mac and cheese bites – Experience snacking in style with crunchy bite-sized snacks packed with cheesy flavor. Creamy, crunchy, and melt-in-your-mouth goodness make the ultimate comfort macaroni and cheese a convenient finger food.
Have you ever wanted macaroni and cheese but the event required finger food? Been there, done that. But I added a little twist to my favorite homemade macaroni and cheese recipe by baking it in a mini muffin tin, and it turned out to be a surprising hit.
That’s when I realized that many recipes could be great additions to appetizer platters. But I deviated. These on-hand macaroni and cheese snacks are great for game day platters, charcuterie board.
Why mac & cheese bites are effective
Mozzarella, crisp cheddar cheese, and jack cheese create a perfect balance of flavor. Since these foods are meant to be eaten with your fingers, you need something to solidify the classic macaroni and cheese recipe. Extra breadcrumbs and an egg or two are perfect. Enjoy a comfortable meal without getting your fingers dirty.
Ingredients you want
- mac & cheese topping – Adding butter and garlic makes breadcrumbs even more delicious. They also add a little crunch that is very satisfying. Although it goes down instead of up.
- macaroni – What’s macaroni and cheese without macaroni? However, feel free to use your favorite pasta.
- Lou – Cheese-flavored homemade béchamel sauce made with butter, flour, evaporated milk. Onion powder, garlic powder, Creole seasoning, and cayenne pepper enhance the flavor. And a little taste of S&P always helps.
- cheese – Mozzarella, jack cheese, and sharp cheddar give it the perfect gooey creaminess for my many. macaroni and cheese recipes.
- egg It is essential in this recipe to act as a binding agent and give the macaroni and cheese a firm structure.
How to bake mac & cheese bites
Preparation ingredients
- melt the butter Place a small skillet over medium heat, add 1 teaspoon minced garlic and stir for about 30 seconds. Add the breadcrumbs and stir-fry for 3 to 4 minutes or until fragrant and slightly browned. Season lightly with salt and pepper to taste. (Photos 1-3)
- spray Coat muffin tins well with cooking spray and add desired amount of crumb coating. Press down firmly to form a crust on the sides of the well and set aside. (Photo 4)
- pasta – Cook macaroni according to package directions and drain well. Place the warm pasta in a large bowl and set aside.
- Lou – Melt the butter in a frying pan. Mix the flour and make a roux. Continue whisking until the flour is completely mixed with the butter and cook for another minute to remove any raw flour taste. (Photo 5)
- béchamel – Slowly add the evaporated milk little by little to avoid lumps. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and stir constantly for 2 to 3 minutes or until mixture thickens slightly. (Photo 6)
- season – Add seasonings (onion and garlic powder, Creole seasoning, and optional cayenne pepper) and stir until thoroughly mixed. (Photo 7)
- cheese – Add the cheese and stir, continuing to stir until everything is melted and a smooth sauce forms. Add salt and pepper to taste. (Photo 8)
Ready
- assemble – Remove the cheese sauce from the heat, pour over the pasta and mix well. Next, add your desired add-ins and stir to mix evenly. (Photos 9-10)
- spoon Place about 2 teaspoons of the mixture into the wells of the prepared mini muffin tin. Make sure to pack the macaroni and cheese tightly so it doesn’t fall apart. Top with additional cheese, bacon, or breadcrumbs. (Photo 11)
- bake – Bake at 350℉ (180℃) for 8-10 minutes. If using a regular-sized muffin tin, bake for an additional 4 to 5 minutes, or until lightly browned and bubbly. (Photo 12)
- rest – Remove from oven and let rest for 7-10 minutes. Don’t try to remove it from the pan right after it comes out of the oven, as it will fall apart.
- serve – Carefully run a knife around the edges of the muffin wells and gently remove. Garnish with chopped chives or parsley. enjoy!
Recipe variations
Enhance your macaroni and cheese bites recipe by adding any of the following:
- bacon, ham, sausage. Add protein for a heartier appetizer 😋
- seafood. Lobster, shrimp and crab meat are perfect additions for an elegant surprise. Although it is very easy to make, it is very delicious and luxurious.
- vegetables – Choose guilt-free, healthier options. Green peppers, chopped onions, olives, mushrooms (not technically a vegetable), or your favorite pizza toppings are perfect. 👌
- Fried mac & cheese. Scoop a spoonful of the macaroni and cheese mixture into the breadcrumb mixture. You can fry or air fry them to make crunchy macaroni and cheese balls.
- cheese swap. Gouda, provolone, and parmesan are all amazing. If you don’t have access to dairy products from cows, Manchego, Cashcaval, and Pecorino Romano are great alternatives.
- gluten free. Replace the flour in the roux with cornstarch and use your favorite gluten-free macaroni.
- leftover macaroni and cheese. For an even quicker macaroni and cheese bite recipe, mix leftover macaroni and cheese with eggs, cool, form into balls with a spoon, and roll in the breadcrumb mixture. Enjoy grilled or fried.
tips and tricks
- Bring all ingredients to room temperature to speed up cooking time.
- Pre-shredded and bagged cheeses tend to be drier and contain anti-caking additives. Therefore, shredding a block of cheese will give you the creamiest cheese sauce. If using pre-shredded cheese, try adding an additional tablespoon of evaporated milk.
- The secret to this convenient snack is to pack it tightly into ramekins or muffin tins. Otherwise, it may fall apart.
- Steaming the baked mac and cheese will prevent the top from becoming crispy, so don’t cover it.
Preemption and storage
Frozen macaroni and cheese makes the perfect snack to enjoy whenever the craving strikes. Bake and cook the bites, then freeze them on a baking sheet without touching them. Once it hardens, you can store it in a freezer bag and eat it anytime. Heat in the oven, air fryer, or microwave.
If you assemble it too far in advance, the pasta may absorb the liquid from the cheese sauce. Therefore, it is best to keep the pasta and cheese sauce separate until you are ready to bake. Mix the chilled cheese sauce with eggs to make the breadcrumb topping, and boil the pasta the day before. Store in separate containers in the refrigerator until ready to bake.
Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days or in the freezer for 2 to 3 months. Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C), in the air fryer at 375°F (190°C), or in the microwave for an easy snack.
What to Serve with a Great Mac & Cheese Snack
These go great with other appetizers. Anything about me super bowl collection It’s a great match. but, fried chicken wings and Southern fried okra It’s my favorite.
More delicious macaroni and cheese recipes to try
- white cheddar mac & cheese
- Velvita Macaroni & Cheese
- smoked gouda mac & cheese
- buffalo chicken mac and cheese
- Shrimp macaroni and cheese
by Imma
See how to make
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This blog post was originally published in December 2021 and updated with additional tips, new photos, and videos.
