The Ingredient Swap That Will Majorly Upgrade Your Canned Ravioli

Canned ravioli might not be your go-to meal when you have all the time in the world to make pasta or are vibing with Giada De Laurentiis and want to make the perfect pasta. We have those nights, too. But when you are in a hurry, there is no reason to start hating on this meal in a can. It can be a life saver that allows you to feed your family. Chef Anna Boiardi of the famed Chef Boyardee clan told NPR, "There is room for all different types of food. ... I try to inspire people to cook for themselves, but even when I was growing up — and my mom is a fabulous cook — she would open up a can of Chef Boyardee for us on certain nights when there just wasn't enough time."

However, if you don't want to simply take the can opener, pop off the top, heat, and eat, we've found a way to add a couple of ingredients that will transform and upgrade your canned ravioli into a meal that your kids will enjoy and that will make you feel like you put a little effort into making it. You might even find yourself putting this meal into heavy rotation during busy months.

If you are tired of your canned ravioli and want to give it a major flavor boost, Delishably suggests adding it to browned ground beef and topping with Velveeta to create a casserole-type dish. Additionally, the blogger added some chopped onion, pasta sauce, and garlic powder to this dish to really turn it into something homemade-esque. They go on to share that pairing this dish with a salad and crusty bread, really rounds out the meal. One commenter noted, "I haven't tried a can of ravioli in a long time — used to eat it more in my twenties. But, good idea to spruce it up with some taste. I could see them using this on Chopped!" Agreed.

Naturally, we had to search the internet to see what other ways people are upgrading their canned ravioli dinner, and Reddit also has some ideas to help you. One member of the community shared a recipe for a "Chef Boyardeep Dish Pizza." While others had less complicated suggestions, including simply adding garlic, hot sauce, or other spices you might have on hand when you make Italian dishes.