Fried Macaroni and Cheese Balls
Serves 12
Fried Mac and Cheese Balls
These fried macaroni and cheese balls were voted "Best Appetizer" at my company's 2021 Day of Fun. A crispy crunch on the outside with a cheesy and gooey inside. Topped with my homemade bacon jam, this is the appetizer that will definitely be talked about at your next company gathering.
Equipment
- 1 9" x 13" Baking Dish
- 1 Deep Pot or Pan for Frying
Ingredients
Macaroni and Cheese
- 3 cups Uncooked Pasta I like using Cavatappi.
- 1 ½ cups Whole Milk
- ½ cup Heavy Whipping Cream
- 1 cup Cabot Colby Jack Shredded
- 1 cup Cabot Seriously Sharp Cheddar Shredded
- 1 cup Cabot Pepper Jack Shredded
- 1 cup Provolone Shredded
- Salt & Pepper To taste
- 2 Eggs
- Paprika To taste
- Garlic Powder To taste
- Onion Powder To taste
- 2 tbsp Butter
Macaroni and Cheese Balls
- 3 cups Breadcrumbs Panko preferred
- 2 Eggs
- Vegetable Oil Enough for frying
Instructions
Making the Macaroni and Cheese
- Preheat oven to 350 F.
- Cook macaroni until just al dente or a little under al dente. (Look on the back of the box to see how long you need to cook your pasta for it to reach al dente.) Be careful not to overcook.
- Drain pasta and set aside.
- In a large bowl, add milk, heavy cream & cheeses.
- Stir to combine.
- Taste the milk mixture and add salt & pepper until it has a good taste. (You can also add in other seasonings like onion powder, paprika, etc. Tasting will help avoid having a plain, bland baked macaroni & cheese.)
- When you are content with the taste, add the eggs.
- Stir well until combined.
- Butter a 9 x 13-inch baking dish.
- Add macaroni to the baking dish.
- Pour cheese mixture over pasta.
- Make sure the cheese is distributed well.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes. Do not overbake. It may be a bit jiggly when you take it out of the oven. It will firm up as it cool.
- Let cool for about 10-15 minutes then place in the refrigerator overnight.
Frying the Macaroni & Cheese Balls
- Beat the two additional eggs in a small bowl.
- Pour out 1 cup of the breadcrumbs onto a small plate. Use the rest of the breadcrumbs as needed.
- Scoop out macaroni and cheese with a 1 tbsp measuring spoon and roll them into balls.
- Dip the balls into the egg, then coat them with the breadcrumbs.
- Heat vegetable oil in a pan over medium-high heat.
- Place the balls into the oil and fry until golden brown.
- Allow the fried mac and cheese balls to drain on some paper towel to soak any excess oil.
- Optional, but highly recommended: Top with my Bacon Jam recipe.
- Enjoy!
Video
Notes
*You don’t have to use Cabot, but I highly, highly suggest it as they make amazing cheese!