Have I ever told you that I am obsessed with Mac ‘n cheese? Yes, I know it is one of those comfort foods that one should outgrow after the age of 5, but I just love it so much! For the Super Bowl this year, I made a delicious batch of Mac ‘n Cheese Bites from a recipe on Food & Wine. I am now waiting for any excuse to make them again.
Ingredients (makes 24 mini bites):
1/2 Pound Elbow Macaroni
1 1/2 Tablespoons Butter, Plus More For Brushing
1/4 Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
2 Tablespoons Flour
3/4 Cup 3% Milk
1 Cup Shredded Sharp Cheddar
8 Slices of American Cheese
1 Egg Yolk
1/4 Teaspoon Paprika
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a large pot on the stove top, cook your macaroni according to the box. Make sure to not over cook as you don’t want the pasta to be mushy. Drain and set aside.
2. In a large saucepan, melt your butter. Whisk in the flour at medium heat and continue whisking for 2 minutes.
3. Next add in the milk and heat while continuing to whisk until boiling (should take about 5 minutes).
4. Mix in the cheddar and American cheeses and whisk until melted.
5. Remove from heat and whisk in the egg yolk and paprika.
6. Once combined, fold in the macaroni you had previously set aside.
7. Now it is time to prepare the Wilton Recipe Right 24 Cup Mini Muffin Pan*. First, brush each hole with melted butter. Next sprinkle with grated Parmesan.
8. Spoon a dollop of the mac ‘n cheese mixture into each cup. Pat down slightly to make sure there are no big air gaps.
9. Top with another sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.
10. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool for about five minutes before removing from the pan. Serve and enjoy!
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I just put these together and made them for a party tonight. If I reheat them, I have to put back in the muffin tin? Or will they be fine without the tin? I’m assuming they would all just melt together if o didn’t put them back in tin?
Would it work without adding the egg?
Looks good. After u take them out are they bonded together by the cheese?
Thank you! The parmesan helps to create a bond on the outside of the cheese bites. They bond more as they cool and can be very delicate to remove from the pan when hot.
Would these be able to be made gluten free? I know it calls for flour to be used.
I have never tried making them gluten free. I would think you could used gluten free pasta and try using gluten free flour. I am not sure if it will thicken the same way though.
I like the photos you posted. They were very realistic! Great pics
hello, I love love love Mac n cheese and made these over the week end for a girls Nite. They were really good, the ones that didn’t stick or fall apart. Any advice/ tips for easy removal? Thanks
I noticed that the more parmesan used in the pan, the better they stuck together. They can be a bit tricky still to remove. Letting them cool for a few minutes before removing help too.
The recipe looks great but you need to stage the finish product in a more appetizing manner. Using your fingers doesn’t bode well in foodie photos! Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Do you book for your family at home? Bet you use your fingers! Real cooks do! The pictures looked fine and Mac ‘m Cheese Bites are terrific! Can even change up cheeses to whatever you like! Good Job!
Cooking is my passion… Spelling not so much! Loved presentation and a great fun food! Our family really enjoys the bites.
I’m making these right now to pack up in my kids’ school lunches. I had a little bit left over, so I had to take one for the team and eat it out of the sauce pan. It doesn’t suck! I’ll tell ya that much!!
Can the mini mac and cheese be made ahead of time and frozen?
I am not sure, I have never tried. Let me know if you freeze them and how they turn out?
these are simply amazing!! i have never made home made mac and cheese, but these were simple and I couldn’t stop eating them!!!
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