Description
These Macaroni and Cheese Bites are a delightful twist on classic mac and cheese, featuring a creamy, cheesy sauce combined with perfectly cooked macaroni, baked into crispy, bite-sized muffins. Ideal as a snack, appetizer, or side dish, these bites offer a satisfying blend of sharp and white cheddar cheeses with a subtle crunchy topping from panko breadcrumbs.
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce Ingredients
- 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
Other Ingredients
- â…“ cup Panko breadcrumbs
- 8 ounces macaroni noodles, cooked and drained
Instructions
- Preheat and Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a muffin tin by coating it 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. Once melted, quickly whisk in the all-purpose flour, salt, garlic powder, and white ground pepper until the mixture is smooth and well combined, forming a roux.
- Make Cheese Sauce: Gradually add the whole milk to the roux while stirring continuously. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat. As soon as it starts boiling, reduce the heat to low and add the shredded sharp cheddar and white cheddar cheeses. Stir continuously until the cheese fully melts and the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Combine Ingredients: Add the cooked and drained macaroni noodles and panko breadcrumbs to the cheese sauce. Gently fold everything together until evenly combined.
- Fill Muffin Tin: Spoon the mac and cheese mixture evenly into the prepared muffin tin cups, filling each about three-quarters full.
- Bake: Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for 25 minutes until the bites are set and lightly golden on top. Remove from the oven and use a spoon or small spatula to carefully loosen the edges of each bite from the muffin tin.
- Cool and Serve: Let the macaroni and cheese bites cool in the tin for about 10 minutes to firm up before serving. Enjoy warm as a delicious snack or side dish.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, you can sprinkle a little more panko breadcrumbs on top of each muffin before baking.
- Use sharp cheddar for a more pronounced cheese flavor, or substitute with other cheeses like mozzarella or gouda for variation.
- If you want to make these bites ahead, bake them fully, then cool and store in an airtight container. Reheat in the oven to retain crispiness.
- Ensure the roux is cooked well before adding milk to avoid a raw flour taste in the sauce.
- Use freshly grated cheese instead of pre-shredded for better melting and texture.
