Kraft Mac and Cheese has long been a beloved fixture in kitchen pantries since its birth in 1937, thanks to James Lewis Kraft. However, one woman’s radical twist on the classic recipe has the internet in a frenzy.
Typically, Kraft-Heinz suggests starting the macaroni cheese preparation by boiling water in a medium-sized saucepan. According to the conventional method, you should cook the noodles for about seven to eight minutes, drain them, and return them to the pan.
Then, the process involves stirring in butter, milk, and a packet of Cheese Sauce Mix before serving. But hold onto your hats, because this TikToker’s method shakes things up!
In a 2021 TikTok video, Nikki Gillespie blew our minds by showing a ‘genius’ method that supposedly makes macaroni cheese cheesier and more flavorful. Gillespie found this innovative approach while browsing social media and immediately knew she had to try it.
Instead of sticking to the standard method, she added enough water to cover two packets of pasta in a pan, tossed in the water, and then set it on the stove. As the mix heated up, Gillespie added two packets of dry cheese sauce, a couple of butter cubes, and a sprinkle of black pepper.
Emphasizing an open-lid cooking approach to allow water evaporation, she later stirred in some heavy cream to achieve a creamy consistency. Gillespie’s no-strain, one-skillet method not only simplifies the cooking process but also enhances the dish’s taste by cooking the pasta directly in the cheesy goodness.
For an even creamier texture, she threw in heaps of Kraft’s shredded low-moisture mozzarella and cheddar cheese, which her daughters absolutely adored. This addition, she claimed, made the dish much cheesier and provided a homemade flavor.
The viral hack, pulling in over five million views, has stirred up quite the conversation online, with opinions split down the middle.
https://www.tiktok.com/@americanstandardk9/video/6989033438359719174
Reactions ranged from disdain for any boxed mac and cheese to praise for the convenience of not needing a strainer. Some saw it as far from homemade, while others suggested further modifications like using chicken broth or cream cheese.
Despite the mixed reviews, Gillespie embraces her rogue culinary spirit, simply stating, “I’m a rebel.” Whether you’re a purist or a pioneer in the kitchen, this macaroni cheese hack has certainly spiced up the conversation around a classic dish!