Make Boxed Mac And Cheese 10x More Delicious With A Packet Of This Seasoning

As if boxed mac and cheese weren't already a comforting pleasure for kids and adults alike, it's also a superb foundation for hacking with extra ingredients. Did you know, for instance, that you can stir a can of baked beans into your pasta for a protein-rich spin on chili mac? We recently were inspired by social media to cross that classic blue box of mac and cheese with a packet of taco seasoning for a TexMex dish that's a little spicy, a little cheesy, and very craveable.

As seen on Reddit, Facebook, and TikTok, home cooks are discovering the ease and deliciousness of mixing taco seasoning into their boxed mac. They sometimes get creative with extra ingredients that can make the dish special — more on that in a minute — but we love how just one packet can transform your mundane pasta. Taco seasoning usually consists of (mild) chilis, cumin, aromatics, and other spices, and all those elements pair fantastically with the zingy, creamy cheese that you find in boxed macaroni and cheese.

Pairing mac with a spicy pantry staple isn't a new idea, which you know if you've read about adding canned Buffalo-style cream of chicken soup to your pasta. On busy weeknights, many home cooks are looking for flavorful dinnertime solutions using ingredients they already have on hand. Generally, households already keep a couple packets of taco seasoning in the drawer, making this mac and cheese upgrade a doable, low-cost enhancement to your meals. Keep in mind that taco seasoning is usually added to water, so you will have to stir some liquid into your mac to facilitate the powder dissolving.

To turn basic macaroni and cheese into a main dish worthy of filling bellies, we suggest beefing up your pasta ... quite literally! Multiple recipes for "taco mac and cheese" pair that Taco Tuesday mainstay, ground beef, with their box(es) of mac. Of course, you could utilize ground sausage or chicken as well. Just brown your meat, mix in taco seasoning and liquid, and prepare your mac as usual. When you combine everything, you have a Hamburger Helper analog that's bursting with big flavor. This is a family-friendly dinner that makes many picky eaters happy while providing a healthy pop of protein. 

Of course, you needn't stop there when it comes to turning your bowl of mac and cheese into a taco-riffic dinner. Take a page from your favorite tacos — that would be Mexican tacos and not French tacos, which are more like a grilled flatbread – and stir in some pinto beans, shredded cheese, sour cream, and/or Rotel. Garnish your bowl with creamy avocado slices, charred sweet corn, crispy tortilla strips, salsa, or crema. You could even make the basic taco mac and set out toppings so that all your loved ones can adorn their individual servings how they see fit, turning taco night into fully loaded taco mac and cheese night!