Description
Mini Mac & Cheese Bites are a delicious snack that combines creamy mac and cheese with a crispy topping, perfect for parties or as a comfort food.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups elbow macaroni (cooked al dente)
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk (warm)
- 1 ½ cups sharp cheddar cheese (shredded)
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese (shredded)
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- Salt & black pepper, to taste
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs (or crushed crackers)
- 2 tbsp melted butter
- Fresh thyme or parsley (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Bring salted water to a boil and cook elbow macaroni until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour to make a roux and cook for 1 minute.
- Gradually add warm milk while whisking until smooth.
- Stir in cheddar, mozzarella, and Parmesan until melted.
- Season with garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Fold cooked pasta into the cheese sauce until well coated.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Grease or line a mini muffin tin with foil liners.
- Spoon mac & cheese mixture into each cup.
- Mix panko breadcrumbs with melted butter. Sprinkle over each bite.
- Bake for 15–18 minutes, until golden and bubbly.
- Let cool slightly before removing from the tin.
- Garnish with fresh thyme or parsley. Serve warm as party bites, appetizers, or snack-sized comfort food.
Notes
- For a spicier version, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the cheese sauce.
- These bites can be made ahead of time and reheated in the oven.
- Experiment with different cheese combinations for varied flavors.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bite
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 15mg