Mac and cheese will be tastier if you add 1 'secret' ingredient

There's a "secret" ingredient to add to mac and cheese to make it taste much better. Mac and cheese is a classic American dish that has been discovered by many Brits, becoming a favourite for some. The simplest mac and cheese recipes involve macaroni pasta, milk, and a variety of cheeses. However, some people add a range of , herbs and sauces to their mac and cheese to get it to their exact liking.

When one person looked for recommendations for sprucing up their mac and cheese, one home cook revealed the secret ingredient they use to make it taste amazing every time. The ingredient, one Reddit user said, is ground mustard. Ground mustard is a fine powder that is a result of grinding up mustard seeds. It is an easy way to add a spicy mustard flavour to dishes without having to use a mustard sauce. According to seasoning brand , ground mustard adds "tangy heat" to recipes.

One Reddit user asked people to share their top tips for improving the flavour of their mac and cheese, saying that they were looking for other ways to spruce up the dish other than nutmeg. They wrote in a post: "I have seen nutmeg in a regular bechamel, but never saw it in Mac n cheese until today. What are other examples of nuanced little spices or "secret" ingredients used in common dishes."

One person responded: "Ground mustard, also in mac and cheese." Many people seemed to be in agreement that mustard was a good flavour to add to mac and cheese. One person responded: "Even a squirt of yellow mustard will perk up boxed mac and cheese. I also use ."

There were many suggestions in response to the question and people shared a wide array of mac and cheese suggestions. One person said: "Pan fry some , chop up a red onion and caramelize it in the bacon grease, then add chopped-up bacon and the caramelized onion to the Mac n Cheese."

Another person revealed that they add while another said that their go-to ingredient was paprika, along with ground mustard.

According to cooking expert , the "best ever" mac and cheese recipe involves ground mustard as well as smoked paprika, salt and pepper. To make this, she starts by melting some butter in a pan and then adds in flour and seasonings. "Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon in a figure-8 motion, for three minutes," she says.

Following this, she slowly whisks in milk, followed by her selected cheese. The dry, ground mustard is added in with the flour and other seasonings at the early stages of making the cheese sauce. This is all then mixed with the cooked pasta for a tasty mac and cheese dish, which can then be baked in the oven for a crispy top.