These airfried macaroni cheese bites takes a basic mac and cheese recipe to a whole new level. I hope you enjoy this breaded Macaroni and Cheese recipe as much as my family does.
The first time I have breaded Macaroni cheese was in a hotel restaurant and after that I just had to recreate them. Initially I would fry them in oil but now with the airfryer I am able to cook them a heathier way. Here we now have the airfried macaroni cheese bites recipe and I am sharing it with you.
Real Macaroni Cheese
This is an all time classic pasta dish. Also my absolute favourite as a child and to this day will have it when I need something comforting. Now when I say mac and cheese I am not talking about the boxed stuff that is full of weird ingredients. No I am talking about the real deal.
Real mac and cheese is made with a cheesy bechamel white sauce, you can find my bechamel sauce recipe here. The sauce should be thick, cheesy and creamy.
What cheese should you use for macaroni and cheese?
We always used Edam cheese growing up, it is a semi hard Dutch cheese. I really like the flavour of this cheese but not everyone would agree. Nowadays, I tend to use a nice white sharp cheddar. Other cheeses that work well include Gouda, Monterey jack, Gruyere.
If you are wanting to really up the flavour profile You could try adding some parmesan to one of the other cheeses. Or you could even try using a smoked cheese, like a smoked Gouda.
The breadcrumbs
I love using my own breadcrumbs. They have better flavour than anything I can buy in the supermarket. It is also a great way to use up any bread you have that is getting dry.
Cut up the bread you have into cubes, in the same as if you were making croutons. Place them into a bowl and season them with salt and pepper.
I then will lightly toast the bread cubes in the oven. Set the oven or airfrier at 200C, 400F and bake for around 6 to 10 minutes. This can vary depending on the type of bread you are using.
Leave them cool down a bit.
Place the toasted cubes into a blender or any kind of food processor and blend until you have a fine breadcrumb.
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Which Airfryer?
There are many options now for airfryers, I have a toaster oven style and also my Samsung range oven has an airfry feature or there is also the variety that has the basket drawer this is the most popular kind of airfryer on the market. Either way both work really well. I will link here all of the airfryers I have used for this recipe and they all came out beautifully
- Gourmia, Find it here
- Kalorik Maxx, Find it here
- Samsung range oven with air fry feature. Find mine here
Other tools you will need
- Sharp knife
- 8×8 dish around 2 inches deep
- Parchment paper
- Saucepan
- Wooden spoon or spatula
- 3 bowls
- baking sheet, tray or plate
- Weighing Scale or measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Measuring jug
How to make the airfried macaroni cheese bites.
Cook the Pasta
First, you will need cook your macaroni pasta, we want to cook it Al dente which means it is still slightly firm. You packet may show instructions for this if not you will need to reduce the cook time by around 2 to 3 minutes.
Drain the pasta once its cooked and run under cold water this will stop it from continuing to cook. Put this to one side
Make the Cheese Sauce
As the pasta is cooking you can start this next step or begin it afterwards whichever you would prefer. We need to make the cheese sauce. We need to begin by making a bechamel sauce.
Over a medium low heat. Melt the butter in a saucepan, and then add the flour this will create a roux, continue stirring this for around one minute, then gradually add the milk, constantly whisking so that it is fully incorporated into the roux before adding more milk. keep going until all the milk is used.
For a more in depth recipe find my my Bechamel sauce post Here
Make sure to stir it often cook the sauce until it has thickened, season with salt and pepper to taste. Add a pinch of nutmeg and stir in the cheese of your choice I love a sharp cheddar, stir until it has completely melted.
Now you need to add the pasta to the sauce.
Set it up
Line your baking dish with parchment paper, this makes it a lot easier when it comes to cutting the mac and cheese into cubes.
Spoon the mac and cheese into the dish. Spread it out so that it is nice and even.
Leave to cool and then cover the top with either a cling wrap, foil or some more parchment, this is so the top doesn’t dry out.
Place into the fridge overnight to firm up. I have actually left it there for around 2 or 3 days before and it was fine.
Time to cut and cover with bread crumb.
If you are using homemade breadcrumbs and you haven’t already made them, do that now.
You will need 3 bowls.
Into the first add the flour, season with salt and pepper, a pinch of each is fine (around 1/8 TSP)
Into the second bowl add the eggs and whisk together, so that the yolks and whites combine. You can also stretch the egg further, if it is needed, by just adding a tablespoon or two of milk.
In the 3rd bowl add the breadcrumbs season them with a pinch of salt and pepper. I also like to add 1/4 Teaspoon each of garlic and onion powder along with a teaspoon of Italian seasoning. Mix in the spices thoroughly with the breadcumbs.
Remove the Macaroni and cheese from the baking dish and lay onto a chopping board.
Using a sharp knife cut in to cubes around 2 inch by 2 inches
To bread them first roll the cube in the flour.
Then into the egg.
Finally into the breadcrumbs,
place it onto a plate or tray and repeat with the rest of the cubes.
My tip when doing this step is to dedicate one hand to the flour and the breadcrumbs and use your other hand for the egg. It makes it a lot less messy. This combination of ingredients tend to form big pasty clumps on your fingers.
Spray each side of the cube with spray cooking oil. This is an optional step, it doesn’t affect the flavour too much if you do choose to omit this step.
Cooking your Air fried macaroni and cheese bites
According to the instructions for your specific airfryer, preheat to 200C 400F, and set the time for 13 minutes.
Place the cubes into the basket. Spacing them evenly apart so that they aren’t touching each other. You may need to cook them in two or 3 batches.
