Description

These Macaroni and Cheese Bites are a delicious twist on classic mac and cheese, baked to golden perfection in a muffin tin for easy, bite-sized servings. Featuring a creamy cheese sauce made with sharp and white cheddar cheeses, seasoned with garlic powder and white pepper, these crispy-topped bites make a perfect appetizer or snack for gatherings and parties.

Ingredients

Scale

Cheese 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

8 ounces macaroni noodles, cooked and drained
⅓ cup Panko breadcrumbs

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Instructions

Preheat and Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a muffin tin generously with butter or use a nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
Make Cheese Sauce: In a medium pan over medium heat, melt the salted butter. Whisk in the flour, salt, garlic powder, and white ground pepper until the mixture is smooth and forms a roux. Gradually pour in the whole milk while whisking constantly. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Stir in the shredded sharp cheddar and white cheddar cheeses until fully melted and the sauce thickens to a creamy consistency.
Combine Ingredients: Add the cooked and drained macaroni noodles and Panko breadcrumbs into the cheese sauce. Gently fold everything together until the macaroni is well coated and the ingredients are evenly combined.
Fill Muffin Tin: Spoon the mac and cheese mixture into the prepared muffin tin cups, filling each one to the top to create bite-sized portions.
Bake: Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for 25 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown and crispy.
Cool and Serve: Remove the bites from the oven and allow them to cool for about 10 minutes before carefully removing them from the muffin tin and serving.

Notes

For extra crispiness, sprinkle additional Panko breadcrumbs on top before baking.
Use whole milk for a richer cheese sauce, but 2% milk can also be used for a lighter option.
You can prepare the mac and cheese mixture ahead of time and bake just before serving.
To reheat, warm in the oven for a few minutes to maintain the crispy top.
Gluten-free flour and breadcrumbs can be substituted to make this recipe gluten-free.