Tips And Alternate Cooking Methods
- How to freeze: Arrange uncooked, assembled mac and cheese balls in single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet. Freeze for 1 hour, then transfer to an airtight container or freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. You can deep fry directly from frozen.
- How to air fry mac and cheese balls: Assemble the balls as directed in the recipe, then spray lightly with cooking spray oil. Place the balls in an even layer in an air fryer basket . Air fry at 350 F for 15 minutes until crispy.
- How to bake in the oven: Assemble the balls as directed in the recipe, and place on a half sheet baking pan lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Bake in a 350 F preheated oven for 20-30 minutes, until crispy on the outside. Rotate them every 5-10 minutes to ensure even cooking.
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
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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Expert Tips For Mac And Cheese Bites Recipe
Nothing beats a homemade recipe! These mini mac and cheese bites are 100% better than store-bought. Theyre deeply satisfying comfort food.
Enjoy these fun snacks during relaxing weekends at home with the family!
- HOW TO GET MAC AND CHEESE BALLS TO STAY TOGETHER: The mixture must be extremely cold. If you cant get the macaroni to easily hold together, return it to the freezer until its extra firm.
- NO CORN CHIPS? NO PROBLEM! Use kettle-style potato chips, nacho-cheese tortilla chips, or all panko bread crumbs.
- NO FIRE-ROASTED CHILIES? Try banana peppers or pepperoncini. Or you can omit this ingredient and still have super tasty mac and cheese bites!
- IDEAS FOR TASTY MIX-INS: Try cooked and crumbled crispy bacon, diced fried baloney, or chopped salami. Fold the add-ins into the cheesy pasta before refrigerating overnight.
- AIR FRYER RECIPE: This is an ideal air-fryer recipe for mac and cheese bites! Prepare the basket with cooking spray. Add the balls to the basket in a single layer, leaving room between each. Air fry at 350°F for 6 minutes. Turn them over. Cook an additional 6-8 minutes, or until golden orange and crisp.
- HOW TO FREEZE UNCOOKED MAC AND CHEESE BITES: After coating the balls with the crumb mixture, freeze them on a baking tray for one hour. Once theyre frozen solid, transfer the balls to a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 weeks.
- DIPPING SAUCE FOR MAC AND CHEESE BALLS: Try bang bang sauce, ranch dressing, marinara sauce, ketchup, or your favorite hot sauce!
Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love:
This chipotle chicken pasta salad is a fantastic way to use up leftovers. Its great for lunch or supper and it keeps well for parties and picnics. The spicy chipotle sauce is offset by sweet, sun-dried tomatoes and a delicious crunch from fresh veggies.
These Olive and Cheese Pinwheel Appetizers make a quick, no-fuss party starter that only requires three ingredients! Olive tapenade is rolled up in pie dough with a three-cheese blend for a savory, cheesy appetizer that is ready in no time.
Our Herbed Olive Oil Dip is simplicity at its best. Our herbed olive oil dip is a mix of fresh herbs, garlic and high-quality olive oil. Serve it with crusty sourdough bread for a delicious party starter.
Our Garlic Shrimp and Butternut Party Bites are a Spanish tapas type of appetizer served skewer-style, with large garlic shrimp and roasted butternut squash cubes on a stick. Theyre classy and unique and will be enjoyed by all!
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Homemade Baked Mac N Cheese Bites
Creamy, cheesy, perfectly bite sized Homemade Baked Mac N Cheese Bites are a great on-the-go snack for kids and finger food appetizer! Use some leftover macaroni and cheese, or stir up some stove-top mac n cheese to make these. Either way they’re absolutely perfect bites of deliciousness!!
This is also definitely one of those great recipes to make with kids, and my daughter just loves to help with making them . I know that being able to make homemade mac n cheese was one of my first kitchen accomplishments when I was a kid.
If you are making the stove top macaroni and cheese, which this would be if you leave the egg out, you can also serve up your portions for a meal. Then mix up the remaining leftovers with an egg and spoon out as many baked mac n cheese bites as you have leftovers for!
What Mac And Cheese To Use
This recipe works with pretty much any mac and cheese recipe you like! I love to make homemade mac and cheese , but boxed mac and cheese will work as well if youre shorter on time!
