10 Things You Didn't Know You Could Make With Cereal

How many times have you searched through the pantry only to find that you have little more than the basics, which includes, of course, a box of cereal? Well, with a little ingenuity and thinking outside of the "cereal" box, you can make a variety of recipes from appetizers to desserts using the breakfast staple. So, whether you are a well-seasoned kitchen MacGyver or a home cook in training, making meals with whatever you have on hand just got easier — thanks to cereal.

Breakfast cereal isn't just served with a splash of cold milk and a sprinkling of fruit anymore. In fact, cereals can be used in many recipes that call for breadcrumbs. For example, when coating chicken, much like breadcrumbs, cereal holds the moisture inside of the meat and adds a crunchy texture to the outside. Also, cereal acts like breadcrumbs when binding food together like in burgers or meatballs. It can also be used as a crunchy topping in desserts instead of cookies or crackers.

We surveyed the cereal aisle and were excited about these recipes using Kellogg's brand cereals. Chicken marinated in ginger, garlic, and soy sauce is then coated in Rice Krispies cereal for an extra crunch. All-Bran wheat flakes are used for a crunchy topping on a juicy apple cake. Raisin Bran is added to a beef and dried fruit curry for satisfying Crock-Pot meal. And Corn Flakes are combined with marshmallows and used as a crispy topping to a sweet potato casserole — perfect for the holidays.

Next time you find yourself without breadcrumbs, cookies, crackers, or whatever binding agent a recipe calls for, try using breakfast cereal instead. Or better yet, check out some of the recipes that we've selected.

Check out the slideshow above for 10 surprising recipes you can make with cereal.

17 cereals that were too sweet to last
America's 10 most sugary cereals
10 whole-grain breakfast recipes
10 do-ahead breakfast recipes
10 things you didn't know you could make in a microwave

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