TikTok users and food trends have a long-running history. First, it was recipes like Emily Mariko’s salmon bowls and Gigi Hadid’s spicy vodka sauce pasta, and now the internet is fixated on Tini’s mac and cheese. In November 2023, Tini released a video detailing her iconic mac and cheese recipe — and TikTok users loved it. The recipe recently made a resurgence just in time for the holiday season, although it has since stirred up some controversy. Regardless, you still need to clear a spot on your table this Thanksgiving, because this mac and cheese is here to stay despite the drama.
Who is Tini?
Tineke “Tini” Younger, also known by her handle @tinekeyounger, is a chef who formerly competed on Gordon Ramsay’s show, Next Level Chef, in 2023. She placed in the top eight on her season, and Ramsay left her with one final message as she was leaving the show: “You have to continue this incredible journey.”
Needless to say, she did. Tini has since amassed a large following on TikTok and even has her own cooking series on Ramsay’s platform, Bite. She continues to share her recipes and snapshots of her life online.
Why are TikTok users upset with Tini?
“Thanksgiving with Tini” isn’t going so smoothly this year. Some fans are calling Tini out for her recipe for being overhyped. Many videos show mac and cheese that is grainy and gray, and the original posters asking what went wrong.
Despite the complaints, Tini’s fans are coming to her defense. Most blame the roux for the failed mac and cheese attempts, while others say that the cheese curdled because it was added too soon. One user, @allisdawq1s, even commented “If you don’t like the flavor and good texture just say that. Her recipe is perfection!” in response to the original poster, @laurenwhitney27, saying that she “did not like [the mac and cheese] at all.”
Regardless of the exact reason, fans tend to agree that these mac and cheese failures are user-error, not Tini’s fault. But that didn’t stop the drama from reaching Tini. Just days after her wedding she posted a TikTok captioned “We need to leave Tini out of this mac n cheese drama she just got married and it’s literally cheese and pasta.”
How can I make Tini’s mac and cheese recipe?
Tini’s mac and cheese is easy to make but takes a lot of patience. The recipe requires 2 ½ pounds of hand grated cheese. Don’t skimp out and buy the pre-grated cheese from the store — the recipe won’t come together, according to Tini. For the best results, you’ll also have to make a roux as the base of your sauce. Roux is a thickening agent made of equal parts fat (in this case butter) and flour that will ensure your cheese sauce is thick and creamy.
You can see the full recipe for Tini’s mac and cheese and try making it yourself here.