We Made the TikTok Mac and Cheese Recipe That People Can’t Stop Raving About
Kraft is the champion of boxed mac and cheese. It’s an easy, cheesy fix that requires virtually no effort. Just follow a couple simple steps on the side of the box to make a bowl of creamy pasta! But what if we told you that Kraft Mac is even better with help from this TikTok mac and cheese recipe?
The viral video from TikTok user @_nikkigillespie_ completely shattered what we thought we knew about making Kraft Mac. There’s no straining—just ingredients, a pot and a spoon. Plus, the end result is allegedly creamier than the step-by-step version following the box instructions!
With Nikki’s video collecting so much traffic, I decided to test the TikTok mac and cheese hack for myself.
What Makes TikTok Mac and Cheese Different?
Normally, boxed macaroni takes seven or eight minutes in boiling water until it’s al dente, and then after straining and returning to the pot, the ingredients mix up in no time.
What’s alluring about this TikTok mac and cheese recipe is that there is no straining required. Instead, all the ingredients are combined before the pot is even placed on the stove.
How to Make TikTok Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
Before you break open that box of Kraft Mac and Cheese, make sure you have the following materials ready:
1 box Kraft Mac and Cheese
1/4 cup milk
4 tablespoons butter
Enough water to cover the pasta
For the butter and milk measurements, take a look at what’s recommended on the box. Your measurements will vary if you are making more than one box, so keep that in mind.
You’ll Also Need…
Directions
Step 1: Pre-measure ingredients
To get started, the first thing you’ll want to do is measure out your milk and butter. This will vary depending on the amount of pasta you’re making, but for one box, Kraft recommends 1/4 cup of milk and 4 tablespoons of butter.
Step 2: Combine ingredients
Empty the dry pasta into a pot, and fill with water until the noodles are just covered. Proceed to add butter, followed by the packets of cheese powder that are included in the box. Do not add milk—save this for later. Give the pasta, water, cheese and butter a good stir before placing the pot on the stove.
Step 3: Heat the pasta
Heat the pasta mix on the stove over medium heat and stir occasionally until the water comes to a rolling boil. Bring the heat down to low, and let the pasta simmer gently while stirring. Do not cover the pot with a lid. You’ll notice the cheese sauce thickening and the noodles softening as the ingredients simmer together—this is exactly what you want. It should only take a few minutes for most of the liquid to evaporate.
Step 4: Add milk, mix and serve
When the cheese sauce has thickened and there is little liquid left in the pot, add in the milk. Mix it in while the heat is kept low and the macaroni is barely simmering, and keep an eye on it as you mix—you don’t want the sauce to get too thick and sticky. When you’re satisfied with the consistency, turn off the heat and serve.
Here’s What I Thought
This TikTok hack for Kraft mac deserves all the attention it’s getting!
First of all, the absence of straining the macaroni is a nice touch. Using a colander to strain pasta isn’t at all strenuous, but it’s not something I enjoy—I’ll pass on transferring a heavy pot to the sink and the hot blast of steam to the face that follows. There’s an even easier TikTok method for straining pasta, though I often find it difficult with large amounts of food.
The pasta cooked perfectly—it wasn’t too soggy and had just the right amount of firmness. I know that some have had trouble with the pasta overcooking, but that’s why it’s important to check that the water level is just above the noodles in Step 2, and that you keep a close eye on the liquid when cooking.
I was definitely able to tell that the ingredients weren’t dumped in last minute but instead simmered together with the pasta—the cheese sauce itself was thick and creamy, not runny at all, and, dare I say, less salty. For reference, I used 2% milk and I thought the macaroni tasted delicious. To finish the dish, I topped it off with a dash of cracked black pepper, and was pleasantly surprised.
It’s safe to say that I’ll be ditching those instructions on the box for good, thanks to TikTok. If you haven’t yet, it’s not too late to try TikTok’s most popular recipes, like the whipped coffee got us all through the early days of quarantine, and of course, the Baked Feta Pasta that broke the internet!
Insanely Viral TikTok Recipes People Love
1 / 15
Tortilla Wrap
Don't fuss around with folding a wrap ever again with this clever wrap hack. Portion out four toppings and place them on each corner of your tortilla. Then, just fold clockwise and cook! When ready to serve, slice in half for a nice and tidy wrap. This trick is a lifesaver!
