Mac and Cheese Balls
What is the holy trinity of fun food? Cheesy, bite sized and of course deep fried! Mac and cheese balls are all of the above and nothing else! Have you ever had it?
I was sipping a cup of tea and going through some pictures of my amazing Turks and Caicos vacation from a memory notification that popped up on my phone. While my hubby and I were there, we had these amazing Mac and cheese balls. I still had some of the spicy Mac and cheese I made the other day and decided to whip up some fried Mac and cheese balls. In a matter of minutes, I had these delectable, diet-busting cheesy balls of heaven.
These balls are deep fried, crispy from outside and all gooey and cheesy inside. Paired with my super flavorful marinara sauce, this was the perfect combination!! If you make these Mac and cheese balls made out of my spicy and zesty Mac and cheese for your next party, guests will go for seconds, thirds, and until they’re all gone!!
I made these balls from the leftover Mac n Cheese but I wouldn’t mind to make Mac and cheese from scratch in order to make these absolute scrumptious finger food. You should be able to find the Mac and cheese recipe here.
It should go without saying that if you are on diet than this snack you should avoid but it wouldn’t hurt to eat in moderation on your cheat days to satisfy your cravings. So please use your discretion. These balls are made using my spicy and zesty Mac and Cheese. These balls are first dipped in eggs, than rolled into flavored breadcrumbs and than deep fried. You can serve it with marinara sauce or chipotle cheddar sauce. Any which way you serve it, they are 100% worth the indulgence!
Below you will find the entire recipe starting from how to make Mac and Cheese and then make the Mac and cheese balls.
How to make the best mac n’ cheese
Gather all the ingredients before you start cooking. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and grease the baking dish.
Cook the pasta slightly under al-dente. Drain and set aside.
Make the roux. Melt the butter in a big pot or dutch oven over a medium heat. Whisk in the flour for about 2 minutes until the raw smell goes away.
Gradually whisk in the milk and cook over the medium heat. Stir constantly until the mixture thickens and bubbly. Turn off the heat.
Add all the cheeses until cheese melts and sauce is smooth.
Stir in pasta and cook over medium heat until thoroughly heated. transfer into the greased oven safe baking dish.
Mix paprika in bread crumbs or panko. Make a layer of bread crumbs/panko on top of mac n’ cheese.
Put the dish in oven and cook it at 375 degree for about 20 minutes or until the top layer is golden brown color and its bubbly!
Cool it down completely.
Make small balls using the ice cream scoop and put it aside. Refrigerate them for at least 30 minutes.
In a bowl, whisk the egg and little bit of milk together. In another bowl/dish, mix breadcrumbs and Italian seasonings. Dip the balls into Egg wash and then into breadcrumb mixture.
Heat oil in a large pot to 350 degree and fry the mac and cheese balls until they are golden brown and cooked through.
Remove and set on a baking sheet lined with paper towels. Serve them with some marinara sauce. Enjoy!
Mac and Cheese Balls
Ingredients
Spicy and Zesty Mac and Cheese
- 1 lb Elbow or small shell
- 6 oz butter salted
- ¾ cup all purpose flour
- 6 cup milk whole
- 8 slices American cheese Land o lake
- 1 cup extra sharp white cheddar cheese shredded Cabot Vermont
- 1 cup Habanero cheddar cheese shredded
- ½ cup fresh mozzarella cheese
- ½ tsp paprika to put in the bread crumbs
- ⅔ cup bread crumbs or panko
Mac and Cheese Ballls
- 1 large egg
- 1 tbsp milk
- 1 cup bread crumbs
- 1 tsp Italian seasonings
- Oil to fry
Instructions
Spicy and Zesty Mac and Cheese
- Preheat oven at 375°. Grease the oven safe dish. Cook pasta slightly under al-dente. Drain and set aside.
- Melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook 2 minute, whisking constantly until the raw smell goes away.
- Gradually whisk in milk, cook over medium heat, whisking until mixture thickens and is bubbly. Remove from heat.
- Add cheeses, salt, stirring until cheese melts and sauce is smooth.
- Stir in pasta and cook over medium heat, 1 minute or until thoroughly heated. Transfer into oven safe baking dish.
- Mix paprika in breadcrumbs/panko. Make a layer of bread crumbs/panko on top of Mac n' cheese. Put in oven at 350 degree for about 20 minutes or until bread crumb/panko is golden brown color and it's bubbly!!
- Cool it completely. You can put it in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours.
Mac and Cheese Balls
- Form the Mac and cheese balls using ice cream scoop. Place it on a plate or cookie sheet.
- Refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or until they are firm.
- Mix together egg and milk and whisk it together to make egg wash.
- Mix breadcrumbs and seasoning in a shallow dish.
- Dip Mac and cheese balls into egg wash first and than roll them into breadcrumbs mixture.
- Heat oil in a large pot to 350°F. Fry the Mac and Cheese balls until they are golden brown and thoroughly cooked from inside. Keep turning them while frying.
- Remove them on cookie sheet lined with paper towel. Serve immediately with marinara sauce.
What a great idea! Bite-sized comfort food!
My son loves this! Making it again.
Thanks a lot Nicole!!
I love the presentation of your dish. Mac and Cheese ball looks delicious.
Thanks a lot Saif!!
Mac and cheese balls, great invention!
Thanks a lot Marina!!
What a great idea, I love to serve this on my next party. They sure look delicious
Thanks Andrea!! They taste delicious as well…
I had these once at a restaurant and have always wanted to try and make them. Now I can!
Thanks Emily!! Please do try it out and let me know…
What a great idea to make Mac and Cheese balls. Especially when having left over Mac and Cheese, this is what you can serve with it. How original and looks so delicious!
Thanks Sabine!! It is perfect to use leftover Mac and Cheese!
Omg yummmm!! This sounds soo amazing! Mac and cheese is one of my favorite food cant wait to try!
Thanks Elly! Please do take pics and do share with me…
My daughter would love these. They look delicious!!
Thanks Christie! I’m glad.
Delicious! A real crowd-pleaser of a recipe!
Thanks Michele. It is a crowd pleaser appetizer.
Looks so delicious! Great starter for a dinner party.
Thanks Amy! yes, a great start for a fine dinner party.
Such a great little nibble. I mean, what’s not to like? A bigger hit with the adults than the kids. Who would have thought?
Absolutely Debra! What’s there not to like in these little nibbles!
This Mac and Cheese Balls is making me crave! I really love everything with Cheese.
Thanks Dennis! Mac and cheese balls are addictive.
The mac and cheese balls look so delicious
Thanks a lot Lathiya!
I know for sure if I made these, they would be an instant hit with everyone in my household! Can’t go wrong with this recipe!
Thanks Leslie! I’m sure of it. its a foolproof recipe. Do share with me the pics.