Name: Boxed Mac and Cheese Upgrade
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 box mac & cheese, your favorite; 1/4 lemon, juiced, or more to taste; 2 tablespoons butter, or more to taste; cracked black pepper; flaky salt (e.g., maldon)

Boxed Mac and Cheese Upgrade

This boxed mac & cheese upgrade, with a squeeze of lemon, cracked black pepper, and flaky salt, is not one bit more difficult, but really enhances the flavor.

20 min total 5 min prep 15 min cook 1350 cal

Ingredients

1 box mac & cheese, your favorite
1/4 lemon, juiced, or more to taste
2 tablespoons butter, or more to taste
cracked black pepper
flaky salt (e.g., maldon)

Instructions

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1 Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add macaroni and cook for 1 minute less than package instructions for al dente.
2 Meanwhile, scoop out 1/2 cup pasta water and set aside. Drain macaroni and return to the pot.
3 Add butter (up to 3 tablespoons), the cheese packet, and about 2 tablespoons reserved pasta water.
4 Stir constantly over medium heat. Continue to add pasta water slowly until cheese is incorporated and the sauce is a glossy consistency. Stir in lemon juice; remove from heat.
5 Plate your serving, top with an additional squeeze of lemon, a few cranks of fresh cracked black pepper and a sprinkle of flaky salt. Enjoy!