The Pantry Powder Ree Drummond Uses For More Flavorful Mac And Cheese

The Pioneer Woman blog was started by Ree Drummond in 2006, and the title is now synonymous with Drummond's image (via Moms). Drummond has her own show of the same name on Food Network and has released a line of cookware, as well as a few cookbooks under the moniker. The celebrity chef lives on an Oklahoma ranch, and often finds herself cooking for a crowd of people, including her five children.

Mac and cheese might be a childhood classic, but it's also a comfort food classic that adults of all ages can enjoy. While it's easy to whip up that blue box of Kraft mac and cheese in a pinch if you're craving something a little more elevated, you could try your hand at making your own from scratch. The classic, cheesy flavor might be delicious, but Ree Drummond has an ingredient she uses when she wants to kick it up a notch.

In Ree Drummond's macaroni and cheese recipe, which she shared with Food Network, she mostly sticks to the classic elements. She uses macaroni pasta, as well as sharp cheddar cheese. She also uses a few different seasonings. Salt and pepper, of course, though she does suggest using seasoned salt. Additionally, she says you could use cayenne pepper, paprika, or thyme. However, there is one spice addition that's non-optional for her: Ground mustard.

Drummond is a big fan of the flavor and suggests adding two "heaping" teaspoons of dry mustard per pound of cheese in her roux. You might be a little skeptical about adding mustard to your otherwise cheesy pasta, but Drummond insists you won't even notice. In a blog post on her website, Drummond states that the tanginess of the ground mustard enhances the flavor of the cheese by cutting through the creaminess, without adding too much of its own taste to the dish.

Long before macaroni and cheese held its beloved comfort food status, it was invented in Italy, per Giadzy. The original recipe used sheet pasta cut into smaller squares tossed with grated Parmesan cheese. The rest of Europe caught on to the deliciousness, and the food evolved into a casserole, before eventually becoming the dish we know and love today.

Drummond recommends using dry, ground mustard powder for the dish, but PureWow notes that you could even use the same mustard you add to your burgers. While mac and cheese is ultra-creamy, thanks to the cheese, milk, and butter often used in the dish, mustard might be just what you need to cut through for a varied flavor profile, without taking over the taste too much. Mustard adds a warm, earthy taste, according to Eat Delights, and could even have a little bit of a kick, depending on which variety you purchase.