The internet became obsessed with this mac and cheese. I tried the recipe, and it's a must-have at your Super Bowl party. (2024)

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Tineke "Tini" Younger's mac-and-cheese recipe features some twists on the traditional ingredients.

To make the viral mac and cheese at home, you'll need:

• 1 pound cavatappi pasta

• 16 ounces mozzarella cheese, grated

• 16 ounces colby jack cheese, grated

• 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, grated

• 1 12-ounce can evaporated milk

• 2 cups heavy cream

• 3 tablespoons butter

• 3 tablespoons flour

• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika

• ½ teaspoon salt

• ½ teaspoon pepper

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First, I cooked my pasta.

In her TikTok video, Younger said she opts for cavatappi noodles because their shape holds the cheese sauce better than elbow pasta.

"All that cream gets all in the hole, so you bite into the cream and the cheesiness," she said.

Once my pasta was al dente, I drained the pot and put it to the side while I started the sauce.

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Then, I turned my oven on and began to prep the cheeses.

I preheated the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and greased my baking dish (Younger recommends using a 9-inch by 13-inch pan) before I started grating all the cheese.

The recipe includes 2 ½ pounds of cheese, and Younger is adamant that you shred your own.

"Do not use pre-shredded cheese at all," she says in the TikTok.

It's definitely an arm workout, but the grating went by quickly thanks to some help from my boyfriend — shout-out to Peter.

Next, I tossed all the cheeses together.

After giving everything a good mix, I divided half of the cheese to use for the sauce.

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I also prepped my seasoning mix.

I threw my garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper into a small bowl so it'd be ready for the roux.

It was time to get cooking.

First, I melted my butter in a large pan, which I placed over medium heat.

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Once the butter had melted, I added half the seasoning mix.

I started stirring as I added the flour. Tini says you should try to cook all the flour out, so I continued to stir for a few minutes.

Then, I added the can of evaporated milk.

Younger says you should start whisking right after adding the milk to avoid clumps in your roux. This is also when your sauce should begin to thicken.

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I also added the heavy cream and the rest of my seasoning.

My roux was ready.

Then, I slowly began adding all my cheese.

Younger says you should let each handful of cheese melt before adding more.

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Once all the cheese had melted, I threw in the pasta.

I made sure to give the pot a big mix so all the noodles were coated with the delicious-smelling cheese sauce.

Then, I began building my mac-and-cheese pan.

I added half of my cheesy cavatappi to the pan, spreading the noodles into an even layer.

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I added half of my cheese mixture on top, then repeated the steps before throwing my pan into the oven.

I baked my mac and cheese for 25 minutes, until the cheese had melted and began to bubble. Then I threw the pan on broil for two minutes to help give the top a beautiful golden crust.

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My mac and cheese got everyone talking at a potluck.

Peter and I made two pans of Younger's mac and cheese (one with breadcrumbs and one without) for our friend's NFL playoffs potluck, and it was easily one of the most popular dishes of the day.

The cavatappi noodles were the perfect vehicle for the thick and creamy cheese sauce, giving each bite an explosion of flavor. I far preferred them to the traditional elbow noodles, and I think Younger's mac and cheese convinced everyone that cavatappi is the superior shape. The cheese sauce was rich, indulgent, and delicious, and the Dijon mustard added a nice subtle tang. My only wish is that I had stuck to the recipe and used smoked paprika instead of plain paprika —I won't make that mistake again.

Our group was split 50/50 on whether the mac and cheese tasted better with breadcrumbs, so just stick to your personal preference. Younger's mac and cheese was so good that Peter's roommate finished half of one of the pans in one sitting. Is there a bigger endorsem*nt than that?

If you're looking for a Super Bowl side to steal the spotlight, Younger's mac and cheese is the ultimate touchdown. I'm already planning to make it again this week.