Crispy Mac and Cheese Balls
Golden-fried mac and cheese bites made from store-bought mac and cheese, shaped, breaded, and deep-fried until crispy. Serve with ketchup and mayo for dunking.
- Total time
- 20 min
- Servings
- 4
- Calories
- 420
- Protein
- 12g
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked mac and cheese (boxed, prepared)
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 whole eggs
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 3 cups neutral oil (for deep frying)
Instructions
- 1
Spread cooked mac and cheese on a plate and refrigerate 10 minutes until firm enough to scoop.
- 2
Set up three shallow bowls: flour in one, whisked eggs in another, panko in the third.
- 3
Scoop mac and cheese into 1.5-inch balls. Roll each in flour, then egg, then panko until fully coated.
- 4
Heat oil in a heavy pot to 350°F. Test with a breadcrumb—it should sizzle and brown in 60 seconds.
- 5
Fry mac and cheese balls in batches, 2–3 minutes per batch, until golden brown all over.
- 6
Drain on paper towels. Serve hot with ketchup and mayonnaise for dipping.
Tools you’ll need
- shallow bowls (3)
- heavy-bottomed pot (2-quart minimum)
- instant-read thermometer or candy thermometer
- slotted spoon or spider strainer
- paper towels
- ice-cream scoop or small spoon
Cook smarter
Get matched recipes for what’s in your fridge
CookSnap is a free iOS app that finds real recipes from the ingredients you already have. No more grocery-list aspirations.
