Macaroni and cheese is a staple in our house. I think anyone with kids can agree that mac and cheese is a favorite in their household too. No need to buy the store-bought kind with our simple recipe. And the best part about these mini mac and cheese bites is they are perfect for lunches!
RELATED: Lunch Ideas for Kids
Mac and Cheese Bites Recipe
Turn homemade macaroni and cheese into these little bite-sized snacks! Perfect for packing for picnics or lunches. No fork needed to gobble up these mini macaroni and cheese bites! We love that these are mini versions of your favorite macaroni and cheese recipe.
Here’s what you’ll need to make these easy mac and cheese bites:
Only 5 ingredients!
- Macaroni Noodles
- Cheddar Cheese
- Flour
- Milk
- Butter
How Long Can I Keep Mac and Cheese Bites?
Store in an air tight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. Reheat in the oven or in the microwave on a low to medium heat setting until warm.
How do I Increase the Flavor?
If you want to increase the flavor, use a sharp cheddar. Sharp cheddar will have a stronger taste. Sharp cheddar also takes a little longer to melt, so adjust the cooking time accordingly.
Mac and Cheese Bites
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup macaroni noodles
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp all purpose flour
- 0.5 cup milk
- 1.5 cup cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
- Cook macaroni according to package directions and set aside.
- Melt butter in saucepan.
- Add in flour and let simmer for a minute.
- Slowly add in the milk and let simmer for a few more minutes until bubbly.
- Add 1 cup of the shredded cheese and stir until melted.
- Add in macaroni and stir to cover noodles; set aside to cool or refrigerate overnight.
- To make the bites: preheat oven to 375 degrees. Generously spray a mini muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray.
- Scoop 1 tablespoon of Mac N Cheese into each mini muffin tin cup.
- Top with remaining shredded cheese. Add more if needed to cover completely as shown.
- Bake for 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let cool for 10 minutes then remove from pan. If needed, run a knife around each Mac N Cheese bite to easily release from the pan.
- Enjoy immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Nutrition Estimate
Notes
- If your mac and cheese bites do not stay together (the noodles fall apart), you can add more melted cheese or mix in 1 beaten egg into the macaroni and cheese before adding into the muffin tins.
- Use a sharp cheddar cheese for a stronger taste.
We love how easy these are to make! Make a batch of regular macaroni and cheese and then make the bites for kids’ lunches the next day!
Try these other favorite recipes from us:
How do you keep them warm in their lunch box so that your child can enjoy them at lunch time?
To keep them warm we recommend packing them in a thermos.
As I was watching this I got excited because it looks so good and i want to make it BUT what if you did literally everything you just did AND add crushed up cheez itz sprinkled on top… im definitly going to try it haha
Let us know how it goes! If you want it to be crispy you can bake a little longer or you can add some bread crumbs mixed in some egg that’s beaten to the top.
I’ve just made them for my little grandson and will take them to him today. He’s only ten months old and I only had pasta swirls, so I cooked the pasta and then chopped them up to make it easier for him. Oh and one accidentally fell into my mouth and it was gorgeous thank you
Hi Jane
Just made these and am wondering if they can be frozen for future school lunches.
Thanks
Merilee
You should be able to freeze them.