Swirl Marinara Sauce into Your Mac and Cheese

For those nights when you find yourself torn between a bowl of macaroni and cheese and a bowl of spaghetti, know that you can have both. Go right ahead and swirl some of your favorite marinara sauce into your mac and cheese for your sauciest bowl yet!

Marinara sauce, with its garlic- and tomato-forward flavor, can completely transform your macaroni and cheese. It’s a simple addition that takes no effort — especially if you reach for the half-full jar stashed in the fridge. Suddenly what you have is macaroni and cheesy tomato sauce, which is sometimes all you could ever want.

Open your favorite jar of marinara sauce while you go about making a box of instant mac and cheese. Once you’ve tossed the cooked pasta with the cheese sauce, go ahead and add a few big spoonfuls of marinara sauce and give it few more tosses. Serve it in bowls, preferably finished with grated Parmesan cheese.

A box of instant macaroni and cheese is a blank slate for a quick and easy, but more importantly, family-friendly lunch or dinner. With the help of well-loved pantry staples, you can whip up some cheesy mac that’s bigger in flavor, texture, and satisfaction. This series gives you the inspiration to dig through your kitchen and discover single ingredients that will transform your bowl.