Looking for a easy but tasty appetizer/side dish to make at home? Well you don’t have to keep looking, this cheesy Mac recipe is for you.
📍DISCLAIMER: If you aren’t on a diet keep scrolling to read recipe…Nothing but cheese in this recipe + fried with love!
Details
8-10 Mac & Cheese Balls
20 minutes
30-60 minutes (this recipe could be prepared ahead of time)
garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, white pepper
Dip with marinara,Ranch, or your favorite dipping sauce. Serve as a appetizer or side dish!
Fried Mac & cheese is a popular appetizer or side dish that I have seen more often at restaurants. Both fast and casual restaurants, have been serving up different styles of fried Mac. Usually these restaurants are using already frozen fried Mac, right out of the bag, dropped in hot grease. Hey, I’m not complaining it still taste pretty good! I said all of that to say , wouldn’t you want to make your own fresh at home. This recipe is a bomb appetizer for parties, or even game days. The only thing stopping you from making is the ingredients,and steps to making these bad boys. All you will need is a little time and to be hungry for some tasty finger food. Oh, if you have kids they will absolutely love this recipe. All the macaroni lovers in your home will enjoy it! Now let’s get into the ingredients and steps.
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Ingredients
Elbow macaroni (1 whole box or half , depending how big of batch you want)
Cheddar cheese( Two 8 oz bags or 4 cups)
Milk(2 cups, add more as needed)
Flour (1/2 cup) for cheese sauce and you will need flour for frying.
Butter ( at least 1/4 tbsp or 1/2 stick)
Sea salt or regular
Black pepper
Panko or regular bread crumbs (1 cup)
2-3 eggs
Vegetable oil or your choice of frying oil
Directions
- First, boil your elbow macaroni pasta, drain and set to the side,or if you already have left over macaroni and cheese..skip this part!
- Next, prepare your cheese sauce. Take your butter and melt in pot over medium heat, then add flour to make a roux, by stirring until creamy texture. Next slowly add milk, keep stirring until it starts to thicken some and bubble, add more milk as needed. Turn down low then add Cheddar Cheese. Turn off stove completely and keep mixing cheese until melted and smooth.
- Now add your cooked macaroni, stir into cheese sauce. ADD MORE MORE CHEESE. (I use about 1 1/2 8oz bags in cheese sauce, then add remainder after mixing Mac in)
- Now it’s time to cool your macaroni in the refrigerator. Pour your cheesy macaroni into a baking dish and let cool for about 4-6 hours.
- Prepare your breading by putting your flour, eggs(beat good), bread crumbs in separate bowls to dip your Mac in. Season your flour with Seasonings I mentioned above if you want.
- When cooled, scoop mac using a spoon or ice cream scooper, make into a ball real firm, then dip in egg, then flour, then bread crumbs , repeat twice if needed or for thick coating. While your are breading your Mac get oil heated on medium high. Let oil get hot before placing balls in oil.
- Fry in oil for about 7 minutes or until golden brown all around, take out of oil let cool then enjoy!
