Should You Put Ketchup on Macaroni and Cheese? [Is It Weird!]

ByShruti

Well, the topic today is inspired by my husband and daughter’s love for ketchup on pasta. Well, not just pasta but just about everything, even macaroni, and cheese. I often mock them saying, probably they are the only people in the world who put ketchup on a super cheesy gooey macaroni.

In all likeliness, cheese lovers like me and my son will never ever understand the need to add a dash of tanginess to cheese. My curiosity and love for the ‘authentic‘ macaroni and cheese, led me to go on a quest to find out more about putting the most commonly consumed condiment around the world on our macaroni and cheese.

It is not weird to put ketchup on macaroni and cheese, although, it is a personal preference as to how one likes macaroni and cheese. However, if you choose to do so, it will keep your macaroni and cheese moist and add a layer of tanginess and sweetness to the dish.

If one dwells in the history of ketchup one might have some very interesting findings and how it has evolved over centuries! But, today it is the most ubiquitous condiment in the world, with over 97% of Americans having a bottle of ketchup in their refrigerator, commonly Heinz.

This condiment is also touted as ‘The Perfect complement to the American diet ‘ by whatitmeanstobeamerican.org. In fact, Americans alone consume almost 10 billion ounces of ketchup annually, which works out to roughly 3 bottles per person.

So, it’s only natural that this condiment should sneak up to another popular American dish – macaroni and cheese. In fact, people have been putting ketchup on macaroni and cheese for years. It’s like a marriage of

America’s most consumed condiment with America’s most beloved dish. And, cannot get more American than this! No wonder that in 2015, the Kraft-Heinz merger seemed natural. With Heinz’s global reach and Kraft’s popularity.

Suggested Reading: Why Do Macaroni And Cheese Separate? [Here’s What To Know!]

ketchup on mac and cheese – poll

Another survey, carried out under the title Mac n Cheese / Kraft Dinner – To Ketchup or not to Ketchup? revealed that about 23% of consumers add ketchup to macaroni and cheese in small or large quantities. Another 5% chose to put ketchup over spaghetti. However, the majority votes that is 53% went to the authentic macaroni and cheese lovers who wouldn’t add any ketchup at all.

The above data is represented in the table below:

QuestionPercentage
Ketchup on Macaroni and Cheese (any amount)23%
Over Spaghetti5%
No ketchup at all53%

If you take a poll on another website which is a Lifestyle Blog that conducts a poll for its users under the heading: Is it OK to put ketchup on mac & cheese?

The results are as given below:

It’s delicious34%
It’s all right12%
No way!54%

ourfreestuff.com conducted a poll on the topic under the heading – “ketchup-on-macaroni-yes-or-no”. The Percentage of votes in favor and against it is given below.

21.12% – Yes

78.88% – No

Looking at these polls above we get a fair idea that there is a small percentage of people who prefer to put ketchup on their macaroni and cheese. It is found that some prefer it on the side and some like to mix the ketchup in the dish evenly.

Suggested Reading: Why Is My Mac And Cheese Dry? [And Here’s How To Fix It!]

Suggested Reading: Do You Need Butter For Macaroni And Cheese? [Full Guide!]

Is Ketchup Good On Kraft Dinner?

Absolutely, ketchup will taste good on Kraft Dinner. It can be put on the dish while serving or while cooking it in the microwave or on the stovetop. Adding ketchup will give make the dish moist, as it will not dry out as easily as your traditional macaroni cheese. Ketchup will also impart tanginess and sweetness to the dish. As ketchup is sweet and tangy.

How much ketchup you would like to put is completely your preference. We also recommend adding about a tablespoon of butter for two people as this will ensure that the richness of macaroni and cheese is not lost.

Suggested Reading: Evaporated Milk In Macaroni And Cheese? [Here’s Why!]

What can I add to macaroni and cheese to make it taste better?

There are quite a few options that can be easily added to macaroni and cheese to make it taste better than what you have. This also holds true for the Kraft Dinner Macaroni. In fact, boxed macaroni tastes the best when cooked in butter and milk as it becomes more creamy and has a rich texture.

Listed below are some ingredients that pair up well with macaroni and cheese – boxed or homemade from scratch. Now you will never have bland macaroni and cheese anymore!

  1. Cinnamon
  2. White or Black Pepper
  3. Paprika
  4. Garlic Powder
  5. Onion Powder
  6. Chilli sauce – if you love it spicy
  7. Oregano
  8. Dried Basil
  9. Marjoram
  10. Ketchup

Suggested Reading: How to Make Roux for Macaroni and Cheese? [Step-by-Step Guide!]

What Is Best Paired With Mac And Cheese?

There are quite a few options that taste the best with macaroni and cheese. Here’s a list of a few ingredients.

  1. Grilled meats – chicken, beef, lamb, etc.
  2. Hot dogs
  3. Salads
  4. Brisket
  5. Fruits Salad
  6. Coleslaw
  7. Pulled chicken or pork
  8. Cornbread
  9. Egg
  10. Garlic or seasoned slices of bread

More Related Articles

Here are some more articles related to Macaroni and Cheese that you may find interesting!

  1. Should You Put Egg in Macacroni and Cheese? [Here’s a Complete Guide!]
  2. Why is Your Macaroni and Cheese Oily? [And How to Fix It!]
  3. Is Pasta and Macaroni the Same? [Here’s the Difference!]
  4. Can You Use Pizza Sauce for Pasta? [Here’s a Better Way!]
  5. Is Pizza and Pasta Flour the Same? [Here’s the Differences!]

Similar Posts