Tini's Mac and Cheese is taking over TikTok right now. Made with three kinds of cheese, special spices, and curly pasta, this recipe from social media chef Tini is becoming everyone's new favorite comfort food.
Why You Must Try This Recipe
This mac and cheese recipe might be the tastiest one out there. The colors pop, the cheese melts perfectly, and it works for any meal - game days, BBQs, or dinner at home. People love it so much, they're sharing it all over social media. The cheese gets super gooey and forms a perfect crust on top. Grating the cheese takes time, but the end result is worth it.
What You Need
- Mozzarella: 1 pound, shredded. Makes everything creamy and stretchy.
- Colby Jack: 1 pound, shredded. Adds a bit of tang.
- Sharp Cheddar: 8 ounces, shredded. Gives that classic cheese flavor.
- Pasta: 1 pound of curly pasta. Regular macaroni works too.
- Garlic Powder: 1 teaspoon. For extra flavor.
- Smoked Paprika: 1 teaspoon. Makes it taste a bit smoky.
- Salt: 1 teaspoon. Regular table salt works fine.
- Black Pepper: ½ teaspoon. Fresh ground tastes best.
- Butter: 3 tablespoons. Salted is best.
- Flour: 3 tablespoons. Regular white flour.
- Evaporated Milk: 1 can (12 oz). Makes the sauce smooth.
- Heavy Cream: 2 cups. Makes everything rich.
- Dijon Mustard: 1 tablespoon. Regular mustard works too.
- Parsley: Fresh chopped, for the top.
Steps to Make It
- Heat oven:
- Set to 350°F.
- Grate cheese:
- Shred all three kinds, mix them, split in half.
- Cook pasta:
- Boil in salty water until just done. Drain.
- Mix spices:
- Put garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
- Start sauce:
- Melt butter, add half the spices.
- Add flour:
- Stir with butter for 2 minutes.
- Pour milk:
- Add evaporated milk, stir until thick.
- Make it creamy:
- Add cream, rest of spices, and mustard. Keep stirring.
- Melt cheese:
- Add half the cheese mix slowly, stir until smooth.
- Mix with pasta:
- Stir sauce and pasta together.
- Layer it:
- Put half in pan, add cheese, then rest of pasta and cheese on top.
- Cook it:
- Bake 25-30 minutes. Brown the top for 2 minutes.
- Finish up:
- Add parsley, serve hot.
What Makes This Recipe Special
This isn't just any mac and cheese. The mix of three cheeses - mozzarella, Colby Jack, and sharp cheddar - makes it extra special. Add smoky paprika and garlic, and you get amazing flavor in every bite. The curly pasta holds all that cheese perfectly. Tini knows what makes good food - that's why millions of people follow her recipes.
About the Cheese Mix
Each cheese does something different in this recipe. Mozzarella melts smooth, Colby Jack adds good flavor, and sharp cheddar gives it that bite we all love. Grating fresh cheese instead of buying pre-shredded makes the sauce super smooth. It takes more time to grate, but makes the whole dish taste better.
Making Perfect Layers
The magic happens in how you put it together. Mix half the cheese right into the pasta and sauce. Then layer pasta and cheese in the pan. This way, every fork-full has plenty of gooey cheese. Brown the top under the broiler for a crispy finish - it looks great and tastes even better.
Adding Extra Stuff
You can mix things up with this recipe. Add crispy bacon or pulled pork if you want meat. Put in some broccoli for a veggie version. Want it faster? Skip baking and eat it right off the stove. No matter what you add, it'll taste great.
Making It Early
Need to save time? Make this mac and cheese up to two days before. Put it together but don't bake it. Cover with foil and keep it in the fridge. When ready, bake it covered, then uncover to brown the top. Perfect for busy days or when friends come over.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What makes this mac and cheese special?
It's the mix of three different cheeses that makes it so good. Plus, the sauce turns out extra creamy. My kids say it's better than the box kind!
- Can I swap out the cheeses?
Sure! Try any cheese that melts well. Gouda works great, and so does Swiss. Just pick cheeses you like - it's hard to mess up.
- Can I make it without wheat?
Grab some rice pasta or corn pasta instead of regular. Use corn starch to thicken the sauce. Tastes just as good!
- How can I make it taste even better?
Try adding red pepper if you like heat. Bacon bits on top are yummy too. Sometimes I put in extra garlic - can't go wrong there.
- How long will it last?
Keep it in the fridge for 3 days tops. Heat it up in the oven so it gets hot all the way through. Add a splash of milk if it's too thick.
Some More Ideas
Love this mac and cheese? Try putting these cheeses in other dishes too. Mix them in a pasta bake with garlic and red pepper. Or toss them with cooked veggies for a side dish. They even taste great in breakfast egg pies!