Air Fryer Mac and Cheese Bites
Crispy panko-coated balls of cold mac and cheese — chill before breading for the best result. A crowd-pleasing party appetizer.
🍽 4 servings
⏱ Prep: 25 min
🔥 Cook: 10 min
⏰ Total: 35 min
📊 Medium
Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 2 cups cold, fully chilled macaroni and cheese
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large large eggs, beaten
- 1 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- as needed oil spray
Instructions
- CRITICAL: Mac and cheese must be cold and fully chilled. If using leftover, refrigerate for at least 2 hours. If making fresh, cook, cool, and chill before proceeding.
- Using a small cookie scoop or your hands, form cold mac and cheese into compact balls about 1.5 inches across. Press firmly so they hold together.
- Freeze the formed balls for 15–20 minutes before breading to help them hold their shape.
- Set up three dishes: flour, beaten eggs, and panko with salt. Roll each ball in flour, dip in egg, then coat in panko. Press gently so crumbs adhere.
- Lightly spray with oil spray. Arrange in a single layer in the air fryer basket — do not overcrowd. Cook in batches.
- Air fry at 390°F / 199°C for 8–10 minutes until golden and crisp. The cheese inside should be warm and gooey.
- Serve immediately with marinara or ranch for dipping.
Chef's Notes
Chef's Notes: Cold mac and cheese is essential — warm mac and cheese will fall apart during breading. The freeze step before breading helps them hold their shape. If cheese leaks during cooking, the temperature was too high. Contains: Milk, Egg, Wheat.