Baked Mac and Cheese Bites (Cheesy, Golden + Kid-Approved)

If you are a fan of macaroni and cheese, you'll love this baked Mac and Cheese Bites recipe. The bite sized, crispy, golden panko-topped are cheesy and ready in about 30 minutes. They're perfect for a party appetizer, side dish or after-school snack. They were a regular request of my personal chef clients. Especially for kids' parties and parents' happy hours.

Recipe at a Glance

• Recipe Name: Baked Mac and Cheese Bites
• Ready In: 20 minutes prep, 10 minutes cook time
• Serves: 24 bites
• Calories: 93 per serving
• Main Ingredients: Macaroni pasta, cheese, milk, butter, flour, egg yolk, panko
• Difficulty: Easy
• Make Ahead: Yes! Refrigerate for up to 2 days.
• Freezer-Friendly: Yes. Up to 2 months.

Who doesn't love mini versions of favorite foods? Cheeseburger Sliders, Mini BLT Bites and Roast Beef Crostini are small sized snacks I make on repeat for all our parties. They're all delicious, adorable and so much fun to serve and eat.

Mac and cheese comes to mind as an easy recipe. It's perfect to make into bite-sized mac and cheese cups.

It's one of the best comfort food appetizer recipe and a crowd pleaser. I first made these mini snacks for a kid's birthday party at one of my personal chef client's homes. They were a hit with kids and adults alike!

And this recipe is nothing like the packaged variety. But, I must admit I do love making the one in the blue box with the neon orange dried cheese packet from time to time.

Why you'll love this macaroni cheese bites recipe

This recipe is for cheese lovers. If that's you, you'll make this simple recipe for the following reasons.

• Perfect size ~ These bite-sized baked macaroni and cheese cups are the perfect finger food. There's no need for utensils making them ideal for your next party appetizer. They're also ideal single servings for little kids.
• Versatile ~ Serve these easy mini baked macaroni and cheese as a great appetizer, fun side dish, or an afternoon snack.
• Kid and adult approved ~ Mac and cheese is a favorite comfort food of both kids and adults. These tasty bites are smash with everyone.

Ingredients & substitutions

Gather some common ingredients to make macaroni and cheese bites. If substitutes can be made to the recipe, they're listed. Scroll to the recipe card for full quantities of the ingredients.

• Salted butter ~ Unsalted butter is also an option. Just adjust the amount of salt you add.
• All-purpose flour
• Whole milk ~ Low fat or skim milk are alternatives. But the homemade mac and cheese won't be as rich and delicious with these lower fat milks.
• Sharp cheddar cheese ~ Orange colored cheddar cheese gives mac and cheese its classic appearance. White cheddar cheese is also delicious in the recipe.
• Monterey jack cheese ~ The supreme meltability of this mellow cheese makes it perfect for this recipe. Mozzarella cheese is a tasty alternative.
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Grab my favorite pepper mill.
• Onion powder and garlic powder
• Mustard ~ Yellow mustard, Dijon or spicy mustard are all options in the recipe.
• Large egg yolks
• Elbow macaroni ~ Classic mac and cheese typically uses elbow macaroni. Other small pasta shapes like ditalini, corbata (small bowties), or mini shells are great substitutes.
• Panko breadcrumbs ~ These extra crispy bits add a nice crunchy topping.

How to make mac and cheese bites

This is a brief overview of my mini mac and cheese bites recipe. I've included complete instructions in the recipe card along with a step by step cooking video.

1. In a saucepan, melt butter. Whisk in the flour then the milk. Cook for 1-2 minutes to thicken the sauce.

2. Stir in the cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses, kosher salt, black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder and mustard. Stir until the cheeses are melted.

3. Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the beaten egg yolks and cooked macaroni into the cheese sauce.

4. Coat a nonstick mini muffin pan with cooking spray. Add 2 heaping tablespoons of the macaroni mixture. Pack down gently.

5. Toast the panko in 2 teaspoons of melted butter in a small sauté pan. Sprinkle on the mac and cheese bites.

6. Bake for 10-12 minutes. The panko will be crispy and golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes. Use a small spoon to remove the bites from the pan to a platter. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Expert tips for mac n cheese bites

• 1. Shred the cheese ~ Use a grater, food processor or KitchenAid slicer/shredder attachments to shred a block of cheese. The flavor is superior to the pre-shredded cheese available at the grocery store. Also, the freshly shredded cheese melts better too.
• 2. Pack it in ~ A medium cookie scoop makes for neat and quick work of filling each muffin cup. Pack the cheesy mixture into each muffin cup to ensure for sturdy handheld snacks and appetizers.
• 3. Let them rest ~ The mac and cheese bites need a bit of time to harden as they're super cheesy when they come out of the oven. Let them rest about 5 minutes before unmolding with a small spoon.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Making Mac and Cheese Bites

A few missteps can keep your bites from turning out right.

• Skipping using a nonstick muffin pan: Or not generously spraying a regular pan is the most common one. If the pan isn't well-coated, the bites will stick and fall apart when you try to unmold them.
• Not letting the bites cool slightly before unmolding them: They need 4 to 5 minutes to set up before taking them out of the pan.
• Using boxed mac and cheese: It seems like a time-saving step, but it won't work in my recipe. The mixture is too loose and won't hold its shape in the muffin cups. The homemade cheese sauce helps hold the bites together.

Variations

Try some of these creative ways to make these baked macaroni bites recipe one of your favorites.

• Spicy ~ Add 1-2 tablespoons of hot sauce with the seasonings to add zip to the bites.
• Meaty ~ Add about ¼ cup finely chopped ham or cooked bacon with seasonings.
• Veggie ~ Add about ¼ cup cooked and finely chopped spinach, broccoli, bell peppers, or zucchini with the seasonings.
• Italian ~ Add 2 tablespoons of basil pesto with the seasonings.
• Cheesy ~ Try some of these suggested cheese variations for mini mac and cheese bites.

Frequently asked questions

Remove the mac and cheese cups from the pan. Completely cool after baking. Store in an airtight container. These meal prep containers are my favorite ones. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or the freezer for up to 2 months.

Definitely. Prep the bites until just before baking. Cover the muffin pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 6 hours. Pull the pan out of the fridge at party time. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 10-15 minutes. You may need to add a couple minutes as they will be cold from the refrigerator. Alternately completely prepare and bake the mini bites. Remove from the pan and store in the fridge in an airtight container. At serving time, place on a baking sheet. Warm in a 350 degree F oven for 5-7 minutes.

Yes you can! Coat a nonstick regular sized muffin pan with cooking spray. Fill each muffin cup to the top with the macaroni and cheese mixture and press down. Bake in a 400 degree F oven for 15-20 minutes. Let rest 5 minutes before removing the mac and cheese cups from the pan.

There are three keys to keeping the mac and cheese bites together. First, pack the macaroni and cheese mixture firmly into the muffin cups. Second, let the baked bites cool for 4 to 5 minutes in the pan before removing them. The cooling time lets the cheese set up so the bites don't fall apart when unmolded. Finally, run a small spoon around the edge of the muffin cup to loosen the bite before lifting it out.

What to serve with mini mac and cheese bites

Macaroni and cheese is always a welcome addition to any party, meal or snack time. This mac and cheese bites recipe is delicious with many different entrees including meat and vegetarian options. Try them with one or more of the following recipes.

• BBQ Pork Sliders
• Coffee Dry Rub Steak
• Buttermilk Chicken Fingers
• Baked Cod with Garlic Panko Crust