These mac and cheese balls happened when I was trying to figure out what to do with a huge batch of leftover mac and cheese from my daughter's birthday party. I couldn't bear to throw it away, but nobody wanted to eat cold mac and cheese for the third day in a row. I remembered seeing fried mac and cheese bites at some restaurant and thought, how hard could it be to make them at home? Turns out, rolling that creamy mac and cheese into balls and frying them creates these incredible crispy packages with molten cheese centers that are way better than any restaurant version I've tried. Every bite gives you that perfect contrast between the crunchy coating and the gooey, cheesy inside.
Why You'll Love These
- Perfect use for leftovers - Transforms boring leftover mac and cheese into something everyone gets excited about
- Ultimate party food - Bite-sized, handheld, and impossible to stop eating once you start
- Always disappears first - At every gathering, these are the first appetizer to completely vanish from the table
My brother brought these to his office holiday party thinking they'd be just another appetizer, but his coworkers literally formed a line around the food table when word got out about them. His boss asked if he could cater the next company event just to make more of these. Even my picky mother-in-law, who usually just picks at party food, ate six of them and asked me to write down the recipe.
What You Need
- Good mac and cheese base - Either homemade or really good leftover mac and cheese that's thick and cheesy
- Sharp cheddar and Parmesan - The combination gives you that perfect cheese flavor that stands up to frying
- Triple coating system - Flour, beaten eggs, and seasoned breadcrumbs for maximum crispiness
- Enough oil for deep frying - You need it hot enough to get them golden without making them greasy
- Patience for chilling - The mac and cheese has to be really cold and firm to hold together
Step-by-Step Instructions
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