Mac and Cheese Balls

Transform your boxed macaroni and cheese into the best bites in town! This recipe calls for one box of yellow and one box of white macaroni and cheese.

Course

Appetizer

Difficulty

Easy

Diet

Vegetarian

Cooking Technique

Air Fry, Instant Pot Duo Crisp, Instant Pot Duo Crisp / Pro Crisp, Instant Pot Duo Crisp with Ultimate Lid, Instant Vortex, Instant Vortex Air Fryer, Instant Vortex Dual Basket Air Fryer

Keywords

7-8 servings, air fry, appetizer, cook 65 min, easy, entertaining, game day, Instant Pot Culinary Team, instant pot duo crisp, instant pot duo crisp / pro crisp, instant pot duo crisp with ultimate lid, instant vortex, instant vortex air fryer, instant vortex dual basket air fryer, mac n cheese, macaroni and cheese, prep 35 min, vegetarian, ㅤ

Prep Time

35 min

Cook Time

65 min

Servings

7-8 Servings

Ingredients

1 box yellow macaroni and cheese ㅤ
1 box white macaroni and cheese ㅤ
1 cup shredded yellow cheddar cheese ㅤ
1 cup shredded sharp white cheddar cheese ㅤ
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour ㅤ
3 eggs ㅤ
½ cup half and half ㅤ
2 ½ cups panko breadcrumbs ㅤ
Salt, for sprinkling ㅤ
Marinara sauce, for serving ㅤ
Non-propellant, organic vegetable oil spray ㅤ

Instructions

On the stovetop, bring two saucepans to boil with water. Add the boxed yellow macaroni and cheese to one saucepan and cook to the box instructions. Set aside in a bowl. At the same time, add the boxed white macaroni and cheese to the second saucepan, and cook to the box instructions. Set aside in a bowl.
Mix the shredded yellow cheese into the yellow macaroni and cheese bowl. Refrigerate for 2 hours, or until fully cooled and set.
Mix the shredded sharp white cheddar cheese into the white macaroni and cheese bowl. Refrigerate for 2 hours, or until fully cooled and set.
After 2 hours, prepare a breading station. In one bowl, add the flour. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs and half and half. In a third bowl, add the panko breadcrumbs.
Using a tablespoon ice cream scoop or a large spoon, scoop a ball of the yellow macaroni and cheese. Using your hands, press and form the macaroni and cheese into a tight ball. Set aside on a plate and continue scooping until all the macaroni and cheese is formed into balls.
Working one at a time, coat a ball in the flour mixture, then the egg mixture, then the breadcrumb mixture. Do not over handle the macaroni and cheese balls as they are fragile. If they fall apart, roll them back together again. Make sure to pat down the panko to ensure an even coating. Set aside and continue until all balls are breaded.
Preheat the air fryer at 400˚F / 205 ˚C. Place a few macaroni and cheese balls in the air fryer basket, careful to not overlap or crowd. Spray with non-propellant organic vegetable oil spray. Air fry for 10 minutes, undisturbed, or until the balls are golden brown. Remove from the basket and continue working in batches until all are cooked.
Serve the white and yellow mac and cheese balls with your favorite marinara sauce. Enjoy while warm!