A TikToker called herself a ‘rebel’ for not following the instructions on her meal packet
A woman’s unconventional twist on the classic macaroni and cheese recipe has stirred up quite the debate on social media, with her method leaving traditionalists scratching their heads.
Since its creation by James Lewis Kraft in 1937, Kraft Mac and Cheese has become a beloved staple in many households.
Typically, there’s a standard way to whip up this boxed dinner as outlined on the Kraft-Heinz website: start by boiling water in a saucepan, cook the pasta for seven to eight minutes, then drain and return it to the pan.
To finish, you add a quarter cup of margarine, a quarter cup of milk, and the cheese sauce mix, stir it all together, and serve.
A woman’s way of cooking Kraft macaroni cheese has divided the internet.TikTok / _nikkigillespie_
However, Nikki Gillespie threw the rulebook out the window with her TikTok revelation in 2021.
She showcased what she claims is a ‘genius’ hack that makes the dish ‘cheesier’ and ‘tastier’.
While scrolling through social media, Nikki stumbled upon this alternative recipe that completely changed her approach to making mac and cheese.
“I’ve been cooking this stuff all the wrong way,” she declared as she tipped two packets of pasta into a pan, covering them with water before setting it on the stove.
As the water heated, she added two packets of dried cheese sauce right into the pot along with two cubes of butter and a sprinkle of black pepper.
“Don’t put the lid on it because you need the extra water to cook out of it,” Nikki instructed as she brought the mixture to a boil.
The video then cuts to her stirring a now creamy concoction, to which she added heavy cream for extra richness.
Nikki added extra cheese and heavy cream to the dish.TikTok / _nikkigillespie_
“No straining,” Nikki advised. “You don’t even have to strain the noodles or anything.
“It’s just one skillet and it’s so much easier, and it tastes so much better because the pasta actually just cooks in with the cheese sauce.”
To up the creaminess even further, Nikki tossed in handfuls of Kraft shredded low-moisture mozzarella and cheddar cheese, a move her daughters absolutely ‘loved it’.
“I added some of that in there, let it melt down, and it’s a lot more cheesier and gives it a great extra flavor,” she said, adding that it “almost gives it that homemade taste.”
This recipe hack, which has since racked up five million views, has sparked mixed reactions in the comments section.
https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/6989033438359719174?lang=en-US&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thatviralfeed.com%2Fwoman-says-she-has-a-better-way-to-make-mac-n-cheese-and-people-are-mad-at-her–genius–method%2F106200
One user boasted, “My family wouldn’t eat any box mac cheese. I’m a homemade macaroni and cheese.”
Another appreciated the simplicity: “I love that you don’t have to strain it. Sometimes having the strainer in the dishwasher means we gotta figure something else out, this is perfect.”
Not everyone was convinced, though. “Lol @ almost that homemade taste!!!! Not even close!!!! Not invited to the cookout,” one critic remarked.
Another pointed out, “That’s not what the directions on the box say,” to which Gillespie cheekily replied: “I’m a rebel.”
Yet another commenter shared their own twist: “I replace half the water with chicken broth, and use cream cheese instead of butter.”
While Nikki’s method may not be for everyone, it’s clear that when it comes to mac and cheese, sometimes you just can’t please them all!