The last thing you want when making a wonderful Kraft mac and cheese meal is to be short on ingredients. What if you do not have butter to make this meal? Is there a suitable substitute? Can I make Kraft mac and cheese without butter?
Yes, you can. There are several ingredients you can substitute in your Kraft mac and cheese. Cream cheese, yogurt, sour cream, olive oil, heavy cream, mayo, and margarine are other butter replacements for kraft mac & cheese.
Can I Make Kraft Mac And Cheese Without Butter
Yes, you can make Kraft mac and cheese without butter. But you can’t simply add the same amount of any of the butter replacements. Some are measured differently than others, and there are liquids and solids. Here’s additional information on how much butter replacement you’ll need. You may use the suggested quantity of margarine since it is virtually comparable to butter. When a recipe asks for four tablespoons of butter, for example, substitute four tablespoons of margarine for the butter.
Use roughly a cup of yogurt, mayonnaise, sour cream, cream cheese, or heavy cream per box of pasta. The appropriate quantity is dependent on the flavor and texture you choose. Add half a spoonful of olive oil to the mixture. If it still feels dry, add another half cup. Take caution when using oil since your sauce may become messy.
If you use cooking oil or another fat and the taste is bland, add some chicken bouillon powder or a flavored cube to enhance the flavor. What if you don’t have any butter, cheese, or milk? Instead of dairy milk, you may use broth, plant milk, or any milk replacement. In a pinch, powdered milk may be substituted, and it can be made as strong as desired.
Because Kraft mac and cheese isn’t gourmet cuisine, any tweaks you make might still taste similar to the original. You may also use cheese sauce or processed cheese. It is important to have a can of evaporated milk in your cupboard in case you run out of milk for cooking.
8 Best Substitutes For Butter In Kraft Mac And Cheese
Margarine
Because it has a similar taste and texture to butter, margarine is the most apparent butter alternative for mac and cheese. Margarine is a suitable alternative for vegans who crave the buttery taste of mac and cheese. It’s a plant-based alternative to milk, composed of water and oil.
While it is a vegan-friendly alternative, it is not limited to them. Margarine is a good option to reduce fat intake, which is why it is so popular. Margarine is by far the best butter alternative in mac and cheese since it has a comparable taste and a similar texture.
Yogurt
Putting yogurt in your Kraft mac and cheese may seem strange, but it’s not! Yogurt is a lighter and more natural alternative to butter, although it can leave a somewhat sour flavor in your mac and cheese. Substitute yogurt for butter might add a degree of richness to your boxed macaroni without the extra calories that butter sometimes delivers.
Spread your yogurt in a 1:1 ratio for butter in your next batch of Kraft mac & cheese. If cooking on the stove, heat at low heat, or add it last after you’ve turned off the heat since yogurt often curdles at high cooking temperatures.
Mix carefully to spread the yogurt evenly, and feel free to add as much or as little yogurt as you want to get the ideal taste and texture. When you use yogurt, your mac and cheese will be somewhat thicker. To thin it up, add more milk or reduce the amount of yogurt you use.
Ghee
Ghee is a clarified butter cooked at a low temperature and filtered to eliminate water. Even if you like butter, experimenting with ghee in your mac and cheese is worthwhile. This clarified butter has a rich, nutty flavor that may complement other foods. But the taste isn’t the only incentive to experiment with ghee. It’s also a good alternative for folks who are allergic to dairy. The clarifying procedure eliminates not just water but also lactose and casein.
This is also a product that will last a long time. Ghee is shelf-stable, so you won’t have to refrigerate or worry about spoiling quickly. Whether homemade or purchased, ghee is an excellent alternative to butter for making mac and cheese.
Cream Cheese
It’s simple to substitute cream cheese for milk and butter in recipes, resulting in a richer-flavored meal. It imparts a nice, almost sweet flavor that is very creamy and fatty. Cream cheese is a fantastic flavor alternative. It may also be used with lighter components such as oil to create a rich, creamy texture.
