Description
These Macaroni and Cheese Bites are a delicious twist on classic mac and cheese, baked into convenient, crispy-edged, creamy-centered bites perfect for snacks or party appetizers. Made with a rich cheese sauce and baked in a muffin tin until golden and bubbly, these bites deliver comfort food in a fun, bite-sized form.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese Sauce
- ¼ cup salted butter
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon white ground pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ¾ cup shredded white cheddar cheese
Macaroni and Topping
- 8 ounces macaroni noodles, cooked and drained
- ⅓ cup Panko breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat and Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly coat a muffin tin with butter or nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Make Roux: In a medium-sized pan or skillet over medium heat, melt the salted butter completely. Quickly whisk in the flour, salt, garlic powder, and white ground pepper until the mixture is smooth and well combined, forming a roux base for the sauce.
- Make Cheese Sauce: Gradually add the milk to the roux and bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat. As soon as it boils, turn the heat down to low and stir in the shredded sharp cheddar and white cheddar cheeses continuously until melted and the sauce thickens to a consistency that coats the back of a spoon.
- Combine Ingredients: Fold the cooked macaroni noodles and panko breadcrumbs into the cheese sauce until everything is evenly combined.
- Fill Muffin Tin: Spoon the mac and cheese mixture into the prepared muffin tin, filling each cup evenly.
- Bake: Bake the macaroni and cheese bites in the preheated oven for 25 minutes until golden and set. Remove from oven and use a spoon to gently loosen the edges of each bite from the muffin tin.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the bites to cool for about 10 minutes in the pan to firm up before serving. Enjoy warm as a tasty snack or appetizer.
Notes
- Make sure to use whole milk for a creamier cheese sauce.
- Feel free to use a blend of your favorite cheeses for different flavor profiles.
- Allow bites to cool slightly before removing from the pan to avoid breaking apart.
- Panko breadcrumbs add a nice crunchy texture, but you can substitute with regular breadcrumbs.
- These bites can be made ahead and reheated in the oven for a few minutes before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
