Macaroni Cheese Bites

Cheesy macaroni shaped into balls, rolled in breadcrumbs and air fried until crisp with a soft, melting middle.

TIME BREAKDOWN
Prep: 25 min
Cook: 12 min
Total: 37 minutes
Vegetarian
✅
Nuts
❌
Serves
4 people
Difficulty
Easy

Ingredients

  • 200g dried macaroni
  • 200g vegetarian mature Cheddar cheese, grated
  • 1 egg, plus 1 more egg, beaten, for coating
  • 3 tbsp plain flour, plus 3 tbsp for coating
  • 1 tsp English mustard
  • 1/2 tsp garlic granules
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
  • 70g dried breadcrumbs
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil

Method

  1. Cook the macaroni in boiling salted water for 1 minute less than the packet instructions, then drain and leave to cool for 10 minutes.

  2. Mix the macaroni with the cheese, 1 egg, 3 tablespoons of flour, mustard, garlic granules, salt and pepper.

  3. Shape the mixture into 16 compact balls, pressing firmly.

  4. Put the remaining flour, the beaten egg and the breadcrumbs on three plates. Roll each ball in the flour, then the egg, then the breadcrumbs.

  5. Preheat the air fryer to 190°C and brush or spray the bites lightly with the oil.

  6. Cook in two batches for 10 to 12 minutes each, shaking the basket halfway, until golden and crisp.

  7. Serve warm with ketchup or a garlic dip.