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Home >> Food >> Appetizers >> Best Ever Fried Mac and Cheese Bites

Best Ever Fried Mac and Cheese Bites

Modified: Sep 8, 2020 by Stefanie Fauquet · This post may contain affiliate links · 12 Comments

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Fried Mac and Cheese Bites, Fried Mac and Cheese Balls... call them what you will, because they are both delicious as a party appetizer! 

Fried Mac and Cheese Bites served on a white tray.

Fried Mac and Cheese Bites

I don't know about you, but I love party appetizers. It doesn't matter what the occasion is, I'm always up for bite-sized party food— and if I'm completely honest, the unhealthier, the better! Parties and celebrations are no time to count calories!

One of my favorite appetizer recipes is for Fried Macaroni & Cheese Balls — Yes, you heard me. Fried Mac and Cheese ... does it get any better than that!? These little balls of cheesy goodness take some time to prepare, but the payoff is totally worth it! You can even use leftover macaroni and cheese to make these tasty morsels!

Serve these mac and cheese bites at your next party, Game Day, or even as a special treat for the kids. I promise, your guests are going to love them!

Mac and Cheese Bites Recipe

Fried Mac and Cheese Balls Ingredients

  • 1 lb elbow macaroni
  • 16 oz sharp cheddar cheese block or 16oz shredded
  • 1 ¼ cup milk
  • ½ cup flour
  • ¼ cup butter
  • 2 eggs
  • 3 cups seasoned bread crumbs
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • Vegetable oil for frying

Fried Mac and Cheese Balls Ingredients

How to Make Fried Mac and Cheese

1. Boil macaroni until tender, drain and set aside. Shred cheese and set aside.

2. In a large pan, melt butter over medium heat. Add flour and mix until light brown color (make a roux).

3. Add 1 cup milk and whisk until thick.

4. Add cheese one handful at a time. Mix until cheese is melted and smooth.

5. Add cooked macaroni to pan and mix until well coated. Add salt and pepper.

6. Transfer to a container and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or until cold.

7. Line a baking sheet with wax or parchment paper.

8. Form cold macaroni and cheese into 1" balls and place on prepared pan. Place in the freezer for at least 1 hour (overnight works well).

9. Beat eggs and add ¼ cup milk in a bowl to make an egg wash.

10. Dip mac and cheese balls into egg wash then roll into bread crumbs, coating completely.

11. Heat oil in the deep fryer to 320 degrees, or fill skillet ½-3/4" deep and heat over medium-high to 320 degrees.

12. Fry 3-4 minutes, until golden, and drain. Serve immediately.

Collage photo featuring steps on how to make mac and cheese balls.

4.2 from 5 votes
fried mac and cheese bites
Print
Fried Mac and Cheese Bites
Course: Appetizer
Author: Stefanie Fauquet
Ingredients
  • 1 lb macaroni
  • 16 oz sharp cheddar cheese block or 16oz shredded
  • 1 ¼ cup milk
  • ½ cup flour
  • ¼ cup butter
  • 2 eggs
  • 3 cups seasoned bread crumbs
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • Vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
  1. Boil macaroni until tender, drain and set aside. Shred cheese and set aside.
  2. In a large pan, melt butter over medium heat. Add flour and mix until light brown color (make a roux).
  3. Add 1 cup milk and whisk until thick.
  4. Add cheese one handful at a time. Mix until cheese is melted and smooth.
  5. Add cooked macaroni to pan and mix until well coated. Add salt and pepper.
  6. Transfer to a container and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or until cold.
  7. Line a baking sheet with wax or parchment paper.
  8. Form cold macaroni and cheese into 1" balls and place on prepared pan. Place in freezer for at least 1 hour (overnight works well).
  9. Beat eggs and add ¼ cup milk in a bowl to make an egg wash.
  10. Dip balls into egg wash then roll into bread crumbs, coating completely.
  11. Heat oil in deep fryer to 320 degrees, or fill skillet ½-3/4" deep and heat over medium high to 320 degrees.
  12. Fry 3-4 minutes, until golden, and drain. Serve immediately.

 

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Fried Mac and Cheese Balls

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Comments

  1. Christine says

    April 26, 2015 at 9:31 pm

    In the ingredients list it calls for 1 and 3/4 cups milk. But, in the directions you only instruct to use 1 cup milk in the cheese sauce and 1/4 cup with the eggs for the balls to be dipped in before the crumbs. Where do you use the remaining half cup?

    Reply
  2. Katie says

    December 12, 2015 at 4:06 am

    Oh my word! They just look like little bites of heaven!!

    Katie xoxo

    Reply
  3. Randall says

    January 30, 2016 at 6:08 pm

    3 stars
    I found them to be very bland and I had even substituted Havarti cheese for some of the cheddar. Since my plan was to dip them in Frank's Hot Sauce, it was fine but if your plan is to serve them alone, you may want punch up the flavor a bit.

    Reply
    • Marleen Griffin says

      February 03, 2016 at 5:32 pm

      Looks great

      Reply
    • Christine Driskill says

      November 11, 2023 at 8:35 pm

      4 stars
      They were great but a little bland like someone else mentioned. Needs something else besides salt and pepper

      Reply
  4. Leslie says

    December 30, 2016 at 6:57 pm

    do these reheat well?

    Reply
  5. Sam says

    May 13, 2019 at 10:39 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious!

    Reply
  6. Anonymous says

    September 25, 2019 at 7:43 pm

    5 stars
    These are yummy 😋

    Reply
  7. Elizabeth says

    March 30, 2023 at 12:15 pm

    The amount of butter/flour to make the roux is not correct. Rather consistency of a roux should be thin/liquid. With the amount that was shown in the recipe, it was solid and crumbly, like dough. You either need a lot more butter or less flour. After I adjusted the amounts, it was fine.

    Reply
  8. Evelyn Jones says

    May 11, 2024 at 4:07 pm

    Do other macaroni types work? Would I be able to use small shells instead of elbows?

    Reply

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Welcome to Mommy Musings™ - I'm Stefanie Fauquet and my passions are food & family travel! I regularly share easy recipes and travel tips to inspire families to create a life they love...one that's full of delicious food and incredible adventures!

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