Mac and cheese is already such a delicious dish. It is hard to beat this comfort food favorite. Enter mac and cheese bites! Mac and cheese bites have all of your favorite things about mac and cheese, but made portable and with a crunchy outer coating. These baked easy mac and cheese bites is best with boxed mac and cheese and whips up in a jiffy!
Most mac and cheese bites are deep-fried. I crafted this baked version to use less oil, and also to simplify the process. I love fried foods, but they require a level of focus that I am rarely prepared to give. By baking your bites, you can step away for 15 minutes without having to worry about them. Plus it's a little bit better for you.
Why You'll Love These Baked Mac and Cheese Bites
- Easy Cheesy – This recipe is easy to make and only takes about 25-30 minutes from start to finish!
- Leftover Friendly – I love using this recipe to repurpose leftover mac and cheese. Just take your leftover mac and cheese out of the refrigerator, stir in your egg and extra cheeses and go!
Ingredients for Baked Mac and Cheese Bites
- Boxed Mac n Cheese – Grab a box of your favorite mac and cheese for this recipe! You will be using the cheese packet as well.
- Half and Half – Half and half makes this mac and cheese creamy, but you can use any milk of your choice.
- Butter – You will need 2 tablespoons of butter to start your cheese sauce.
- Salt – Regular table salt works fine. You only need ½ teaspoon to season this dish.
- Garlic Powder – Garlic powder goes a long way in adding depth to the flavor of these baked mac n cheese bites. I recommend ½ teaspoon.
- Cream Cheese – Cream cheese adds a little flavor and it also helps to keep your mac and cheese bites from getting dry in the oven.
- Cheddar Cheese – Real cheese helps hold the mac and cheese bites together, and it also takes the flavor to the next level. You will want 1 ½ cups of shredded cheese. White cheddar is a great choice.
- Egg – Egg acts as your binder in this recipe, which will make your mac and cheese scoopable and keep it together as it bakes.
- Breadcrumbs – I like to give my mac and cheese bites a little crunch by sprinkling breadcrumbs onto them before they bake. You can use traditional breadcrumbs or panko.
- Optional Garnish – If you wish to add a little garnish, some fresh parsley is pretty and adds a lovely pop of freshness the dish.
How to Make It
- Preheat oven to 375F and grease a mini muffin pan. Boil the macaroni pasta according to box directions (about 5-8 minutes), drain and set aside for later.
- In the same pot, on low, melt the butter and stir in the half and half and cheese packet from the box of macaroni. Stir vigorously to dissolve clumps.
- Add cream cheese, shredded cheese, salt and garlic powder to the pot and stir until mostly melted. Keep on low making sure to not overheat.
- When the cheese mixture is smooth and combined, fold in the cooked macaroni and an egg.
- Scoop macaroni mixture evenly into mini muffin cavities and top with breadcrumbs or panko.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes or until they are solid and golden brown around the edges. Remove from oven and garnish as desired. To remove them from the pan gently slide a knife around each one and they should easily lift. Enjoy warm.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Start by preheating your oven to 375. Grease a mini muffin pan with your oil of choice. While your oven warms up, cook your macaroni according to the instructions on the box. It usually takes about 5-8 minutes. After you cook your pasta, drain it and set it aside.
Prepare your sauce! Turn your heat down to low and melt your butter in the pot. Stir in your half and half and the powdered cheese packet that came with the macaroni. Mix it well, making sure to dissolve any clumps.
Next, add your cream cheese, shredded cheese, salt and garlic powder. Stir until your ingredients are combined and mostly melted.
Once your cheese sauce is smooth, fold in your cooked macaroni noodles, and one egg.
Scoop your macaroni mixture into the greased mini muffin tin. Sprinkle your breadcrumbs on top of the mac and cheese bites, and place your pan in the oven.
Bake your mac and cheese bites for 15-18 minutes, or until they are firm and golden brown around the edges.
Remove your mac and cheese bites from the oven. To easily remove them from the pan, gently slide a knife around the edges to lift. Enjoy warm and garnish as desired.
Sometimes I like to pack it up in a lunch box too! Just make sure it's eaten fairly quickly or placed in a thermos because of the dairy.
Cook's Tips
- Jazz up your mac and cheese bites by mixing in bacon bits, shredded potato, or small diced mushrooms or jalapenos. You can also try garnishing with grated parmesan, everything seasoning, green onions, or a hot honey drizzle.
- For even more fun, serve your mac and cheese bites with a tasty dipping sauce, like buffalo sauce, marinara, ranch, chipotle mayo, or guacamole.
- Mac and cheese bites are best enjoyed fresh, but if you wish to reheat them, the air fryer will give the best results.
FAQ:
Egg is a binder, so it helps to hold the loose noodles together, making it more solidified.
Cheese can get overcooked. When you are making your cheese sauce, if the heat is too high it can cause the cheese to break down and ruin the texture. This is why it is important to keep the heat low when preparing your cheese sauce.
I find that a little garlic goes a long way, and you don’t want to overdo this simple, classic appetizer with too many spices. The optional garnish of parsley can also add a really nice element. Keeping it relatively simple also opens up the door for more fun dips and garnishes. If you still want to add a little more seasoning to your mac and cheese, try a little chili powder and onion powder. You could also sprinkle a little paprika on the tops of your mac and cheese bites with the breadcrumbs before baking.
Looking for more delicious lunch box friendly recipes? Try these:
Tried this Mac and Cheese Recipe and love it? Please leave me a comment and rating below. Feel free to also tag me, I love to see your creations and sharing them. For more inspiration follow us on Instagram Or like us on Facebook
Baked Mac and Cheese Bites
Ingredients
- 1 6-8 oz Box Mac n Cheese with cheese packet included
- ½ cup Half n Half or Milk of choice
- 2 tbsp Butter
- ½ tsp Salt
- ½ tsp Garlic Powder
- 4 oz Cream Cheese softened
- 1.5 cups White Cheddar Cheese shredded
- 1 Egg
- ¼ cup Panko or Bread Crumbs
- Optional Garnish: Parsley
Instructions
- Preheat oven 375F and grease a mini muffin pan.
- Boil the macaroni pasta according to box directions (about 5-8 minutes), drain and set aside for later.
- In the same pot, on low, melt the butter and stir in the half and half and cheese packet from the box of macaroni. Stir vigorously to dissolve clumps.
- Add cream cheese, shredded cheese, salt and garlic powder to the pot and stir until mostly melted. Keep on low making sure to not overheat.
- When the cheese mixture is smooth and combined, fold in the cooked macaroni and an egg.
- Scoop macaroni mixture even into mini muffin cavities and top with bread crumbs or panko.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes or until they are solidified and golden brown around the edges. Remove from oven and garnish as desired. To remove them from the pan gently slide a knife around each one and they should easily lift. Enjoy warm.
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