8 hacks to take boxed mac and cheese to the next level

Deep-fried mac and cheese balls have become a popular party staple, and they're easier to make than you might think. 

This recipe from No Recipe uses leftover mac and cheese and coats it in panko breadcrumbs for a crispy exterior.

This recipe comes straight from Kraft Heinz. It calls for boxed macaroni and cheese, chopped pepperoni, tomato ketchup, dried oregano, and garlic powder.

The hack adds a little extra protein and flavor to the dish. 

Food.com suggests adding cheddar cheese, sour cream, and ground pepper to a prepared boxed of mac and cheese. The dish is finished off by adding even more cheddar cheese and a butter-cracker crust before baking it in the oven for a crispy exterior.

Spice up your mac and cheese game with this Food Network recipe that combines mac and cheese with Buffalo chicken for a spicy, decadent meal. 

Although this specific recipe calls for mac and cheese made from scratch, you can easily swap it out for the boxed version.

Just mix together Buffalo wing sauce, cubed chicken, and crumbled blue cheese with your mac and cheese.

If you're looking for something really simple, Taste of Home magazine has a great hack to make mac and cheese more filling.

Simply add some canned tuna to a prepared batch of boxed mac and cheese for added protein and flavor. It'll make your pasta taste like a simple tuna casserole. 

These mac and cheese "muffins" make it possible to take your favorite dish on the go. 

Betty Crocker shared this recipe that requires mac and cheese made from scratch, but you can swap out those ingredients for a prepared box of mac and cheese. Then, just add the breadcrumbs, and follow the baking instructions for these cheesy "muffins."

You can combine leftover chili with a box of mac and cheese to revamp and elevate both dishes.

If you don't have chili on hand, you can purchase it in a can or follow this one-pot chili recipe from Delish.

There are a few different ways you can incorporate squash into your boxed mac and cheese.

You can purée it and add it as a second, creamy sauce, or you can add roasted cubes of squash to the prepared mac and cheese, like this recipe from food blog A Side of Sweet suggests. 

Topping it with herbs like sage or basil can take the dish to the next level.

Read more:

• We tried mac and cheese from 4 different fast-food chains ― and the winner was also the cheapest option
• Canned mac and cheese is apparently a thing and people aren't sure what to think
• 14 instant ramen hacks that will make it taste even better
• 15 healthier alternatives to your favorite comfort foods