The Korean Way to Make Kraft Mac and Cheese 10x Better

I moved to the U.S. from South Korea when I was four, so I was late to classic American grocery store foods. I think I was a freshman in college when I had my first packet of instant oatmeal, 14 when I saw a Hostess Twinkie in person and in my 20s when I bought my first tub of cottage cheese. So it may not shock you when I say I didn't really grow up eating boxed mac and cheese. Honestly, the first time I had it, Kraft Mac N Cheese was rather disappointing.

Related: Instant Ramen Seasoning Scrambled Eggs

But who knows how my child brain imagined the neon orange noodles advertised during my Saturday morning cartoons to taste? Not bland, kinda clumpy, and lacking the savory edge I was so used to in Korean food, that's for sure. That said, I sometimes reach for Kraft Mac and Cheese when I don't want to do a full grocery shop and/or I have nothing else for dinner.

So when I saw a genius mac and cheese plus Korean ramyun hack from TikTok content creator @instantnoodls (aka The Ramen Guy), I was elated. This fusion of two instant products is proof that Korean flavors can turn the most boring American food products into something sparkly, new and so good. To make a better batch of Kraft Mac and Cheese, combine it with a packet of instant Shin Ramyun.

Related: The Secrets to Perfectly Cooked Instant Ramen Noodles

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What is Shin Ramyun?

Shin Ramyun, an instant noodle product that originated in South Korea, combines chewy slurp-able noodles with a spicy beef and vegetable-flavored broth soup. Shin Ramyun is the most popular instant noodle brand to come out of South Korea, and it's now beloved worldwide. This was my equivalent to Kraft Mac and Cheese growing up and it was the first thing I ever learned to cook!

Why You Should Mix Kraft Mac and Cheese with Shin Ramyun

The savory Shin Ramyun broth perfectly complements the creamy richness of Kraft Mac and Cheese, creating a bold and flavorful fusion dish. The chewy ramen noodles add a fun textural pop to the soft macaroni, and vice versa. But what really makes this hack special is the combination of the spicy soup and the salty cheese powder. It's similar to the genius dish that is spicy vodka pasta sauce or why hot sauce on cheese pizza is a classic move.

Related: The Clever Boxed Mac and Cheese Trick We Wish We Knew About Sooner

How to Make Shin Mac

To make this Korean-American dish, you'll need a Kraft Original Mac and Cheese Macaroni and Cheese cup and one packet of Shin Ramyun.

Add water to the cup of pasta to the fill line marked in the bowl and cook according to the package direction. (Don't add in the cheese packet just yet.) Next, prepare the Shin Ramyun according to the package directions, then stir in the drained macaroni followed by the cheese powder. Mix to thoroughly combine the cheese powder with the soup broth. This two-ingredient fusion can also work with cup noodles if you want to skip the stovetop.

The bottom line? Two carbs (and two sauces) are certainly better than one. And if you ever think a pantry meal is yawn-inducing, play around a little and set your imagination free. The results will probably be super delicious. And if they're not, you can always order pizza.

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