Best Crispy Fried Mac Cheese Balls Recipes

FRIED MAC N CHEESE BITES

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the leftover mac n cheese and the extra cheese.
• Scoop into 1.5 inch balls and place on a baking sheet.
• Freeze for 15 minutes.
• While the balls are chilling, beat two eggs in a bowl with a little water.
• In a separate bowl, add the Panko crumbs.
• Remove the balls from the freezer, dip fully in egg wash, roll in Panko to completely coat, and place back on baking sheet. Repeat with remaining balls.
• Return the balls to the freezer while you heat the oil to 375F.
• When the oil is ready, fry the balls 3 to 4 at a time for 2 minutes or until golden brown.
• Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce!

FRIED MAC AND CHEESE BALLS

Steps:

• Cook the macaroni according to package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking. Drain again and set aside.
• In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Sprinkle the flour into the butter and stir it with a whisk. Cook for 2 minutes. Whisk the warmed milk into the flour mixture, working out any lumps. Cook until the sauce thickens, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat, add the cheeses, and stir until melted and smooth; season with salt and pepper. Fold the cheese sauce into macaroni. Pour the mac and cheese into a shallow pan and refrigerate until cold, at least 2 hours.
• Shape the cold mac and cheese into meatball-sized balls and place them onto a waxed paper-lined tray. Freeze the balls overnight.
• Beat the eggs and 2 tablespoons milk together to form an egg wash and pour it into a shallow bowl. Put the bread crumbs into another shallow bowl. Remove the mac and cheese balls from the freezer. Dip the frozen balls into the egg wash then into the bread crumbs. Put the balls back into the freezer until you are ready to fry.
• Heat the oil in a deep-fat fryer to 350 degrees F. Fry the mac and cheese balls until they are golden brown and center is hot, about 5 minutes. Serve hot with your favorite marinara or Alfredo sauce or combination or both for dipping.

FRIED MAC AND CHEESE BALLS

Steps:

• Cook the macaroni according to the package directions. Drain and rinse the macaroni and set aside.
• Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of the flour and cook 1 minute, stirring with a whisk. Whisk in the milk and cook 3-4 minutes until the mixture reaches a low boil and thickens. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the cheeses and mix until melted. Add the pimientos, salt, and red pepper and stir to combine. Fold in the macaroni. (The mixture will be very thick.)
• Spread the macaroni mixture evenly into a 9-inch by 13-inch pan. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours or until cold.
• Shape the cold macaroni mixture into 2-inch sized balls and place on a parchment lined sheet tray.
• Place the potato chips in a gallon-sized zip-top bag. Using a rolling pin, gently roll over the bag to finely crush the chips. Pour the crushed chips into a shallow dish. Place the remaining 1 cup of flour in a shallow dish. Whisk the eggs in a small bowl. Roll each ball around in the flour, then dip in the eggs letting any excess egg drip off. Roll the ball in the crushed potato chips, firmly pressing the chips into the ball to create a solid coating. Return the balls to the baking sheet. Repeat to coat all of the balls.
• Heat the oil in a dutch oven or large pot until a thermometer registers 350°. Fry 6 balls at a time for 4 to 5 minutes or until golden brown and hot in the center. Drain on paper towels. Serve warm.

FRIED MAC AND CHEESE BALLS

Steps:

• Place macaroni and cheese into the refrigerator until firm, about 3-4 hours. Heat vegetable oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium high heat. Using a small cookie scoop, roll macaroni and cheese into 1 1/4-to-1 1/2-inch balls, forming about 12. Working one at a time, dip balls into eggs, then dredge in Panko, pressing to coat. Working in batches, add balls to the Dutch oven and cook until evenly golden and crispy, about 3-4 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Serve immediately, garnished with chives, if desired.

CRISPY RANCH MAC AND CHEESE BALLS IN THE AIR FRYER

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender, 7 to 8 minutes. Drain macaroni without rinsing and return to the pot. Add 1/4 cup milk, margarine, and cheese sauce packet; mix until well combined.
• Add Cheddar cheese and remaining 1/2 cup milk to the mac and cheese and stir until Cheddar is melted. Transfer to a bowl with a lid and refrigerate for 2 hours.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Use an ice cream scoop to form 1 1/2-inch balls out of the cold mac and cheese. Set balls on the prepared baking sheet and freeze for 1 hour.
• Pulse cheese crackers in the bowl of a food processor and until they turn into fine crumbs. Transfer crumbs to a bowl and stir in ranch dressing mix. Place beaten eggs in a separate bowl.
• Preheat air fryer to 360 degrees F (180 degrees C). Spray the basket of the air fryer with cooking spray.
• Dip mac and cheese balls first in egg and then in the cracker mixture to coat. Place in the air fryer basket, adding as many balls as your basket allows without touching, working in batches, if needed. Spray tops of the balls with cooking spray.
• Cook in the preheated air fryer for 10 minutes. Spray the tops of the balls again with cooking spray and cook 3 minutes more. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Repeat with remaining balls.

CRISPY FRIED MAC & CHEESE BALLS

Steps:

• Cook the macaroni according to package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking. Drain again and set aside.
• In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Sprinkle the flour into the butter and stir it with a whisk. Cook for 2 minutes. Whisk the warmed milk into the flour mixture, working out any lumps. Cook until the sauce thickens, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat, add the cheeses, and stir until melted and smooth; season with salt and pepper. Fold the cheese sauce into macaroni. Pour the mac and cheese into a shallow pan and refrigerate until cold, at least 2 hours.
• Shape the cold mac and cheese into meatball-sized balls and place them onto a waxed paper-lined tray. Freeze the balls overnight.
• Beat the eggs and 2 tablespoons milk together to form an egg wash and pour it into a shallow bowl. Put the bread crumbs into another shallow bowl. Remove the mac and cheese balls from the freezer. Dip the frozen balls into the egg wash then into the bread crumbs. Put the balls back into the freezer until you are ready to fry.
• Heat the oil in a deep-fat fryer to 350 degrees F. Fry the mac and cheese balls until they are golden brown and center is hot, about 5 minutes. Serve hot with your favorite marinara or Alfredo sauce or combination or both for dipping.