Best 7 Easy Macaroni And Cheese Bites Appetizer Recipes

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Macaroni and cheese is a classic comfort food that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. While traditional macaroni and cheese is often served as a main course, it can also be made into a delicious and easy appetizer. Macaroni and cheese bites are a great option for parties or potlucks, as they are easy to make and can be served hot or cold. Additionally, they can be customized to suit your own tastes by adding different ingredients like bacon, vegetables, or spices.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

MINI MAC & CHEESE BITES



Mini Mac & Cheese Bites image

Young relatives were coming for a Christmas party, so I wanted something fun for them to eat. Instead, the adults devoured my mini mac and cheese. -Kate Mainiero, Elizaville, New York

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Appetizers

Time 45m

Yield 3 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
1 cup seasoned bread crumbs, divided
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
1-3/4 cups 2% milk
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
3/4 cup biscuit/baking mix
2 large eggs, lightly beaten

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 425°. Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain., Meanwhile, sprinkle 1/4 cup bread crumbs into 36 greased mini-muffin cups. In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour and seasonings until smooth; gradually whisk in milk. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; cook and stir 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in 1 cup cheddar cheese and Swiss cheese until melted., Remove from heat; stir in biscuit mix, eggs and 1/2 cup bread crumbs. Add macaroni; toss to coat. Spoon about 2 tablespoons macaroni mixture into prepared mini-muffin cups; sprinkle with remaining cheddar cheese and bread crumbs., Bake 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in pans 5 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 91 calories, Fat 5g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 22mg cholesterol, Sodium 162mg sodium, Carbohydrate 8g carbohydrate (1g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 4g protein.

MACARONI AND CHEESE BITES



Macaroni and Cheese Bites image

A yummy appetizer for a party - be careful, or the kids will gobble them up first! Recipe can be doubled easily.

Provided by MarthaCooks

Categories     Cheese

Time 40m

Yield 24 bites, 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 10

1/4 lb elbow macaroni
1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for brushing
1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese (do not use the stuff in the green can!)
1 tablespoon flour
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
3/8 cup milk
2 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded (1 packed cup)
2 ounces deli-sliced American cheese, chopped
1 large egg yolk
1/4 teaspoon paprika (optional)

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 425°F.
  • In a large pan of boiling salted water, cook the macaroni until al dente. Drain well, shaking off any excess water.
  • Brush mini muffin tins (48 mini-cups total) with butter. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of the Parmesan.
  • In a large saucepan, melt the 1 1/2 tablespoons of butter. Whisk in the flour and mustard over moderate heat for 2 minutes. Whisk in the milk and cook, constantly whisking, until boiling, about 5 minutes. Add the cheddar and American cheeses and whisk until melted. Mixture will be very thick. Remove from heat, and whisk in the egg yolk and paprika. Fold in the macaroni.
  • Spoon slightly rounded tablespoons of the macaroni into the prepared muffin cups, packing well. Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan on top.
  • Bake for about 10 minutes, until golden and sizzling. Let cool for 5 minutes. Carefully loosen the mini macs, remove from pan to a platter, and serve.
  • These can be prepared through Step 4 and refrigerated overnight.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 155.8, Fat 8.4, SaturatedFat 5, Cholesterol 45.2, Sodium 168.8, Carbohydrate 12.8, Fiber 0.5, Sugar 0.5, Protein 7.1

KIDS CAN MAKE: MAC 'N' CHEESE BITES



Kids Can Make: Mac 'n' Cheese Bites image

We miniaturized our kids' favorite meal into party-sized poppers. For big and little kids: Let them help measure the ingredients, stir them together and fill the muffin liners. You can make the snacks a day in advance, and warm them up at 350 degrees F for about 5 minutes.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     appetizer

Time 55m

Yield 36 bites

Number Of Ingredients 14

Nonstick cooking spray
Kosher salt
1/2 pound elbow macaroni
1/2 cup heavy cream
4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
1 small clove garlic, finely grated
1 cup shredded mild Cheddar (about 3 ounces)
1 cup shredded Monterey jack cheese (about 3 ounces)
2 tablespoons breadcrumbs
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
Hot sauce, for serving, optional

Steps:

