Viral TikTok Mac and Cheese (Oven Baked)

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This Viral TikTok Velveeta Mac and Cheese recipe is baked in the oven without boiling the pasta! Try this Viral mac and cheese hack!

A fork scooping up creamy oven baked mac and cheese in a bowl. — TikTok Mac and Cheese

Calling all cheese lovers! Have you seen the TikTok video for oven baked mac and cheese?

If you are a TikTok user, you may have seen a viral video with a TikTok hack for Mac and Cheese. This recipe is the step-by-step version of those mac and cheese videos.

Follow these simple steps and then you can sit down with a bowl of creamy pasta and feel a little like an influencer with your own TikTok macaroni.

This recipe is a new twist on a classic dish. As a kid, Kraft Macaroni and Cheese was my favorite mac. As I grew older, baked macaroni and cheese became my new favorite. This is an even easier TikTok method of that classic comfort food.

The first thing you may notice about this recipe is how easy it is! It's a one pan meal that is sure to become one of your favorite homemade recipes!

Don't forget to give these TikTok Cheesy Ramen Noodles a try too!

This is a great side dish to Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes and Fall Off the Bone Baby Back Ribs!

If you are looking for more comfort food sides try these Candied Yams with Marshmallows!

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This one-pot mac has the best cheese flavor!
This viral TikTok recipe is full of simple ingredients with an end result of cheesy goodness.
You can add this to your list of easy dinners for those busy weeknights.

Recipe Ingredients

You'll need the following ingredients to make this TikTok Mac and Cheese:

The ingredients or oven baked tiktok mac and cheese.

Velveeta Cheese melts beautifully into a creamy sauce.

Elbow Macaroni Pasta is the classic shape we all know and love.

Heavy Cream or heavy whipping cream will add a creamy texture.

Water helps to cook the noodles.

Salt enhances the other flavors in this dish.

Black Pepper adds a little bit of a kick.

Butter thickens the dish and makes it even creamier.

Sharp Cheddar Cheeses has a delicious, strong taste. Adding this extra cheese gives a dynamic flavor to the side dish.

How to Make It

Here are some quick visual instructions for this viral one pan baked mac and cheese. The full recipe with ingredient measurements is below!

Preheat the oven to 375° Fahrenheit. Place the whole block of cheese in a 9x13 glass baking dish. Pour pasta around the cheese.

A glass baking dish with Velveeta cheese and one with Velveeta and elbow pasta.

Pour heavy cream and water on top of the pasta. Sprinkle the salt and pepper on top. Add four tablespoons of butter on top.

Two baking dishes with velveeta, elbow pasta, heavy cream and water. One also has salt, pepper and butter.

Cover the baking dish with tin foil and bake for 45-60 minutes. Using oven mitts, remove the baking dish and take the tin foil off of the top. Stir the pasta mix and add the sharp cheddar cheese 1 cup at a time and stir until the grated cheese is melted.

A baking dish covered with foil and a baking dish with cooked mac and cheese with sharp cheddar on top.

Serve this pasta warm with the delicious melted cheese in a bowl.

Two white bowls of creamy mac and cheese. One has a fork next to it and the other has a fork scooping the mac and cheese.

Recipe Tips & Tricks

There are a few things that will ensure that the Tiktok Velveeta mac and cheese recipe comes out right!

Make sure you wait to add the shredded sharp cheddar cheese at the end. When cheddar gets too hot it can get gritty. (I tried this during my testing phase of this recipe)
If you find that your pasta isn't soft enough after 45 minutes, first check if you need more liquid. You can add ½ or 1 cup of heavy cream or milk and then cover and return it to the oven for 15 minutes (cooking time may vary based on your brand of elbow pasta).

Storage and Reheating

Storage: After cooling to room temperature, store in an airtight container or Ziploc bag for 3-4 days.
Reheating: You can reheat in the microwave, over, or on the stovetop. Add 1 tablespoon of milk for each cup of macaroni to bring back the creaminess.
Freezing: After cooling to room temperature, store in an airtight container or flat in a Ziploc bag for up to 2 months.

Substitutions

American cheese can replace Velveeta cheese.
Half and half can be used as a replacement for heavy cream.
You can use mild cheddar instead of sharp, but it will have slightly less flavor.
White cheddar cheese can be used instead of the classic yellow shredded cheese.

Variations

Make this Tiktok mac and cheese hack even better with these tastiest options!

Crunchy Topping - Mix some melted butter and panko bread crumbs and spread it on top of the finished mac and cheese. Turn the oven on a low broil and put it back in the oven for 1-2 minutes to toast the panko. Keep a close eye on it!
Garlic & Herb - Add minced fresh garlic and thyme.
Meat Lovers - Rotisserie chicken, bacon, or ground beef can add some meat to this basic mac.
Different Type of Cheese - Try mozzarella cheese, white cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, etc.
Spicy - Add some red pepper flakes for some flavor and a nice kick.
Gouda - Add ½ cup of Gouda to add a rich and nuttiness or try this Dutch Oven Mac and Cheese which has tons of flavor.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheesiest cheese for mac and cheese?

Cheddar and Velveeta, used in this recipe, are both super cheesy. Most cheeses are going to be super cheesy with a variety of flavors. You could try a cheese taste test to see which flavor combos you love best!

How do you keep mac and cheese creamy?

The heavy cream, butter, and water help this creamy mac keep its cream. After refrigerating it, add 1 tablespoon of milk per cup of macaroni to bring back the creaminess.

Why is my homemade mac and cheese gritty?

It could be the additives in many processed cheeses. Using fresh cheese can help reduce the grittiness of mac and cheese. Another problem may be overheating the cheese. That shouldn't be a problem in this viral TikTok mac and cheese recipe.

📖 Recipe

Viral TikTok Mac and Cheese (Oven Baked)

This Viral TikTok Velveeta Mac and Cheese recipe is baked in the oven without boiling the pasta! Try this Viral mac and cheese hack!

4.79 from 56 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 45

Total Time: 50

Servings: servings

Author: Jen Talley

Cost: $8

Equipment

1 9x13 glass pan

Ingredients

16 ounces velveeta cheese
1 pound elbow macaroni pasta
3 cups heavy cream
1 cup water
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
4 tablespoons butter
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese (shredded & added at the end)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375° Fahrenheit.
Place the block of cheese in a 9x13 glass baking dish. Pour the dried elbow pasta around the cheese.
Cover the pasta with the heavy cream and water. Sprinkle the salt and pepper on top. Put 1 tablespoon of butter in each corner of the pan. (Do NOT at the sharp cheddar)
Cover the baking dish with tin foil. Bake for 45-60 minutes (times may vary based on the brand of pasta). If you find that your pasta isn't soft enough after 45 minutes, first check if you need more liquid. You can add ½ or 1 cup of heavy cream or milk and then cover and return it to the oven for 15 minutes.
Using oven mitts, remove the baking dish and remove the tin foil. Stir the pasta and add the shredded sharp cheddar cheese 1 cup at a time and stir until it is melted.

Video

Notes

Storage: After cooling to room temperature, store in an airtight container or Ziploc bag for 3-4 days.
Reheating: You can reheat in the microwave, over, or on the stovetop. Add 1 tablespoon of milk for each cup of macaroni to bring back the creaminess.
Freezing: After cooling to room temperature, store in an airtight container or flat in a Ziploc bag for up to 2 months.