Best Tips For Success
- Use kitchen scissors to finely mince the broccoli so its about the same size as the noodles.
- Use whichever type of boxed mac and cheese you prefer. Cook according to package directions.
- Use peas or cauliflower rice instead of broccoli.
- To make in a mini muffin pan, fill each cup about full and bake for 8-10 minutes.
Baked Mac And Cheese Bites
Categories Appetizers
Baked Mac and Cheese Bites are tasty little morsels that will disappear fast! With a creamy mac-and-cheese inside and a crisp, crunchy outside, these mac n cheese bites make a yummy appetizer everyone at the party will love! Pair them with the easiest buttermilk ranch dip for major flavor in every bite.
Our mac n cheese bites recipe calls for leftover mac and cheese for extra ease. Who knew you could take leftovers of a classic, kid-favorite dish, and turn it into an elevated party starter with just a few simple steps?
Its hard to outdo a classic mac and cheese casserole. That rich and gooey cheese sauce that smothers tender macaroni noodles Its comfort food extraordinaire!
If youve made our Betty Crocker Mac and Cheese, you know its a classic mac and cheese recipe that doesnt get much better. That is, until you try these baked mac and cheese bites!
Whether you use our recipe or your favorite mac and cheese , these tender mac n cheese bites will leave you and your guests impressed, and hungry for more.
Can You Make Mac And Cheese Bites Ahead Of Time
Like most fried foods, mac and cheese bites are best immediately after cooking. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for two to three days, but the crisp coating will turn softer once refrigerated.
Alternatively, prepare the mac and cheese bites to step four of the recipe, and stop before frying. Store the mac and cheese bites in the fridge or freezer, depending on how far in advance they were prepared. One to two days in the refrigerator is fine. Otherwise, store the mac and cheese bites in the freezer until frying. Fry immediately from frozen.
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Baked Mini Mac And Cheese Bites Recipe
If you are a mac and cheese lover, Im guessing this baked mini mac and cheese bites recipe will become your perfect appetizer. Or side dish. Or snack.
As Ive mentioned before Ive never been a mac and cheese lover, but these cute little appetizers made in a mini muffin tin and baked until the tops are golden brown, just might convert me.
No, these arent as creamy as the real thing, but they certainly are fun to eat.
And if you want to serve them as a side dish feel free to make them in a regular sized muffin tin.
The simple mac and cheese recipe is made with sharp Cheddar or white cheddar and any soft spreadable herb cheese like Alouette, Boursin, or Cracker Barrel.
Of course, you can use any great melting cheese such as Gruyere, Havarti and even a jalapeno Jack.
The key thing in this recipe is to create flavor.
This finger food appetizer tends to be a bit bland on its own so adding in lots of herbs and spices, such as garlic powder can really amp up the flavor.
For that matter stirring in crisp bacon bits or well drained green chilies could work too.
But this simple recipe made with al dente macaroni and an easy cheese sauce will surely hit the spot whatever you choose to use!
Whether for game day or Thanksgiving Day-which is really kind of game daythese elbow macaroni cheese cups are sure to be devoured.
My mom never made me mac and cheese, whether from a box or scratch, so having this dish on Thanksgiving day was news to me.
Need a Few More?
How To Make Baked Mac And Cheese Bites
Preheat oven to 350 and grease a mini muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray. Sprinkle bread crumbs on the bottom of the pan. Set aside.
Combine cooked al dente macaroni, butter, cheese, and half and half in a saucepan and heat over medium heat, frequently stirring until all cheese is melted. Remove from heat and stir in egg and spices.
Use a 2 tablespoon portion scoop to scoop the macaroni and cheese mixture into the prepared baking pan. Top with additional bread crumbs.
Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the center is set and the edges are golden brown. Let your delicious mac set in the pan for 2 minutes. To remove, loosen on the side with a fork and pop out of the pan. This perfect recipe makes 18-20 mini cheesy bites. Even your picky eaters will enjoy this delicious appetizer.
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What Are Mac And Cheese Balls
Besides being tiny bite size bundles of cheesy goodness, of course. Seriously, they are the most delicious way to use up leftover macaroni and cheese.
Imagine scoops of creamy mac n cheese, rolled in Panko crumbs, and deep fried until they are a crispy, golden brown on the outside, and warm and gooey on the inside.
Thats these all right! Drooling now are we?
How To Make Mac And Cheese Bites At Home
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Hearing of Mac and Cheese makes everyone drool. The recipe today is not of the basic mac and cheese we eat in a plate. It is of Mac and cheese that you can finish in just two bites.
You must be a bit confused as to what this recipe is. Well, not to worry, you will get all your doubts cleared by the end of this recipe. I had these mini cups of Mac and cheese at my friends place. Her mother came up with the idea of making cups of mac and cheese. No wonder it turned out amazing. I couldnt stop myself from asking the recipe and here I am sharing it with you all too.