Again, this is a flavor substitution, but a small amount of oil, ghee, or margarine should be used to avoid sticky roux or noodles. If you don’t have cream cheese, cottage cheese is a fantastic substitute.
Sour Cream
The addition of sour cream to mac and cheese is similar to that of yogurt but with a somewhat less tangy flavor. Still, your mac and cheese will have a slightly tangy aftertaste that will increase depending on how much sour cream you use. As with yogurt, substitute the butter in Kraft mac and cheese with the same quantity of sour cream in a 1:1 ratio.
Consequently, the cheese sauce will be thicker and richer, which you may like. If you enjoy adding sour cream to your mac and cheese and want to add more, add a few extra spices like garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper to the mix to prevent your mac and cheese from being too bland.
Mayonnaise
Do you think mayonnaise would taste bad with mac and cheese? You may not be able to tell the difference! When used in a 1:1 ratio in place of butter, mayonnaise will not flavor your food; nevertheless, it may provide a degree of sweetness to the mac and cheese that you may or may not enjoy.
To try it, add the same quantity of mayo as you would butter to your Kraft mac and cheese mixture while you would typically add your butter. Mix vigorously until the mayonnaise is evenly distributed. That’s all! The mayo may somewhat thicken the texture of the mac and cheese, so if you like a thinner cheese sauce, feel free to add extra milk or other milk replacements in mac and cheese.
Heavy Cream
Heavy Cream Butter is derived from heavy cream, so it’s no surprise that it’s a wonderful alternative to mac and cheese. This is an excellent choice for making a vibrant and luscious sauce. Another reason heavy cream is such a fantastic alternative is that it can be used to produce your butter! It’s a great way to experiment with tastes and lends a wonderful “homemade” touch to any mac and cheese.
Olive Oil
To minimize saturated fat levels, use olive oil for butter in many recipes. When using olive oil, however, don’t use too much, or the dish will get greasy. Certain plant-based oils, such as coconut oil, may mimic the feel of butter. Although coconut oil is the best for taste, other oils such as vegetable oil may be used. Vegetable oil is bland, but it may be spiced up with a dash of chili flakes for added taste.
What Happens If You Make Kraft Mac n Cheese Without Butter?
You won’t spoil the meal if you prepare Kraft mac and cheese without butter. Indeed, the other ingredients—milk, cheese, and noodles—will be plenty to hold your mac and cheese together, and the texture and general look of your Kraft mac and cheese will not vary much.
You may ask why Kraft suggests putting butter in your mac and cheese first. Butter adds richness to the dish’s taste and may slightly boost the sauce’s creaminess. Still, the richness of flavor that butter imparts to mac and cheese is a one-of-a-kind, comforting taste that many people can’t imagine living without.
So, can I make Kraft mac and cheese without butter? Yes, of course. Other than butter, you have various alternatives for replacing other items in your mac and cheese that may taste even better to your taste buds. Furthermore, certain substitutes are weight-friendly since they may help you save almost 100 calories from your next bowl of Kraft mac & cheese!
Can You Substitute Water For Milk In Boxed Mac And Cheese?
It is possible to substitute water for milk in your pasta meal, but it is not advised. This will remove a significant portion of the taste and make it watery rather than thick. If you really must do this for any reason, at least attempt to utilize the water from cooking the noodles. It will be thickened with a modest bit of starch. If you don’t have milk, sour cream or cream cheese are significantly better substitutes.
Conclusion On Can I Make Kraft Mac And Cheese Without Butter
It’s OK if you can’t or don’t want butter in your Kraft mac & cheese. Although it is a key component of the creamy, cheesy sauce, it is not required. Instead, consider the alternatives above. They may alter the flavor somewhat, but they are fatty enough to provide the desired texture. I hope we were able to answer your question on “can I make Kraft mac and cheese without butter.”

Hiiii! My name is Ruth and I am an experienced chef with a passion for food and cooking. My love of baking began when I was nine, and I have since been refining my skills in the kitchen ever since.