Boxed mac and cheese comes in handy when you need a quick meal, but if you think it could do with more pizazz, reach for another pantry staple: French onion soup mix.

Combining the cheesy noodles with the savory seasonings is hard to beat. Cook and drain the pasta, then add the other ingredients according to the package instructions.

Sprinkle in a couple of tablespoons of French onion mix and about half of the cheese powder that came with your mac, and stir to combine.

Add more cheese powder until you get the consistency right. The combo is delicious as-is, but you can add other mix-ins like Worcestershire sauce and milk for a bigger upgrade.