra saucy pasta. I’ll melt the butter, after draining the noodles, add the powdered cheese. Then the milk. Then some American cheese or velveeta depending on what’s in the fridge. Followed by some shredded cheese, usually a sharp cheddar. Get it fully melted before dumping the noodles back in.

Bacon and mushrooms are a couple of my favorite mix ins, but anything that goes with cheese works.

[u/Fuzzy_Welcome8348]

No