This Viral Mac and Cheese Recipe Is the Cheesy Comfort Food TikTok Can’t Stop Talking About
If you’ve been searching for the ultimate comfort food to kick off the New Year, look no further
When it comes to comfort food, mac and cheese reigns supreme. Whether you prefer it from a box, on the stovetop or baked, it’s hard to say no to creamy and cheesy noodles. But Tineke “Tini” Younger has taken the classic to viral heights. Known for her warm, relatable cooking content, the social media chef shared her iconic mac and cheese recipe on TikTok during the 2023 holiday season. It quickly became a sensation, racking up over 130 million views on her original video and an additional 91 million on her follow-up a year later. With numbers like that, you might wonder: what makes Tini’s mac and cheese so popular?
Spoiler alert: It’s as rich, cheesy and crave-worthy as the views suggest—and yes, it’s worth shredding two-and-a-half pounds of cheese by hand. Here’s everything you need to know about Tini’s recipe, why it’s trending and how to make it yourself.
Who is Tini Younger, and why is she famous?
Tini Younger isn’t just another TikTok creator. She’s a chef with serious chops, having competed on Next Level Chef (hosted by Gordon Ramsey!) and captured audiences with her approachable, flavorful recipes. But what sets her apart is her ability to take simple dishes and make them feel luxurious. Her homemade mac and cheese is the perfect example, with its signature corkscrew pasta and rich mornay sauce.
Part of Tini’s appeal is her personality. Her videos feel like a friend showing you the ropes in the kitchen. She’s enthusiastic, clear and full of helpful tips, like why pre-shredded cheese is a no-go (it doesn’t melt as smoothly due to added anti-caking agents).
@tinekeyounger How to make mac n cheese for this holiday season🍂🦃❤️ Welcome to Thanksgiving with Tini where im gonna teach yall how to make EVERYTHING
After Tini’s mac and cheese recipe took off, stores struggled to keep her recommended cavatappi pasta in stock. Even Tini herself found it difficult to buy her own ingredients. Social media users flooded her comments with praise, with fans claiming, “this is the official mac and cheese recipe.” Others have shared their own recreations on the platform, each verifying just how good it is. “Girl… I found your recipe last year and tried it… I’ll NEVER make it another way!”, said one satisfied user.
What makes this mac the ultimate mac
The secret to Tini’s viral success lies in her attention to detail. Here are the key elements that make her recipe stand out:
- The pasta: Forget elbow macaroni. Tini swears by cavatappi, a corkscrew-shaped pasta that holds onto sauce like a dream. “All the cream gets in the hole and you’re just biting into straight cream,” she explains.
- The cheese blend: Tini’s recipe calls for three types of cheese: one pound of mozzarella, one pound of Colby Jack and eight ounces of sharp cheddar. Each is shredded by hand, ensuring a smoother melt. “You have to shred your own cheese—no negotiation,” Tini emphasizes.
- The roux: A luscious base of butter, flour, evaporated milk and heavy cream forms the backbone of the sauce. A touch of Dijon mustard and smoked paprika adds depth and dimension.
- The layers: Tini doesn’t just mix the pasta and sauce together; she layers it with extra cheese before baking to create a gooey center and a perfectly crisp, golden crust.
How to make Tini’s mac and cheese recipe
It’s time to roll up your sleeves and get ready for an arm workout. Here’s how you can recreate Tini’s mac and cheese at home with her official recipe. Give it a try, and prepare to have your taste buds (and your TikTok feed) blown away.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. cavatappi, cooked
- 1 lb. mozzarella cheese, grated
- 1 lb. Colby Jack cheese, grated
- ½ lb. Cheddar cheese, grated
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. smoked paprika
- ½ tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. pepper
- 3 Tbs. butter
- 3 Tbs. flour
- 1 (12-oz.) can evaporated milk
- 1 Tbs. Dijon mustard, optional
- 2 cups heavy cream
- Chopped chives, for garnish
Directions:
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 10 servings
- Boil the cavatappi in salted water until al dente, eight minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Shred the cheeses, then combine and divide evenly into two large bowls (one for the sauce, one for layering).
- In a small bowl, combine the garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt and pepper.
- In a pan on medium heat, melt the butter, then add half of the seasoning and combine with a spatula, 30 seconds. Add in the flour, two to three minutes. Add the evaporated milk in batches and whisk to combine, about a minute. Add the Dijon mustard, if using. Finally, add the heavy cream in batches while whisking, two minutes.
- Turning the heat to low, add half of the cheese slowly in batches while whisking. Then, add the remaining seasoning. Fold in the cavatappi.
- In a baking dish, place half of the mac. Layer the remaining shredded cheese on top, following with more mac. Add a final layer of the shredded cheese.
- Bake at 350°F for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden. Broil for two minutes, if desired. Garnish with chopped chives.
Conversation
All comments are subject to our Community Guidelines. Woman's World does not endorse the opinions and views shared by our readers in our comment sections. Our comments section is a place where readers can engage in healthy, productive, lively, and respectful discussions. Offensive language, hate speech, personal attacks, and/or defamatory statements are not permitted. Advertising or spam is also prohibited.
