One-Up the Typical Box Mac & Cheese

 

Happy Friday everyone!  Hope y'all all are doing well!  So we all know that mac and cheese is delicious, right?  Yes.  It's also a great quick and easy dinner if you're running late or just want something cheesy for dinner.  Yet, it's not very healthy.  I mean you don't get your veggies or your meat in it.  So, here are some ways to make it healthier (and one that's not so healthy, but....😅)!  Hope you enjoy:) Here are a few ways to make that box of Mac taste that much better!

Note: For all these dishes we can use either regular powder box mac and cheese or the deluxe (or you can make your own, but that would go against the "easy" depending on how much time you have XD)

Peas and Tuna Macaroni 

So the first one was something we used to do all the time when I was a kid!  It is a very good dish!  
All you have to do is cook your macaroni to your preferences ( I prefer mine al dente--raw to some of my readers XD).  Then drain your macaroni.
For Powder:
Do not follow the directions on the back of the box.  Instead... pour the powder directly into the macaroni and mix.  You might need to add a little butter.  Then, add just a tad bit of milk.  Like maybe 1/8-1/4 of a cup (I just eyeball to taste).  Then take your peas and drain them and rinse them! RINSE THOSE PEAS!  It'll get that canned flavor off.  Then get your tuna and drain the juice out, and do not rinse the tuna.  Then, just add both of those to the pan and mix well.  Add more milk if needed and season to taste.  Dish it up and serve!  It's a great one-pot meal that looks great and tastes great too!  

For Deluxe:
You do the same thing except you add the deluxe packet to the cooked macaroni and mix well.  You do everything the same way except you might need to add a little milk just because the peas and tuna will kinda soak up the juices.  then season to taste and serve!  
ENJOY:)

Mixed Up Macaroni

Ok.  This dish isn't one pot, it's two.  But it's still pretty simple and has become my new favorite way to make mac and cheese!  You do the same thing for both powder and deluxe. I personally think it tastes better with deluxe, but you can do either!  

Ingredient List:
Mac and Cheese (obviously lol)
Tomatoes (diced and sliced)
Milk
Hot Dogs or turkey
Salt
Pepper
All Seasons Salt
Garlic
Paprika
Chives
Parsley
Basil (optional)

Directions:

Cook the macaroni the way you like it
In a separate pan heat up the cheese with a little milk.  Add the tomatoes, turkey or hot dogs, and seasonings and mix until it just starts to get hot or boil.  
Drain the macaroni and add butter.  
Then, add the mixture you made to the noodles.
Serve!
It only takes about 10 extra minutes to do this dish and it is SOOO good!  

Macaroni Helper 

This dish takes a little longer than the last one, but it tastes so good, and depending on how many boxes you use it can make up to 10 servings!  

To start you cook your macaroni and cheese (either deluxe or powder, either will work) and add cooked ground beef to the dish.  For 2 boxes we use 2 lbs (we like a lot of meat XD) but you can use however much meat you want.  Once you get that mixed in add 1/2 a block of cream cheese (for creaminess) and paprika and chives.  Stir and serve!  You might need to salt this to taste, or you might think the beef adds enough saltiness :)

So there you have it!  Those are three ways to make the best macaroni and cheese ever!!  I hope you will give one of these recipes a shot!  Have a great weekend y'all!

Trust Christ, Follow Him, and He will Lead the Way!! ~Charity/Soaring Hummingbird