Tini’s Macaroni and Cheese (Viral Recipe)

Tini’s Mac and Cheese is the viral TikTok recipe that’s taken holiday tables by storm! Made with three kinds of freshly shredded cheese, a rich, creamy sauce, and layers of gooey, melted cheese, this baked macaroni and cheese is as decadent as it looks. I’ve made it multiple times, and it’s become one of my favorite dishes to serve for Thanksgiving and the holidays!

What You’ll Need & Why

Here is the list of ingredients you’ll need to make Tini’s macaroni and cheese! See the recipe card below for the measurements and be sure to check out my Thanksgiving page for more holiday side dish recipes.

Corkscrew Pasta: Tini Younger uses cavatappi (corkscrew) pasta in her original recipe, which is great for catching all that creamy cheese sauce. Its ridges and hollow center help hold onto the sauce, making every bite extra cheesy!

Mozzarella, Sharp Cheddar & Colby Jack: This three-cheese combination is what makes Tini’s mac and cheese so irresistible! Mozzarella provides that signature stretchy cheese pull, sharp cheddar adds bold, cheesy flavor, and Colby Jack melts beautifully for a rich, creamy texture. I recommend freshly shredding all three from blocks and using whole-milk mozzarella rather than part-skim for the best results.

Butter, Heavy Cream & Evaporated Milk: These create the rich, velvety base for the cheese sauce. Butter helps form the roux, heavy cream adds richness, and evaporated milk gives the sauce a smooth, creamy consistency that holds up beautifully when baked.

Dijon Mustard: A little Dijon balances the richness of all that cheese and brings out its savory flavor without making the sauce taste like mustard. You can substitute mustard powder if needed.

All-Purpose Flour: Combined with butter to make a roux, which thickens the sauce and helps it cling to every piece of macaroni.

Paprika, Garlic Powder, Salt & Black Pepper: These simple seasonings add warmth and savory depth to the cheese sauce without overpowering the three-cheese blend. Freshly cracked black pepper gives it a little extra bite.

How to Make Tini’s Mac and Cheese

Making Tini’s famous mac and cheese is all about building a rich, creamy cheese sauce and layering plenty of freshly shredded cheese between the pasta. Here’s how to get that perfectly golden, bubbly top and the irresistible cheese pull everyone loves!

Step 1: Shred the Cheese and Cook the Pasta

Start by shredding the mozzarella, sharp cheddar, and Colby Jack from blocks. Toss the cheeses together in a large bowl so they’re evenly combined, then divide the mixture according to what you’ll need for the sauce and layering.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the cavatappi until just al dente. The pasta should still have a slight firmness when you bite into it since it will continue cooking in the oven. Drain and set aside.

Step 2: Make the Roux

Melt the butter in a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the flour and half of the seasoning mixture, whisking continuously until a smooth paste forms.

Cook for 1–2 minutes to remove the raw flour taste. The roux should look smooth, slightly bubbly and golden, without any dry pockets of flour or browned bits.

Step 3: Build the Cream Sauce

Slowly pour in the evaporated milk while whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Once incorporated, gradually add the heavy cream and Dijon mustard.

Continue whisking until the mixture is smooth and begins to thicken. You’ll know it’s ready when the sauce lightly coats the back of a spoon, and you can run your finger through it to leave a clean line.

The sauce should be creamy and pourable at this stage, not thick like gravy.

Step 4: Melt in the Cheese

Reduce the heat to low and gradually stir in the shredded cheese reserved for the sauce, adding a handful at a time. Allow each addition to melt before adding more.

The finished cheese sauce should look glossy, velvety and completely smooth, with no visible shreds of cheese remaining. Avoid letting it boil once the cheese has been added, which can cause the sauce to become grainy or oily.

Step 5: Coat the Pasta

Add the drained cavatappi to the cheese sauce and gently fold everything together until every piece is generously coated.

At this point, the macaroni should look extra creamy and slightly saucier than you’d expect. Some of that moisture will be absorbed as it bakes, so you don’t want the pasta mixture looking dry before it goes into the oven.

Step 6: Layer the Mac and Cheese

Spread half of the creamy macaroni into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, smoothing it into an even layer.

Sprinkle a generous layer of the reserved shredded cheese over the macaroni. For an especially gooey cheese pull, I recommend concentrating 8 ounces of mozzarella in the middle layer, where it creates those thick, stretchy pockets of melted cheese when you scoop into the casserole.

Add the remaining macaroni, spreading it gently over the cheese without pressing down too firmly. Finish with the remaining shredded cheese, using about 4 ounces of mozzarella on top along with the reserved cheddar and Colby Jack.

Step 7: Bake Until Golden and Bubbly

Bake in a preheated 375°F oven for about 25–30 minutes, until the cheese is fully melted and the sauce is bubbling around the edges.

For that beautiful golden finish, switch the oven to broil for the final 1–2 minutes, watching closely so the cheese doesn’t burn.

Look for a lightly golden top with small browned spots and bubbling cheese around the edges. The center should still look creamy underneath that melted cheese topping.

Step 8: Rest Briefly and Serve

Remove the macaroni and cheese from the oven and let it rest for about 5 minutes before serving.

This gives the bubbling cheese a chance to settle slightly while keeping everything hot and gooey. Scoop deeply enough to catch both layers of macaroni and that thick pocket of melted cheese in the middle for the best cheese pull!

Serve warm while the sauce is creamy and the mozzarella is beautifully stretchy.

Variations and Substitutions

Evaporated Milk – Whole milk is a perfectly fine swap for evaporated milk.

Adding Protein – If you aren’t making this as a side dish and want it as a main course, similar to my Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese, simply add rotisserie or baked and diced chicken to the mixture before baking. You can also add bacon or steak on top once it’s done cooking.

Cheeses – if you aren’t a fan of mozzarella, you can swap it for a more flavorful gruyère or fontina. Keep in mind, depending on the cheese you select, it may not give you as much of a cheese pull.

Make Ahead Instructions

Just like most pasta recipes, this is a great recipe to make ahead of time and bake when you need it.

You’ll just prepare it up to the point before baking. Allow it to fully cool on the counter and cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap. Then refrigerate for up to two days.

Before baking, take out of the fridge and leave it on the counter for 45 minutes to remove the chill from the fridge. Bake in the oven, adding an additional 15 minutes of bake time if needed. If the top starts to brown before it’s baked through, simply add tented foil to the top. Remove the foil (if applicable) and broil for 5 minutes.

More Recipes to Try

If you’re making Tini’s mac and cheese for Thanksgiving, Christmas or Sunday dinner, I’ve got plenty of delicious side dishes to round out your menu! My Southern Sweet Potato Casserole is a holiday favorite with its sweet, buttery topping, while these creamy, cheesy Scalloped Potatoes are perfect for anyone who loves an extra-indulgent side dish.

For more Southern comfort food classics, try my Cheesy Jiffy Corn Casserole, which is always a crowd-pleaser, or my Southern Cornbread Dressing for a traditional holiday favorite. And you can never go wrong with a batch of warm Honey Butter Cornbread to serve alongside your favorite comfort foods!

I hope you enjoy this viral recipe for Tinis Macaroni and Cheese. Be sure to comment below with any questions or feedback!

If you make these or any other recipes, don’t forget to tag me on IG @BadBatchBaking to be featured on my story. Seeing your recreations makes my day!

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