Tini's Mac and Cheese
With three cheeses, heavy cream, and carefully selected spices, each bite of Tini's Mac and Cheese is a decadent experience. Follow this recipe and embark on the journey of crafting a homemade baked mac and cheese that stands out from the rest!
Dive into the TikTok culinary sensation that is Tini’s Mac and Cheese Recipe, a dish that has taken the world by storm! This macaroni and cheese creation is a cheesy flavor symphony crafted with a trifecta of cheeses, a blend of delectable spices, and corkscrew pasta.
What Is Tini’s Mac and Cheese?
Three cheeses, spices, pasta, and a layering technique make Tini’s Mac and Cheese the BEST EVER!
It might just be the Best Mac and Cheese EVER! Tini is a Social Media Chef with over 6M followers, and this TikTok recipe is her most viral, with over 90M views (so far). Tini shared this recipe just before Thanksgiving, and everyone went crazy for it!
It’s the quintessential comfort food – bright yellow, super saucy, and carb-loaded – basically Mac and Cheese PERFECTION. It’s the kind of mac and cheese you make for game days, BBQs, and potlucks, but it’s also simple enough to make for an easy dinner.
I loved this recipe so much! It had amazing flavor and a great cheese crust on the top! Thanks for sharing this recipe!!!! 💖
– Lyla C.
Baked Macaroni and Cheese Ingredients
- cavatappi (corkscrew) pasta
- Mozzarella cheese
- Colby Jack cheese
- sharp cheddar (yellow preferred)
- garlic powder
- smoked paprika
- coarse salt
- ground black pepper
- salted butter
- all-purpose flour
- evaporated milk
- heavy cream
- Dijon mustard (or mustard powder)
- fresh parsley
I’m not a huge homemade mac and cheese person, but this one is the only exception! Perfectly cheesy with a beautiful cheese crust on top! This recipe will be a regular dinner go-to!
– Beth W.
How To Make Tini’s Viral Mac and Cheese
A full recipe card with step-by-step photos and ingredient quantities can be found at the end of the post.
- Grate the cheese, mix it, and divide it between two bowls.
- Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water according to directions for al dente. Timing varies depending on the brand of pasta.
- While the pasta cooks, prepare the roux for the cheese sauce by melting the butter with half of the seasonings. Then add the flour and cook until bubbly.
- Pour in the evaporated milk, heavy cream, and mustard, whisking frequently until it thickens.
- Add the cheese a handful at a time, melting each batch before adding the next.
- Toss in the pasta until fully coated.
- Layer the pasta with the remaining shredded cheese in a baking pan and bake.
- Broil for a couple of minutes before removing from the oven and digging in!
How To Serve Homemade Mac and Cheese
This mac and cheese is best served right after baking. Scoop it right out of the dish and serve as the main attraction or as a side dish for brisket, pulled pork, or ham! It makes a great addition to Thanksgiving and Easter spreads, too!
Macaroni and Cheese Recipe Variations
- Meat: Add bacon or pulled pork (but make sure the pulled pork isn’t overly juicy.
- Veggies: Soft broccoli florets would be a great addition to this recipe for the ultimate broccoli-cheddar flavor combo!
- Stovetop: Skip the baking altogether and enjoy this as a plain old stovetop mac and cheese!
Make Ahead Mac and Cheese Instructions
If you want to prepare this mac and cheese in advance, it’s very easy to do! Simply prepare the recipe right up until baking then cover with aluminum foil and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
When ready to bake, tent the aluminum foil so it doesn’t touch the top layer of cheese and bake for 25 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for an additional 25 minutes or until heated through. Finish with the broil.
Freezing Tini’s Mac and Cheese
Follow the make-ahead instructions above, but be prepared to add an additional 30 to 35 minutes to the baking time while covered in foil.
I find that frozen pasta dishes with lots of cheese and sauce packed into a casserole container always take longer to reheat from frozen than you might expect, so plan ahead!
More Viral Recipes:
- Viral French Toast Iced Latte – Brunch in a cup that’s made with maple syrup and brown sugar!
- Dubai Chocolate Bars – Take care of that sweet tooth with this epic culinary experience!
- Viral Onion Ring Chips – Thin, crunchy, spiced snack perfect for game day parties!
- Anna Paul’s Turkish Pasta – Deliciously marries bright yet bold spices together, a must-try!
- That Viral Ditalini Pasta Recipe – Comfort-food smothered in a creamy butter sauce!
Steps
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Shred the blocks of cheese: , , and into a large mixing bowl, then toss together and transfer half to a separate bowl.
Cook in salted water according to package directions for al dente. Drain and set aside.
While the pasta is cooking, combine , , , and in a small prep bowl and set aside.
Melt in a skillet, then add half the seasoning mix and stir.
Add and immediately whisk and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, the butter/flour mixture should be bubbling.
Add the and whisk constantly. Once it begins to thicken and bubble in the middle of the pan, add , the remaining half of the seasoning, and and whisk until thickened.
Add half of the shredded cheese mixture to the skillet, a handful at a time, and stir until completely melted and thick.
Add the cooked pasta to the cheese sauce and stir to coat.
Transfer half the pasta mixture to a 9x13-inch baking pan and layer with a third of the remaining cheese. Add the rest of the mac and cheese on top then finish with the rest of the cheese.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, then broil for 1 to 2 minutes to give the mac and cheese a nice bubbly, golden brown top.
Garnish with .
Notes
- 1 teaspoon of mustard powder can be used instead of Dijon Mustard.
- Mozzarella cheese can be reduced by up to 1/2 lb.
Nutrition
- Calories649
- Carbs33g
- Protein28g
- Fat45g
- Saturated fat27g
- Fiber1g
- Sugar3g
- Sodium832mg
Estimates per serving, when a serving size is listed.
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