Mac and Cheese Bites

Content… Why It Works Recipe Ingredients How to Make It Recipe Variations Tips and Tricks Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions What to Serve More Tasty Mac and Cheese Recipes to Try Watch How to Make It

Why Mac and Cheese Bites Work

Mozzarella, sharp cheddar, and Jack cheese get together for the perfect umami balance. Since these bites were meant to be eaten with your fingers, we need something to stiffen a classic mac and cheese recipe. Extra breadcrumbs and an egg or two are the perfect addition. You’ll have great comfort food bites without getting your fingers messy.

Ingredients You’ll Want

1. Mac and Cheese Topping – Butter and garlic make breadcrumbs even more delectable. They also add that little crunch that’s so satisfying. Though it goes on the bottom instead of the top.
2. Macaroni – What’s mac and cheese without macaroni? But feel free to use the pasta of your choice.
3. Roux – Our cheesy homemade béchamel sauce enjoys butter, flour, and evaporated milk. Onion powder, garlic powder, Creole seasoning, and cayenne pepper enhance the flavor. And a little S&P to taste always helps.
4. Cheese -Mozzarella, Jack, and sharp cheddar cheese deliver the perfect gooey creaminess to many of my Mac and Cheese recipes.
5. Eggs are essential in this recipe to act as a binder and give our mac and cheese bites a firmer structure.

How to Bake Mac and Cheese Bites

Prep Ingredients

• Melt butter in a small skillet over medium heat, then add a teaspoon of minced garlic and stir for about 30 seconds. Toss in breadcrumbs, and saute for 3-4 minutes or until fragrant and slightly brown. Lightly salt and pepper as desired. (Photos 1-3)
• Spray the muffin pan wells with cooking spray, then add the desired amount of breadcrumb coating. Press down firmly to form a crust up the sides of the well, and set aside. (Photo 4)
• Pasta – Cook the macaroni per package instructions, then drain well. Place hot pasta in a large bowl and set aside.
• Roux – Melt butter in a skillet. Whisk in the flour to make the roux. Continue whisking until the flour is thoroughly blended with the butter, then cook for another minute to eliminate the raw flour taste. (Photo 5)
• Béchamel – Slowly add evaporated milk a little at a time so it doesn’t form lumps. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and stir constantly while cooking for 2-3 minutes or until the mixture thickens slightly. (Photo 6)
• Season – Stir in the seasonings (onion and garlic powder, Creole seasoning, and optional cayenne pepper) until thoroughly mixed. (Photo 7)
• Cheese – Stir in the cheeses, and continue stirring until everything melts and combines well for a smooth sauce. Add salt and pepper to taste. (Photo 8)

Ready to Go

• Assemble – Remove the cheese sauce from the heat, pour over the pasta, and mix well. Then, add any desired add-ins, stirring to incorporate evenly. (Photos 9-10)
• Spoon about two teaspoons of the mixture into the prepared mini muffin tin wells. Pack it in firmly to ensure your mac and cheese bites don’t fall apart. Top with extra cheese, bacon, or breadcrumbs. (Photo 11)
• Bake – Bake for 8-10 minutes at 350℉ (180℃). If using a regular-sized muffin pan, bake for 4-5 more minutes or until lightly brown and bubbly. (Photo 12)
• Rest – Remove from the oven and let them rest for 7-10 minutes. Please don’t try to remove them from the pan right from the oven, as they will fall apart.
• Serve – Carefully run a knife around the edges of the muffin wells and gently remove them. Garnish with chopped chives or parsley. Enjoy!

Recipe Variations

Ramp up your mac and cheese bite recipe with any of the following additions.

1. Bacon, ham, or sausage. Add more protein for a heartier appetizer 😋
2. Seafood. Lobster, shrimp, and crabmeat make great add-ins for an elegant surprise. So simple to make, yet so tasty and fancy.
3. Veggies – Go for a guilt-free and healthier option with bell peppers, diced onion, olives, mushrooms (not technically a vegetable), or any favorite pizza topping goes great. 👌
4. Fried Mac and Cheese. Scoop a spoonful of mac and cheese mixture and roll them in the breadcrumb mixture. You can deep-fry or air-fry them for crispy mac and cheese balls.
5. Cheese swap. Gouda, provolone, and parmesan are all amazing. If you can’t handle dairy from cows, great substitutes are Manchego, kashkaval, and Pecorino Romano.
6. Gluten-free. Replace the flour for the roux with cornstarch, and use your favorite gluten-free macaroni.
7. Leftover mac and cheese. For an even faster mac and cheese bite recipe, mix an egg into the leftover mac and cheese, chill it, spoon the mixture into balls, and roll them in the breadcrumb mixture. Bake or fry and enjoy.

Tips and Tricks

1. Bring all the ingredients to room temperature to shorten cooking time.
2. Pre-shredded bagged cheese tends to be drier and has anti-caking additives. Therefore, shredding block cheese will give you the creamiest cheese sauce. If using pre-shredded cheese, try adding another tablespoon of evaporated milk.
3. The secret to these handy snacks is packing them tightly into ramekins or muffin pans, or else they could fall apart.
4. Don’t cover baked mac and cheese bites as it steams them, preventing them from achieving that lovely crusty top.

Make Ahead and Storage

Frozen mac and cheese bites make an ideal snack ready to enjoy when the craving hits. Bake and cook the bites, then freeze them on a baking sheet, making sure they don’t touch. When they’re frozen solid, store them in a freezer bag so they’re ready when you are. Heat them up in the oven, air fryer, or microwave.

The pasta can absorb liquid from the cheese sauce if assembled too far in advance. So it’s best to keep the pasta and cheese sauce separate until ready to bake. Mix the egg with the cooled cheese sauce, make the breadcrumb topping, and cook the pasta the day before. Keep them in separate containers in the fridge until ready to bake.

Leftover bites 🤔 will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days or the freezer for 2-3 months. Reheat in the oven at 350℉ (180℃), air fryer at 375℉ (190℃), or microwave for a quick snack.

What to Serve With Amazing Mac and Cheese Bites

These guys go great with other appetizers. Anything on my Super Bowl collection is a great match. However, fried chicken wings and Southern fried okra are my go-to’s.

More Tasty Mac and Cheese Recipes to Try

1. White Cheddar Mac and Cheese
2. Velveeta Macaroni and Cheese
3. Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese
4. Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese
5. Shrimp Macaroni and Cheese

By Imma

Watch How to Make It

[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”ncMK0QGO” upload-date=”2021-12-28T07:00:00.000Z” name=”Mac and Cheese Bites” description=”Experience snacking with style with these crispy Mac and Cheese Bites filled with creamy, cheesy goodness inside. Made with the famous trio cheese combo – Mozzarella, Sharp Cheddar, and Jack, these delicious bites are even more delectable with the added kick of heat from Creole Seasoning and cayenne. ” player-type=”collapse” override-embed=”false”]

This blog post was originally published in December 2021 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video