Half way through flip the cubes over, continue cooking for the remaining time.
Carefully remove the cubes from the basket and place onto a plate or tray.
Leave to cool slightly before serving.
Serving suggestions for the macaroni cheese bites
- They make a great starter or appetizer, serve them with a bowl of marinara sauce for dipping.
- They make a great side for any southwestern style dinner. Have them with some pork back ribs or brisket, cornbread and beans.
- You can also pair them with a beef bolognese sauce or any other tomato based pasta sauce will work great too.
- Another idea would be to mix pancetta or diced bacon into the Macaroni cheese before refrigerating it.
Storing your airfried macaroni cheese bites
You can store them in your fridge for up to a week. In an airtight container.
You can also freeze them for up to 2 months. In a freezer safe container.
Airfried Macaroni Cheese bites
These airfried macaroni cheese cubes takes a basic mac and cheese recipe to a whole new level. I hope you enjoy this breaded Macaroni and Cheese recipe as much as my family do.
Ingredients
- 1 heaped Cup uncooked macaroni pasta
- 50g, heaped 1/4 cup Butter
- 50g, heaped 1/4 cup all purpose Flour
- 600mls Warm Milk
- 1 1/2 Cups grated sharp cheddar cheese (or cheese of your choice)
- Pinch Nutmeg
- Salt and pepper
Breading ingredients
- 1/3 Cup all purpose Flour
- 2 eggs
- 2 TBSP milk, optional
- 3/4 cup to 1 cup either homemade breadcrumbs or store bought, any panko style will work well.
- salt and pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- Spray cooking oil
Instructions
Cook the Pasta
- Cook your macaroni pasta, we want it to be Al dente which means it is still slightly firm. The packet may show instructions how to do this, if not you will need to reduce the cook time by around 2 to 3 minutes.
- Drain the pasta once its cooked and run under cold water, this will stop it from continuing to cook. Put it to one side.
Make the Cheese Sauce
As the pasta is cooking you can start this next step or if you prefer you can begin it afterwards. Make the cheese sauce. Begin by making a bechamel sauce. This is a simplified version, if you would like a more detailed version I have linked my bechamel recipe below.
- Over a medium low heat. Melt the butter in a saucepan, and then add the flour this will create a roux,
- Continue stirring this for around one minute, then gradually add the milk, constantly whisking so that it is fully incorporated into the roux before adding more milk. keep going until all the milk has been used.
- Making sure to stir it often, continue to cook the sauce until it has thickened, do not be tempted to add more milk. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add a pinch of nutmeg and stir in the cheese of your choice, I love a sharp cheddar, stir until it has completely melted.
- Add the cooked macaroni pasta to the sauce. Mix in well.
- Line your baking dish with parchment paper, this will make it a lot easier when it comes to cutting the mac and cheese into cubes.
- Spoon the mac and cheese into the dish. Spreading it out so that it is nice and even.
- Leave it on the counter to cool.
- Cover the top with either a cling wrap, foil or more parchment paper, this is so the top doesn't dry out.
- Place into the fridge overnight to firm up. I have actually left it there for around 2 or 3 days before and it was fine.
Time to cut and cover with bread crumb.
If you are using homemade breadcrumbs and you haven't already made them, do that now.
You will need 3 bowls.
- Into the first add Flour and season with salt and pepper, a pinch of each is fine (around 1/8 TSP)
- Into the second bowl add the eggs and whisk together, so that the yolks and whites combine. You can also stretch the egg further, if needed, by adding a tablespoon or two of milk.
- In the 3rd bowl place the breadcrumbs, season with a pinch of salt and pepper. I also like to add some garlic powder, onion powder and Italian seasoning. Mix in the spices thoroughly into the breadcumbs.
- Remove the Macaroni and cheese from the baking dish and lay onto a chopping board.
- Using a sharp knife cut in to cubes around 2 inch by 2 inches. The knife does tend to become quite sticky, so I like to wipe it with a damp cloth between each cut.
- To bread them, begin by rolling the cube in the flour, then into the egg and finally into the breadcrumbs, place it onto a plate or tray and repeat with the rest of the cubes.
- Spray each side of the cube with spray cooking oil. Optional
My tip when breading is to dedicate one hand to the flour and the breadcrumbs and use your other hand for the egg. This will makes it a lot less messy. The combination of ingredients tend to form big pasty clumps on your fingers otherwise.
Cooking your Air fried Macaroni and cheese Bites
- According to the instructions for your specific airfryer, preheat your airfryer to 200C 400F, and set the time for 13 minutes.
- Place the cubes into the basket. Spacing them evenly apart so that they aren't touching each other. You may need to do two or 3 batches.
- At around half way point flip the cubes over, continue cooking for the remaining time.
- Carefully remove the cubes from the basket and place onto a plate or tray.
Leave to cool slightly before serving.
Notes
Serving Suggestions
- They are a great starter or appetizer, serve them with a bowl of marinara sauce for dipping.
- They make a perfect side for any southwestern style dinner. Have them with some pork back ribs or brisket, cornbread and beans.
- You can also pair them with a beef bolognese sauce or any other tomato based pasta sauce will work great too.
- Another idea would be to mix pancetta or diced bacon into the Macaroni cheese before refrigerating it.
Storing
They can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
You can also freeze them in a freezer safe container for up to 2 months
To reheat the cubes bake in the oven at 190c or 375f for around 20 minutes. (this is isn't for frozen you will need to adjust time).
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