For these mac and cheese bites, boil pasta and drain the pasta. In another pan, melt butter and add paprika and flour to it. Cook this mixture and pour in the milk. Remove the pan from heat and add pasta and cheese to it. Transfer it to greased muffin trap and bake. Cheesy mini cups will be ready in minutes.
Like Mac and cheese is loved by all age groups, this dish will also get the same love. This innovative recipe is worth a try. You can make it by following few simple steps. Also, there are other recipes that you can have as starters, lets check them out.
Whats In The Post
- Ingredients For Mac and Cheese Bites
- How Much Time It Will Take To Prepare Mac and Cheese Bites?
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Why Youll Love Them:
Baked mac and cheese bites are fun and so easy to make! Theyre a great way to make use of cold, leftover mac and cheese, and turn it into something new and exciting. We love this twist on a classic and we know you will too!
These easy mac and cheese bites are:
- simple to prepare, with only four ingredients for the bites !
- oven-baked and not fried which means less fat
- a wonderful way to make use of leftovers!
- delicious, cheesy, fun finger food
These Mini Macaroni And Cheese Bites Are The Perfect Easy Game Day Appetizer Easy Cheesy And Full Of Flavor Everyone Will Love This Bite Size Form Of Macaroni And Cheese
Mini Macaroni and Cheese Bites truly saved the day last week. I threw a last minute party and knew that this delicious, go to appetizer would be a fan favorite! And I was right! Everyone loved this easy, flavorful, make ahead appetizer. Thank you to Collective Bias and its advertisers for sponsoring this fun basketball party.
Last Saturday we had the pleasure of having some people over to eat, chat, and watch some college basketball for March Madness. The party was kind of last minute and I didnt get to spend as much time planning as I normally do. I usually agonize over menus and decor for weeks, but this time, I honestly only had about 24 hours to prepare.
To make things easy, I went with simple basketball themed decor and an easy menu made up of snacks, dips, and Coke products. Scroll to the ver bottom of this post for my ideas on how to throw an easy basketball party!
I made my absolute favorite Mini Macaroni and Cheese Bites and as usual, they were a big hit! They are the perfect appetizer for the Super Bowl or any other sporting function because they are portable and can be easily eaten while watching the Big Game! If you have been wondering how to make macaroni and cheese bites, I have the perfect recipe for you!
How to make macaroni and cheese bites?
How to make macaroni and cheese bites ahead of time
Whether you need food for a March Madness Party or a Super Bowl Party, I have some great ideas for you!
- 1/2cupshredded sharp cheddar cheese
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Serving And Storage Instructions
These mac and cheese goodies are perfect for snacking, and a quick comfort food fix. They are also highly addicting, so I recommend doubling the batch just to be on the safe side. Good thing you can make these babies ahead to have them ready for emergency cravings.
Storing Leftover Mac and Cheese Bites
- Make-Ahead Cook the pasta and cheese sauce ahead and mix them. Only add the breadcrumbs when youre ready to bake.
- Store Its nearly impossible to have any leftovers because they are so darn addicting. However, I do understand making them in big batches for easy snacking. Just remember to cool these bites completely before storing them in an airtight container or freezer-safe resealable bag.
- Refrigerate Store them in the fridge for up to four days.
- Freeze For longer shelf life, store them in the freezer for up to two months.
Make-AheadTip: Cook the pasta and cheese sauce as instructed, then mix them until everything is well-combined. Let them cool completely before storing. Then add the breadcrumbs toppings when ready to bake.
Reheating
- Microwave Leftovers can be reheated in the microwave. However, you might need to brush them with butter to add moisture.
- Oven Preheat the oven to 350/177 and reheat these bites of deliciousness for 5-7 minutes or until warmed through. If frozen, reheat for 10-15 minutes. No thawing is required. Yaaay!
- Air Fryer Pop them in a preheated air fryer at 320/160 for 8-10 minutes.
Ingredients For Mac And Cheese Bites
- 8 Ounce Elbow Macaroni
- 1/4 Teaspoon Paprika
- 2 Tablespoon Flour
| 20 minutes | 30 minutes |
Preparing the baked bites of Mac and Cheese is something you will never feel difficult to make. They will take less than an hour to be ready to bite. You must be curious by now. So lets not make you wait for more. See the instructions below to begin with.
Read Also: How To Make Spinach Dip With Cream Cheese
The Chef Nexdoors Tips For Success
- To get a crunchy shell you can use any coating like crackers, potato chips, or regular bread crumbs. I once tried Cheetos flaming hot flavor and the result was out of this world. I also used Cheetos flaming hot to make Best popcorn chicken recipe
- buy a block of cheese and grate yourself. The pre-shredded kind doesnt melt that well.
