These Touchdown-Worthy Mac And Cheese Bites Are Perfect For Your Next Game Day
Football season is officially underway. But, as we cheer on our favorite teams, we can’t forget about the best parts of gameday: comfy clothes, friends, and, of course, the snacks.
Let’s face it: everyone loves watching the game if there are some good finger foods involved. And nothing says “Game Day” like a comforting, cheesy dish.
Enter mac and cheese bites, an irresistible snack that’s perfect for both home viewing parties and on-the-go tailgating.
They’re portable, poppable, and let’s face it, anything with “mac and cheese” in the name is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
The best part? You can whip up this snack in advance– allowing you to focus on the game (or chowing down) when Sunday Night Football rolls around.
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Elbow Macaroni
- 3 Cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- 1 Cup Whole Milk
- 1/4 Cup Unsalted Butter
- 1/4 Cup All-Purpose Flower
- 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 Teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1/2 Teaspoon Paprika
- 1 Cup Breadcrumbs
- Cooking Spray
To make this simple snack, all you’ll need in terms of equipment is a muffin tin, a saucepan, mixing bowls, and some measuring cups and spoons.
First, preheat your oven to 400°F and spray your muffin tin generously with cooking spray.
Then, while your oven is heating up, boil a pot of water to cook the elbow macaroni. Follow the package instructions, but aim for an al dente texture.
Alp Aksoy – stock.adobe.com- illustrative purposes only
Once the macaroni is cooked, you can drain it and set it aside while you get started on the cheese sauce. Place a saucepan over medium heat and melt the butter fully. Afterward, add the flour, salt, and pepper, stirring continuously to create a smooth roux.
Next, slowly pour in the milk while continuing to stir. Finally, add two cups of shredded cheddar cheese, mixing until you achieve a silky sauce. Once your sauce is ready, you can combine it with the cooked macaroni in a large mixing bowl. This part is optional, but if you’d like to add an extra kick, you can toss in some paprika.
After fully combining the macaroni and cheese, scoop the mixture into your prepared muffin tin– pressing down slightly. Finally, sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese and bread crumbs on top of each mac and cheese cup.
These bites only have to bake for between 15 and 20 minutes or until the tops are golden and crispy. Then, just allow the bites to cool for a few minutes before removing them from the muffin tin and serving.
These mac and cheese bites offer the classic comfort of your favorite pasta dish but in a fun, handheld form that’s just begging to be part of your football Sunday or tailgate party.
They’re convenient, they’re delicious, and best of all, they’re perfect for sharing (though you might not want to).
So the next time you’re tuning in to root for your team, make sure you’ve got these bites. They’ll be the real MVP of game day.
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