  • Position oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven, and preheat to 400 degrees F. Line 2 or 3 mini-muffin pans with liners, and coat the liners generously with cooking spray.
  • Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook according to the package directions until al dente. Drain the macaroni and rinse under cold water until cool. Drain again and shake off any excess water.
  • Put the heavy cream, cream cheese, eggs, mustard, paprika and garlic in a large bowl. Beat on low speed with an electric mixer until combined (the mixture may have small lumps). Add the macaroni, Cheddar and Monterey jack, and stir until combined.
  • Drop heaping tablespoonfuls of the mac 'n' cheese into the prepared muffin liners. Combine the breadcrumbs and butter with your fingers in a small bowl until the mixture is the texture of wet sand. Sprinkle the top of each mac 'n' cheese mound with the buttered breadcrumbs.
  • Bake until the cheese is melted and the bites are golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool for at least 5 minutes before serving hot or at room temperature. Serve with hot sauce on the side, if desired.

SIMPLE MACARONI AND CHEESE



Simple Macaroni and Cheese image

A very quick and easy fix to a tasty side-dish. Fancy, designer mac and cheese often costs forty or fifty dollars to prepare when you have so many exotic and expensive cheeses, but they aren't always the best tasting. This recipe is cheap and tasty.

Provided by g0dluvsugly

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Pasta     Macaroni and Cheese Recipes     Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese Recipes

Time 30m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 (8 ounce) box elbow macaroni
¼ cup butter
¼ cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
ground black pepper to taste
2 cups milk
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, 8 minutes. Drain.
  • Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat; stir in flour, salt, and pepper until smooth, about 5 minutes. Slowly pour milk into butter-flour mixture while continuously stirring until mixture is smooth and bubbling, about 5 minutes. Add Cheddar cheese to milk mixture and stir until cheese is melted, 2 to 4 minutes.
  • Fold macaroni into cheese sauce until coated.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 630.2 calories, Carbohydrate 55 g, Cholesterol 99.6 mg, Fat 33.6 g, Fiber 2.1 g, Protein 26.5 g, SaturatedFat 20.9 g, Sodium 777 mg, Sugar 7.6 g

FRIED MACARONI-AND-CHEESE BITES



Fried Macaroni-and-Cheese Bites image

Make way for little squares of heaven -- these fried morsels are sure to be voted most popular at any party. You can (and should) prepare the stovetop macaroni and cheese a few days ahead, since it will firm up in the refrigerator, for easier cutting. Then follow a two-step breading process, using panko instead of regular breadcrumbs for a crust that's crisp yet light. Don't be put off by the yield; the squares fry quickly, in three or four batches, and you can reheat replenishments over the course of the evening -- whenever the platter is wiped clean (which will be often).This recipe originally appeared in "Martha Stewart's Appetizers" (Clarkson Potter).

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Appetizers

Yield Makes about 10 dozen

Number Of Ingredients 10

Coarse salt
1 pound elbow macaroni
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
4 cups milk, room temperature
3/4 teaspoon mustard powder
4 3/4 cups grated white cheddar cheese (about 14 ounces), room temperature
1/2 to 3/4 cup safflower oil, for frying, plus more for parchment
4 large eggs
2 cups panko

Steps:

  • In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook macaroni until al dente according to package instructions; drain.
  • In pot, melt 4 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour, and cook, stirring frequently, until mixture is pale golden and has a nutty aroma, about 4 minutes. Whisking constantly, slowly add milk. Cook, whisking along bottom of pot, until boiling, about 7 minutes. Reduce heat and gently simmer, stirring occasionally, until sauce is thickened, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from heat, and add remaining 1 tablespoon butter, the mustard powder, and cheese. Stir until melted and sauce is smooth; season with salt. Add macaroni to sauce, and stir to combine.
  • Line a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with parchment; brush parchment lightly with oil. Spread macaroni mixture evenly in dish. Cover and refrigerate until firm, at least 8 hours.
  • Invert set macaroni and cheese onto a cutting board and remove parchment. Cut into 1-inch squares with a sharp knife.
  • Whisk eggs in a shallow dish. In a shallow dish, season panko with salt. Dip macaroni squares, a few at a time, in eggs, allowing excess to drip off into dish, then roll in panko mixture to coat completely. Transfer to a wire rack set on a baking sheet.
  • Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium until shimmering. Working in batches, add coated squares in a single layer (do not crowd pan); cook, turning occasionally, until all sides are crisp and golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes total. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined rack to drain and cool slightly. Wipe skillet clean. Repeat process with more oil and remaining squares. Serve warm.