- Chill or freeze the balls completely before frying. This will help them hold their shape.
- Make sure your oil is at the correct temperature of 350 degrees F before frying. If the temperature is low the mac and cheese bites will become greasy. If its too high they will burn before the middle gets hot.
While The Mac N Cheese Bites Are Baking:
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How To Make Fried Mac And Cheese Balls
First: In a bowl, combine the leftover cold mac and cheese and the extra cheese. Scoop into 1.5 inch balls and place on a baking sheet with parchment paper. Freeze for 15 minutes.
Second: Beat two eggs in a bowl with a little water. In a separate bowl, add the Panko crumbs. Remove the balls from the freezer, dip the balls into the egg wash, roll in Panko to completely coat, and place back on baking sheet. Repeat with remaining balls.
Third: Return the balls to the freezer while you heat the oil to 375F. When the oil is ready, fry the balls 3 to 4 at a time for 2 minutes or until golden brown. Remove and drain on paper towels.
Fourth: Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce.
For the full recipe and detailed instructions, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Lets Make Baked Mac And Cheese Bites:
These cheesy bites are rolled in toasted Panko breadcrumbs and oven-baked for a deliciously crisp and crunchy outer coating.
To prepare them, you will simply toast the breadcrumbs, roll and coat the mac n cheese bites, then bake them in the oven. Its that easy! Here is a quick overview. Scroll down to our printable recipe card for all the details.
Recommended Reading: How To Make Macaroni And Cheese Sauce
A Fun Way To Enjoy Mac And Cheese
Lets start with cheese! Im happy to present my favorite trio cheese combo Mozzarella, sharp cheddar, and jack. I love them because they have the perfect balance of creaminess and intense flavors. They really make our mac and cheese bites recipe stand out. While the added bacon and garlic-infused breadcrumbs surely take these babies to a higher level of deliciousness.
And, of course, you cant ignore the fact that theyre also deliciously crispy and crunchy with a nice gooey and chewy center. Aaah! So, irresistibly good!
Therefore, if you truly need some uplifting, this is the perfect comfort food for you.
Easy Mac And Cheese Bites
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Learn how to make quick Mac and Cheese Bites for an easy kids lunch or dinner. These mac and cheese cups are so fun, and theyre a nutritious kids meal that can easily double as an appetizer to share with adults.
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Homemade Mac And Cheese Bites
Mac and Cheese is one of the BEST comfort foods out there in my honest opinion. Im not talking about the packaged stuff, but rather the homemade goodness. It truly is special.
One of my favorite things about mac and cheese is that you rarely find someone who doesnt like it- kids included. My picky eaters gobble this stuff up by the bowl full.
My favorite part of homemade mac and cheese happens to be the crispy edges and top. It adds just the right amount of crunch. Then it dawned on me why not turn them into mini bite size pieces to make each bite that piece of heaven!
These bites are the PERFECT finger food or appetizer! Adults and kids alike go crazy for them. My kids have already requested these get put on the menu again for this upcoming week and with how easy they are, how could I say no?!
If you are looking for a people pleasing recipe and/or appetizer, this recipe is fantastic! The flavor is delicious and they are cooked to perfection!
Make Mac N Cheese Balls:
In a bowl, combine the cold leftover mac n cheese from your refrigerator and the extra cheese. Shape the cold mac and cheese into meatball-sized balls and place them onto a waxed paper-lined tray. Or if you dont feel like using your hands, Scoop into 1.5 inch balls and place them on a waxed paper-lined tray.
Freeze the balls overnight.
Also Check: How To Make Mac And Cheese Taste Better
How Many Calories Are In A Mac And Cheese Ball
If you are eating these, it doesnt matter. Calories eaten with friends dont really count, do they?
Freaky Friday is a quarterly blog hop, started and coordinated by Michaela at An Affair From the Heart. The event is where a group of bloggers are randomly assigned another blog, you make one of their recipes , and share it with your readers.
Some of my past Freaky Friday recipes include this indulgent Creamy Corn Dip, these Bacon Wrapped Shrimp, and these Spicy Taco Tater Tots.
I love looking at all the other participants blogs and trying to figure out who got me, what they made, and how they added their own spin on it!
This round I got my friend Brandis Blog Aunt Bees Recipes. I was so excited because I havent had her yet and have been itching to make something of hers! Ive known Brandi from the interweb for a while now and I look forward to her comforting recipes every week.
A self taught cook, Brandi loves collecting cookbooks and enjoys feeding her BUSY and HUNGRY family. Her dishes are easy and always a hit.
She has the best dips like this Southwest Bean Dip and her Chicken Fajita Sliders are always gobbled up quickly.