You can even mix it up with additional fillings. Try adding bacon, hot sausage, shredded chicken, or even swirl in some veggies
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How Do I Reheat Fried Mac And Cheese Balls
The best way to reheat them is to place them on a foil linedbaking sheet and heat them up in an oven or toaster oven. Place them in a 350°Fheated oven for 5 to 7 minutes or until they are heated thoroughly. You caneven reheat the mac and cheese balls directly from the freezer this way,without thawing them! Just increase the heat time to 10 to 15 minutes.
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Mac And Cheese Bites Recipe Ingredients And Substitutes
Its basically the same as my blockbuster Stovetop Mac and Cheese here, except this one has eggs and is baked in a muffin pan for easy snacking. To make this recipe, well need:
Mac and Cheese Topping
- Butter and Garlic I really love the combination of buttery and garlicky flavors. Not to mention their exceptional aroma filling the whole kitchen. Aah! Very relaxing, indeed!
- Bread Crumbs Its not your ordinary breadcrumbs because were gonna toss them in sauteed butter and garlic for an extra savory flavor and crunchy texture. It creates a surprise factor with every bite.
Mac and Cheese Bites
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese, andJack Cheese Oh, yeah! I love how this trio cheese combo adds the perfect gooeyness, creaminess, and cheesiness to all of my Mac and Cheese recipes. I have tried this recipe with Gouda, provolone, and parmesan, too, and they turned out amazing. And, of course, you can always add your favorite cheese for your personal touch to this recipe. Oh, and if you cant handle dairy from cows, great substitutes to use are Manchego, kashkaval, and pecorino Romano.
- Eggs This is the first time I added eggs to one of my Mac and Cheese recipes. However, the eggs are essential in this recipe to act as a binder and give firmer structure to our mac and cheese bites.
- Salt and Pepper Dont forget to season it well with salt and pepper to amp up the flavor, of course.
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Easy Baked Mac And Cheese Bites
Baked Mac and Cheese Bites are an easy, delicious appetizer perfect for any occasion! They’re creamy, cheesy, and a little crispy on the edges. Homemade mac and cheese made with DaVinci Pasta is baked in mini muffins tins until golden brown then served warm and melty. Both adults and kids love them!
This post is sponsored by DaVinci Pasta, who I am so excited to partner with! Recipe, photographs, thoughts and opinions are all my own.
The holidays are right around the corner, which means lots of cooking and lots of eating! When it comes to Thanksgiving and Christmas, my family likes to snack on appetizers throughout the day instead of sitting down for lunch to save room for a big dinner! And these Baked Mac and Cheese Bites are the perfect appetizer.
Baked mac and cheese bites only take 35 minutes to make, and only 15 minutes of that is hands-on cook time. Even better, they can be prepared ahead of time. Just pop them in the oven for 15 minutes, then serve while they’re warm and gooey!
S To Prepare Mac And Cheese Bites
This delightful recipe is a great party snack. It is easy to prepare. I cant wait to grab a cup of mac and cheese and munch it. This dish is more cheesy and less saucy.
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Making The Macaroni And Cheese
What Cheeses And Spices Are In Mac And Cheese Bites
Aside from whats already in the leftovers, I like to add a little American or mozzarella. Just to make sure that there is enough cheese. I really want to feel that cheesy goodness in every bite. I also add some cayenne pepper and Italian herbs to the leftover mac and cheese and give it a good stir.
This seasoning gives a really good flavor to the mac n cheese bites.
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Easy Mac And Cheese Bites
This post may contain affiliate links. If you shop from one of our links, we may earn a commission.
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.
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.
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What Kind Of Bread Crumbs Should I Use
Go ahead and make life easy by using store-bought bread crumbs to make your mac n cheese balls. I used lemon pepper bread crumbs that I picked up at the local market. Some other amaaaaazing options to use include:
- Panko bread crumbs
- Gluten Free breadcrumbs
- Crushed potato chips or tortilla chips
You can also make your own homemade breadcrumb mixture, which is so easy to do! Check out my air fryer chicken tenders recipe for a bread crumb topping recipe that is absolutely delicious!
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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.
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Fried Mac And Cheese Bites
Ive tested my easy bacon mac and cheese recipe a lot, trying to make sure that its JUST perfect. But after doing three or four tests batches, it means I have a LOT of mac and cheese leftover! And though I love cheese as much as the next guy , theres only so much mac and cheese one can eat. So thats when I figured Id repurpose it and make it into fried mac and cheese bites!
Fried mac and cheese balls are great for a party or as a way to use up leftover mac and cheese. I also love the ratio of the crunchy outside to creamy inside.
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.
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