Do you ever add things to a boxed product?

[ItsAllGoneToTheDogs]

wife adds garlic to everything, if I'm doing boxed stuff it's because I'm in lazy mode so I generally just leave it alone.

[BKYDBBQ]

I often add sauteed onions and celery (sometimes mushrooms) to Rice a Roni and Knorr rice mixes. The Rice a Roni Four Cheese often will get chicken or shrimp added to it as well.

The Zattarains Jambalaya gets the sauteed onions and celery along with smoked sausage and shrimp.

Bush's beans and hot dogs for the win.

[Mosca]

First thing I thought was, “Sure!” And then I tried to remember the last time I used a boxed or jarred product, and I couldn’t think of when. I guess I made ramen recently. I add butter, Parmesan, etc to that. Garlic &onions, mushrooms, sometimes peppers.

[Johnny Booth]

Cutting waaaay back on processed foods, boxes, bags, and most things like that.
However, we were always doctoring whatever used to come out of a can or box.
Now that we have the time, we try to make our own stuff from scratch whenever we can.

[dubob]

Well duh - doesn't everybody? Ya gotta do SOMETHING to liven 'em up. 😉

[Oak Smoke]

We are getting lazy in our old age. We keep Walmart or HEB frozen pizzas in the freezer at all times. When we get one out it gets all kinds of new stuff added to it. More cheese, Italian sausage, pepperoni, sauce, bell pepper, or onions are common additions. We end up with one of those pies with a ton of good stuff on it and very little labor involved.

[Hulagn1971]

Frozen pizza are our go-to meal during a busy work week. Always add extra toppings.

[HawkerXP]

+1

[jfmorris]

RonB I hear you on the coworker who cooked the recipe - but didn't actually follow it! I hate it when I read negative reviews online for recipes, and a lot of the time, the folks complaining state right up front how they made the recipe BUT changed stuff or omitted stuff, and then didn't like how it came out.

I always follow a recipe to the letter at least once before I consider "doctoring" things up.

And yes to doctoring up things - my wife grew up eating Kraft spaghetti from a boxed kit, and she loves that stuff for nostalgic reasons. BUT we have to add a pound of browned ground beef or ground turkey to the little kit. The kit just calls for a 6 oz can of tomato paste - we add double the meat the back of the box says to use for a meat sauce version. I also doctored up just about every frozen grocery store pizza I ever baked, with additional cheese and toppings.

[Richard Chrz]

We used to add to Zatarains and other, I think Dr. ing up a meal it is one of the first steps in becoming a home cook. Eventually it led to making my own rice, my own beans, etc..

[TripleB]

Canned soups are what I doctor up a bit:

1. Quick clam chowder. 1 can of ready to eat clam chowder, 1 can of chopped clams, 1 can of Campbell’s chicken gumbo and a sprinkle of beau monde seasoning and fresh ground pepper.
2. Chicken n’ rice or noodle soup. 1 can condensed Campbell’s chicken noodle or rice soup + adding water. 1 can chicken broth. Some cut up rotisserie chicken. Fresh dill. Seasoned with salt/pepper.
3. Make a quick spaghetti with clams with canned whole cockles, garlic, parsley, wine, butter and red pepper flakes.

[bbqLuv]

A long, long time ago, we would add ground beef for Kraft Mac and cheese. The first hamburger helper

[Spinaker]

Once again, ahead of your time!

[Skip]

I often add Protein and Extra Vegetables, etc to Bear Creek Soup Mixes..

https://bearcreekcountrykitchens.com/products/

[fzxdoc]

I never not add one or more ingredients to any box mix or prepared sauce. I don't use them often, though.

That said, I'm picking up some good ideas here for "cheater meals" as JCBBQ calls them. I might slide on down that slippery slope of using prepared mixes after reading this topic.😈

Kathryn

[bbqLuv]

I have a friend who swears by adding to can of chili to prepared box of mac and cheese.

[bbqLuv]

Does adding Ketchup to mac and cheese count? if so, I'm down with that.

[dubob]

O M G! WHY would you want to ruin perfectly good mac & cheese?

[SheilaAnn]

Imma fixin’ to report you! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[Spinaker]

Oh no.......I knew this was gonna be here.

I know, I know.......its not my kitchen..........

[Murdy]

We add pork sausage to Stove Top stuffing sometimes.

[SheilaAnn]

I used to, too! But no more stove top.