Description
Viral TikTok mac and cheese delivers creamy comfort with unexpected twists from Southern kitchens. Cheese lovers will savor this indulgent dish that promises rich flavors and community-style enjoyment.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 16 ounces (454 grams) elbow macaroni
- 4 cups (454 grams) shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 cups (226 grams) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 cups (473 milliliters) whole milk
- 1 cup (237 milliliters) heavy cream
Dairy and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 4 tablespoons (56 grams) butter
- 2 tablespoons (16 grams) all-purpose flour
Spices and Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Boil macaroni in salted water until al dente, typically 7-8 minutes, then thoroughly drain and reserve.
- Melt butter in a spacious saucepan over medium-low temperature, creating a smooth, golden base.
- Incorporate flour into melted butter, whisking vigorously to create a pale roux without browning, which develops a nutty flavor for approximately 60 seconds.
- Gradually stream milk and heavy cream into the roux, continuously stirring to prevent lumps and ensure a silky consistency.
- Season the developing sauce with garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and freshly cracked black pepper, blending thoroughly.
- Reduce heat to low and progressively add shredded cheese varieties, stirring constantly until completely dissolved and forming a luxurious, glossy sauce.
- Fold cooked macaroni into the velvety cheese mixture, ensuring each pasta piece is lavishly coated with the creamy sauce.
- Transfer to serving dishes immediately while piping hot, allowing the rich, decadent mac and cheese to showcase its optimal texture and temperature.
Notes
- Customize cheese blend by mixing sharp cheddar, mozzarella, and Gruyère for deeper flavor complexity.
- Prevent sauce from becoming grainy by grating cheese at room temperature and adding slowly while stirring continuously.
- Enhance texture by reserving some pasta water to adjust sauce thickness if needed, creating silky consistency.
- Make gluten-free version by substituting all-purpose flour with cornstarch or gluten-free flour blend, maintaining same cooking technique.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 690 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 460 mg
- Fat: 47 g
- Saturated Fat: 29 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 46 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg