One Canned Soup Turns Mac And Cheese Into A Hearty Dinner In Minutes

Mac and cheese is one of those staple comfort meals that always hits the spot, but it's often calorie-heavy, carb-forward, and light on vegetables. Fortunately, there are so many ingredients that will seriously upgrade your mac and cheese, and one of those is a canned soup you may already have in your pantry: Dinty Moore Beef Stew.

Dinty Moore Beef Stew is a mixture of beef chunks, carrots, and potatoes in a seasoned beef gravy. Not only is it packed with 10 grams of protein per can, but it's also a cheap buy — one 15-ounce can costs around $3. It may be tasty on its own, but combining it with mac and cheese creates a cheesy, filling meal. Boxed mac and cheese is famously simple to prepare and has around 10 grams of protein per serving depending on the brand, giving you an easy, protein-packed dinner. The potatoes also add to the heartiness of the dish, the carrots add both color and nutrients, and the gravy brings that delicious umami flavor. There are other canned beef stews out there, but Chowhound ranked Dinty Moore No. 1 in our taste test of beef stew brands. The rich and creamy mac pairs perfectly with the salty and savory flavors of the beef stew, making it a deeply comforting combination.

We know leftover brisket and mac and cheese make a delicious pairing, so it's no surprise that Dinty Moore Beef Stew pairs just as well. To assemble your beef stew mac, simply heat up one 15-ounce can of Dinty Moore and a box of mac and cheese on the stove. Add the mac and cheese to a bowl when it's ready and pour the stew over the top to blend the flavors together. If you're looking for ways to enhance your dish, you can add in more vegetables like broccoli, peas, or green beans for added texture and nutrition. Or enjoy it with a piece of buttered bread on the side or with toasted breadcrumbs sprinkled on top. You can even add a dash of hot sauce, as the acidity and heat balance out the meal's heavier components. 

However you mix it up, a can of Dinty Moore takes mac and cheese and turns it into a heartier meal, making it the perfect solution on nights when you need a low-effort dinner. Mac and cheese may be delicious by itself, but making it into a meaty, substantial meal is easier than you think.