The Creamy Ingredient You Should Add To Mac And Cheese For Intense Flavor

As the star of American comfort food, it's no surprise that mac and cheese takes on abundant renditions. Whether it's using a seasoning to elevate boxed noodles or crafting a nostalgic recreation of old-timey Poole's diner mac and cheese, the dish is open to many unique twists. So if you're looking for an easy way to enhance flavor and the creaminess in one go, add in a package of Boursin.

The French brand is known for producing soft and crumbly cheeses, flavored with herbs, garlic, and other ingredients. They come in rounded foil packages around five ounces in size, making them easy to unwrap and spread. Such a composition also benefits mac and cheese creation — simply add an entire package for a decadent dash of dairy.

Best of all, incorporating Boursin into mac and cheese recipes is a breeze. Once the roux's assembled, you'll just need to stir in the Boursin alongside cream, and firmer cheese like cheddar or jack. After only a few minutes, the mixture will dissolve, ready to cover the pasta with a delightful gooeyness. All the while, Boursin's unique flavors will shine through, defining the mac and cheese's palate.

While a touch more savory, Boursin is reminiscent of cream cheese — another dairy often incorporated into mac and cheese recipes. So approach the dish with equal malleability. You could use Boursin to make creamier boxed mac and cheese, crafting a surprisingly flavorful version with only ready-made ingredients. Or use the cheese in a casserole-like version of the dish, finishing with a top layer of melted cheese and crispy breadcrumbs.

And feel free to pair other ingredients with Boursin, too. For instance, the brand's black truffle sea salt cheese could blend into a garlic mushroom mac and cheese recipe, while the caramelized onion and herb Boursin can augment gruyere to craft a French Onion soup-style mac and cheese. You could even use the zestier notes of the shallot and chive Boursin in a tuna mac and cheese rendition — the creaminess works well to bind the dish together. After all, Boursin makes for a surprisingly versatile culinary ingredient, shining in easy weeknight pasta sauces, as a fried appetizer, and a pastry filling, so don't underrate its mac and cheese potential as well.