MAC 'N' CHEESE BITES



Mac 'n' cheese bites image

Catering for guests with different diets or tastes? These mac 'n' cheese bites are ideal party food. From mushrooms to olives, top with whatever you like

Provided by Anna Glover

Categories     Canapes

Time 1h20m

Number Of Ingredients 13

25g butter, plus extra for the tin
25g plain flour
400ml milk
200g macaroni or other short pasta
200g mature cheddar, grated
1 tbsp olive oil
100g baby button mushrooms, sliced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 tsp finely chopped parsley
20g dried breadcrumbs
8 black olives pitted and sliced
4 sundried tomatoes, sliced
100g grated mozzarella or cheddar

Steps:

  • To make the toppings, heat half the oil in a frying pan over a high heat, and cook the mushrooms for 10 mins until golden. Stir in half the garlic and the parsley, and fry for 1 min more. Season and scrape into a bowl. Heat the rest of the oil in the pan and fry the remaining garlic and the breadcrumbs for 3-5 mins, stirring until crisp. Scrape into a second bowl.
  • Melt the butter in a saucepan over a medium heat, then stir in the flour to make a thick paste. Gradually add the milk, a splash at a time, whisking until it's all incorporated. Cook for 2-3 mins more until thickened. Meanwhile, cook the macaroni in a pan of boiling salted water for 5-6 mins. Stir the cheddar into the white sauce until all the cheese has melted, then fold in the macaroni.
  • Butter a 12-hole muffin tin and divide the mac 'n' cheese between the holes, packing it in with the back of a spoon. Top with the mushroom mixture, olives or sundried tomato slices, then scatter over the grated cheese and garlic breadcrumbs. Will keep, covered in the fridge, for up to 24 hrs.
  • Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Bake for 15 mins until golden and piping hot. Leave to cool for 10-15 mins in the tin, then loosen by running a spoon around the edges. Transfer to a plate.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 312 calories, Fat 18 grams fat, SaturatedFat 10 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 23 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 3 grams sugar, Fiber 2 grams fiber, Protein 14 grams protein, Sodium 0.9 milligram of sodium

BUFFALO MACARONI AND CHEESE BITES



Buffalo Macaroni and Cheese Bites image

In this vegetarian Buffalo-style appetizer, macaroni and cheese get heated up with Louisiana-style hot sauce, then breaded and baked. These tasty nibbles are served with blue cheese dressing. -Ann Donnay, Milton, Massachusetts

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Appetizers

Time 1h

Yield 2 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 package (7-1/4 ounces) macaroni and cheese dinner mix
6 cups water
2 tablespoons 2% milk
2 tablespoons process cheese sauce
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup Louisiana-style hot sauce
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 large egg, beaten
1 can (6 ounces) French-fried onions, crushed
Blue cheese salad dressing

Steps:

  • Set the cheese packet from dinner mix aside. In a large saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add macaroni; cook until tender, 8-10 minutes. Drain. Stir in the contents of the cheese packet, milk, cheese sauce and butter., Press 2 tablespoonfuls into greased miniature muffin cups. Cover and refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight., Place the hot sauce, flour, egg and onions in separate shallow bowls. Remove macaroni bites from cups. Dip in the hot sauce and flour, then coat with egg and onions. Place 2 in. apart on a lightly greased baking sheet., Bake at 400° until golden brown, 12-15 minutes. Serve with dressing.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 104 calories, Fat 5g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 11mg cholesterol, Sodium 141mg sodium, Carbohydrate 13g carbohydrate (1g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 2g protein.

Tips:

  • For a crispier coating, use panko breadcrumbs instead of regular breadcrumbs.
  • To make the bites more cheesy, add 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese to the macaroni and cheese mixture.
  • For a spicy kick, add 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper to the macaroni and cheese mixture.
  • To make the bites more kid-friendly, use mild cheddar cheese instead of sharp cheddar cheese.
  • If you don't have a muffin tin, you can bake the macaroni and cheese bites in a greased 9x13 inch baking dish.

Conclusion:

Macaroni and cheese bites are a delicious and easy-to-make appetizer that are perfect for any occasion. They are sure to be a hit with your guests!

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