Boost Your Boxed Mac And Cheese With An Iconic Instant Product

Boxed macaroni and cheese is a classic, easy home meal. It doesn't matter how old you are: anyone can enjoy a plateful of creamy, cheesy goodness without a ton of work thanks to this nostalgic childhood staple food. But as good as macaroni and cheese is, we've got to admit that it can be better. Another quick meal can take your mac and cheese from good to great.

Shin Ramyun is a beloved instant ramen brand that provides quick and easy pasta just like boxed mac and cheese. Even better, bringing these two together is supremely easy. Use Shin Ramyun  (or another favorite brand) to elevate your meal by adding in the seasoning packet once the macaroni is cooked and you're in the midst of mixing together the cheese sauce. It's a genius way to both use leftover ramen seasoning packets and spice up your mac and cheese dinner at the same time. If you like, you can also cook the ramen noodles themselves and combine both meals for a doubly delicious pasta dish.

It should come as no surprise that two types of instant noodles complement each other, even if they have very different flavor profiles. Try using the seasoning from your go-to Shin Ramyun flavor or, if you're feeling more adventurous, experiment with more add-ins to create your new favorite pasta dish.

Of course, ramen seasoning is far from the only way to take your mac and cheese dinner to the next level. One creamy ingredient that can make boxed mac and cheese shine is cream cheese, which adds a wonderful thickness and a sweet, tangy flavor that will make you wonder why you didn't try it sooner. Just as you do with the ramen seasoning, mix in a dollop of cream cheese with the sauce. Other ingredients to mix into your next pot of nostalgia include bacon bits or different cheeses and even unexpected things like canned tomato soup to upgrade mac and cheese with savory flavor.

And new ingredients aren't the only way to improve your meal. You can make mac and cheese even easier to prepare by using things like an Instant Pot or rice cooker to cook the pasta. While they're not typically used for it, both are no less capable of preparing the macaroni for your cheese, which is great for kids who aren't ready to work a stovetop or adults busy wrangling them.

Boxed macaroni and cheese is a simple, easy meal that's fed hungry kids (and adults) for decades. That simplicity only makes it easier to customize and improve upon. The next time you break out a box, try experimenting with new ingredients to see if you can't make your childhood favorite even better.