While this blog is mostly dedicated to desserts, I can’t help but share some of my favorite savory recipes from time to time, which is why it was a no-brainer to share these crispy fried homemade mac and cheese bites. These fried mac and cheese bites are great if you’re hosting a party or get-together or if you’re just craving deep-fried comfort food.
This recipe has multiple stages, so you’ll want to plan ahead. But it’s SO good, you won’t regret the time spent on it. I took my creamy stovetop mac and cheese and upgraded it by adding bacon… that’s right, two kinds of cheese and glorious, crispy bacon! Then, I coated them in panko breadcrumbs and deep-fried them to extra-crispy perfection!
INGREDIENTS AND SUBSTITUTIONS
- Bacon: These are deep-fried mac and cheese bites with bacon, after all… Feel free to leave it out entirely if you don’t eat meat/pork.
- Elbow macaroni: By definition, classic macaroni and cheese should be made with, well, macaroni, a style broadly defined as any short, cylindrical extruded pasta. I prefer elbow macaroni, but you could also use tubes like ziti, penne, or rigatoni, as well as corkscrew shapes like fusilli.
- Bacon grease: For the roux. Using bacon grease imparts a nice smokiness to the mac and cheese; however, if you’re making these bacon-free, just use an equal amount of butter instead!
- All-purpose flour: You’ll need some for the roux and some to coat the mac and cheese balls in.
- Milk: For the richest flavor and texture, use whole milk.
- Spices: You’ll need salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and nutmeg.
- Cheese: You’ll need 16 ounces of cheese total. I like using 8 ounces of sharp cheddar cheese and 8 ounces of Monterey Jack cheese; but feel free to swap the cheeses to your preference! Other melty cheeses that would work well include mozzarella, gruyere, provolone, raclette, and fontina.
- Eggs: Just 2 large eggs to coat our mac and cheese bites in.
- Seasoned panko breadcrumbs: Panko breadcrumbs have a dryer and flakier consistency than regular breadcrumbs, which leads to them absorbing less oil and yielding a lighter and crunchier-tasting fried mac and cheese.
- Vegetable oil: For frying; any neutral oil would work, though. Corn oil, plant oils (canola, sunflower, safflower), and peanut oil are all excellent substitutions.
Ingredients
For the Bacon Mac and Cheese:
- 284 g bacon (approx. 14 strips)
- 227 g elbow macaroni
- 30 g bacon grease or unsalted butter see notes
- 16 g all-purpose flour
- 270 ml milk
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 227 g sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 227 g Monterey Jack cheese shredded
For the Breading:
- 125 g all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon onion powder
- 2 large eggs beaten
- 180 g seasoned panko breadcrumbs
- vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
To Make the Bacon Mac and Cheese:
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking tray with aluminum foil, then place the bacon side-by-side on the tray.
- Cook the bacon for 10-15 minutes or until it’s reached your desired level of crispiness. Make sure to check on it after about 10 minutes, as some ovens cook faster. Remove the tray from the oven and transfer the bacon with tongs to a paper towel-lined plate.
- Chop up the bacon and then set aside 2 tablespoons (30g) of the bacon grease, if using.
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook for 7 minutes or per package directions. Drain the noodles, rinse them with cold water, and set aside.
- Add the bacon grease (or butter) to a large saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour to create a roux, cooking until bubbly. Add the milk in a thin stream while whisking. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and nutmeg, then bring to a simmer and cook for 2 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and mix in the cheese. Once the cheese is melted, fold in the macaroni and chopped bacon until evenly combined. It should look creamy and thick; if it looks a little soupy, continue cooking over medium heat until it thickens up more. (If your noodles are stuck together, just give them another quick rinse under cold water to loosen them up).
- Spread the bacon mac and cheese evenly into a 9×9-inch baking pan lined with plastic wrap or parchment paper, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, or overnight.
To Make the Mac and Cheese Bites:
- Once the mac and cheese is firm and congealed, transfer it from the pan to a cutting board. With a long sharp knife, cut the block into 6 even strips vertically, then cut 6 even strips horizontally so you’re left with 36 squares of mac. Alternatively, use a cookie scoop to portion out about 2-3 tablespoons at a time and use your hands to shape into balls, compressing slightly. (Your hands will get messy with this method).
- Set up an assembly line. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, pepper, and onion powder. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the eggs. And in a third small bowl, place your seasoned breadcrumbs.
- Dip a macaroni bite into the flour mixture, shake off any excess, then dip it into the egg, let the excess drip off, and then coat it with the panko breadcrumbs. Place the coated macaroni bite on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and then repeat with the rest of the bites. Transfer the baking sheet to the freezer until they’re ready to fry.
- Heat at least 2 inches (5 cm) of oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot until a thermometer registers 360°F to 370°F (180°C to 190°C).
- Working in batches, gently place 3 to 4 mac and cheese bites into the oil at a time and fry for 4-5 minutes per batch, until golden. Remove the bites with tongs, and drain them on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Sprinkle with flaky salt, serve hot, & enjoy!
Notes
Bacon Grease: You’ll use 2 tablespoons (30g) of the bacon grease to make your roux for the mac and cheese. Using bacon grease imparts a nice smokiness, however, if you’re making these bacon-free, just use an equal amount of butter instead!
Make-Ahead Instructions: The macaroni and cheese can be made ahead through step 7 and kept in the fridge, covered tightly, for up to 3 days. Alternatively, you can make the mac and cheese bites all the way up until they’re ready to be fried and store them in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 1 month. Fry the frozen bites for an extra minute or two; there’s no need to thaw!