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Creamy, cheesy macaroni and cheese baked in mini muffin tins to create bite-sized, finger-friendly snacks with a golden, slightly crispy top. A perfect party appetizer or kid-friendly treat.

Ingredients

Scale
  • ½ lb elbow macaroni, cooked
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 2 oz cream cheese
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground mustard
  • ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 egg, beaten

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
  2. Lightly spray mini muffin tins with cooking spray.
  3. Cook elbow macaroni according to package instructions until al dente; drain and set aside.
  4. Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
  5. Whisk in flour until smooth and bubbling.
  6. Slowly drizzle in milk while whisking; bring to a gentle simmer and cook about 10 minutes until thickened.
  7. Stir in 2 cups shredded cheddar, cream cheese, sea salt, ground mustard, and black pepper until melted and creamy; remove from heat.
  8. Add cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce and stir until coated.
  9. Let the mixture cool 5 minutes, then gently fold in the beaten egg.
  10. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the mac and cheese mixture into each mini muffin cup, allowing a slight overflow.
  11. Sprinkle about 1 tablespoon extra shredded cheddar on top of each cup.
  12. Bake at 400°F for 15 minutes until golden brown and bubbly on top.
  13. Cool in the pan 5 minutes, then carefully remove the bites from the muffin tin.

Notes

Grease muffin tin well to prevent sticking., Keep pasta al dente for best texture., Use less milk for a thicker sauce that holds shape better., Extra sharp cheddar enhances flavor., Cream cheese adds richness and helps bind the bites., These bites can be customized with add-ins like bacon, jalapeños, veggies, or alternate cheeses like Gruyère and Parmesan., Store baked or unbaked bites in airtight container in fridge up to 3 days; bake raw bites within 24 hours for safety., Freeze unbaked bites up to 3 months; flash freeze on sheet pan first to avoid sticking., Reheat in oven or microwave; bake frozen bites covered at 400°F for 15-20 minutes or until hot inside.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookingcrumbs.com/baked-mac-and-cheese-bites/