Whipped Coffee
While everyone was bunkering down during the height of lockdown last year, many turned to TikTok to cure their boredom. Dalgona coffee, also known as whipped coffee, became an overnight sensation because 1) it takes only three simple household ingredients to make and 2) it's creamy and delicious! Whipped coffee became so popular, in fact, that there are many riffs off of it, like whipped nutella, matcha and strawberry milk. Once you've mastered the original, try one of these whipped coffee variations.
Pancake Cereal
Pancake cereal proves that anything bite-sized is worth the hype. The Naughty Fork combined two breakfast favorites to create this unique breakfast dish that wowed the internet. No need for milk with this cereal, though—just pour a little maple syrup over it to enjoy!
Cloud Bread
I'm sure you've seen this TikTok trend floating around the internet or maybe you've even whipped it up in your own kitchen! Not to be confused with keto cloud bread, TikTok's viral cloud bread recipe is a heavenly creation of its own. By using only three ingredients, you can make this colorful bread in just 25 minutes flat.
Feta Pasta
The original feta pasta recipe was first created by a Finnish blogger, Liemessa, way back in 2019. However, the feta pasta we know and love gained over a million views on Grilled Cheese Social's TikTok video earlier this year. What makes this simple pasta dish stand out is how simple it is to prep. Just toss the tomatoes in a bit of olive oil and red pepper flakes, place a block of feta cheese in the middle, add some garlic and basil and let the tomatoes blister and the feta cheese melt to make this creamy, mouthwatering dish.
Twisted Bacon
Think you've already found the crispest bacon recipe yet? Think again! While there are many ways to cook bacon, ultra-crispy twisted bacon is one of our favorites. It's the perfect on-the-go snack.
Garden Focaccia
This viral TikTok trend was another born during the height of lockdown when everyone was trying out new baking projects to pass the time. Beautiful breads, like this garden focaccia from Diane Morrisey, were taking over For You Pages everywhere during the spring of 2020. Not only are their designs inspiring, but they're made of sliced onion, pepper and herbs, making them edible, too.
Corn Ribs
Hearing the name corn ribs may make you raise your eyebrows at first, but we promise you that they're to die for. To make corn into "ribs," you cut each ear into four pieces—that's what gives them their rib shape. Then, you can serve them the traditional way, with a smoky elote-inspired sauce, or on their own.
Hot Cocoa Bombs
Hot cocoa bombs work similarly to a bath bomb—just pour hot water (or milk!) over it to release yummy, chocolaty goodness. Most hot cocoa bombs release all sorts of goodies once melted, like mini marshmallows and sprinkles.
Adult Capri Suns
These super-sized adult Capri Sun drinks are about to be your drink of the summer. Using a bag of frozen fruit and a splash of summery wine, this summer cocktail couldn't be any easier to make. Don't forget to poke a hole through the bag for some extra nostalgia. Try out these Capri Sun popsicles next.
Vegan Bacon
If you're a vegan eater, you know it's hard to find the right meat substitute for bacon. It's difficult to get that crunchy texture and smoky flavor. That's where vegan bacon steps in to satisfy any bacon hankerings. The surprise ingredient you ask? Carrots!
Pesto Eggs
Out of all the easy TikTok recipes and hacks on this list, this one is the simplest! All you need to do to make the famous pesto eggs is swap your go-to cooking oil for a little bit of pesto while you're frying them up on your skillet. This trick works for scrambled, sunnyside up or however you like to eat your eggs. Serve over smashed avocado toast to make it a full meal.
Breakfast Sandwich
Make your mornings even breezier with this TikTok breakfast sandwich. The trick here is to pour two whisked eggs onto your skillet and dip two slices of bread into that mixture. Once cooked, flip them over and onto each other to make your sammy. We recommend adding a few slices of bacon and some melted cheese. Easy-peasy!
Ranch Pickles
Ranch lovers, rejoice! We've got a new concoction you've to try for yourself: Ranch pickles. This snack is seriously addicting. Got some leftover ranch? Use it up with one of these recipes that start with a packet of ranch dressing mix.
Pickled Garlic
Pickled garlic aka your new go-to snack if you don't have any kimchi at home! TikTok creator, @Lalaleluu, created this recipe after she moved away from her Korean neighbor who frequently gave her a supply of homemade kimchi. She swears this is the next best thing.
The post We Made the TikTok Mac and Cheese Recipe That People Can’t Stop Raving About appeared first on Taste of Home.
