Main Points
- Enhancing boxed mac and cheese with tuna is delicious and adds nutritional value.
- While water-packed, chunk light tuna is our preference, any type will suffice.
- Simply mix the drained tuna with the cheese sauce and blend it into the cooked pasta.
It’s no secret that boxed macaroni and cheese is already nearly perfect. It delivers a comforting bowl of cheesy goodness in roughly ten minutes from start to finish. What else could you possibly ask for?
However, an extra dose of nutrients wouldn’t hurt.
While boxed mac and cheese is a nostalgic comfort food, it’s nourishing in a different sense. Today, the market is flooded with “healthier” boxed mac and cheese options touting various nutritional benefits. However, these alternatives are not always readily available and can be more expensive than the traditional varieties. Therefore, I often fall back on a classic method to make it a more substantial dish.
Incorporating a can of tuna into your macaroni and cheese has been a staple in my kitchen since childhood. It was a simple way for my mother to make a more complete meal. Raising four children as a single parent, she needed all the help she could get to quickly prepare nutritious meals.
Why Tuna is an Excellent Addition to Mac and Cheese
Tuna is budget-friendly, long-lasting in your pantry, and doesn’t require additional cooking. It’s tasty, straightforward to use, and keeps things simple. Using just a box of mac and cheese and a can of tuna is not about cutting corners; it’s about appreciating the value of simplicity.
This kitchen hack continued to serve me well into adulthood. As a young adult with limited funds, it provided a reliable source of comfort during uncertain times. Now, as a parent myself, it’s something I prepare for my children and, I’ll admit, for myself too, especially as a quick lunch while working from home.
This concept isn’t revolutionary, nor do I claim to have invented it. But sometimes, we all need a reminder that simple solutions are often right in front of us.
Choosing the Best Tuna for Boxed Mac and Cheese
The choice of tuna mostly comes down to personal preference. I usually opt for water-packed or tuna in its own juice for this dish, saving oil-packed varieties for salads and sandwiches. If oil-packed tuna is all you have, consider using less butter in your recipe.
You can use either solid white or chunk light tuna in your mac and cheese. Personally, I prefer chunk light tuna for its flaky texture and how well it integrates with the soft pasta, but any canned tuna you have will do the job.
How to Incorporate Canned Tuna into Boxed Mac and Cheese
The process is straightforward. Start by boiling the pasta as directed on the package. Drain a can of tuna and set it aside. Once the pasta is cooked and drained, return it to the pot with some melted butter and a splash of milk. Add the cheese from the packet and the drained tuna, stirring everything together until well mixed.
Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
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Riley Morgan simplifies health and wellness topics, providing readers with practical advice and insights. Dedicated to empowering others, Riley covers everything from mental health to medical breakthroughs.
