Mac And Cheese Bites

When you need an appetizer and want comforting finger food, these cheesy, gooey, baked mac and cheese bites (with a vegan option) are the perfect choice! Make them with chickpea pasta for an added protein boost and bake them instead of frying for a lighter, healthier twist on the classic dish, this tasty snack is a crowd-pleaser.

Why You'll Love Mac and Cheese Bites

• Finger Foods are so popular! People LOVE bite-size foods, especially when they’re made in muffin tins. Quite frankly, what’s not to love? Portion controlled, easy to eat, and best of all, super easy to prepare!
• Versatile. These Mac and Cheese Bites Can Be Vegan or Vegetarian. Just switch up the cheeses to suit your preference.
• Easy to Prepare. These mac and cheese bites are easily prepared on the stove, then portioned out, coated with Panko bread crumbs, and baked in mini muffin tins until golden brown and crispy.

How to Make Mac and Cheese Bites

Making these tasty bites is so easy! Start by preheating your oven and getting your muffin tin ready. Then, prepare the pasta according to the directions on the box. When it is ready strain and set aside.

Next, make a roux with olive oil and flour in a large saucepan. Add milk or non-dairy milk for a vegan option with salt and pepper and stir until it thickens. Add the pasta and the remaining ingredients except for the panko bread crumbs and parmesan cheese. Move the mac and cheese to a baking pan so that it is spread out a little and can cool. Let the mac and cheese cool until it can be handled.

Mix the bread crumbs and parmesan while the mac and cheese is cooling. Then, scoop out portions of the mac and cheese and roll them in the breadcrumb mixture. You can use a spoon or an ice cream scoop for more evenly sized portions. Place each one in a muffin pan because this will allow it to keep its shape. Coat the mac and cheese bites with baking spray on top and bake for twenty minutes. The baking spray allows the coating to get a little crispy without frying.

How to Serve Mac and Cheese Bites

Serve with marinara sauce or buffalo sauce for dipping! These can be a side dish or an appetizer and work just as well for all of your favorite parties or events as they do at the family dinner table.

Mac and Cheese Bites Recipe Tips

• Make these mac and cheese bites vegan by using vegan cheese and plant-based milk.
• We used mozzarella and cheddar cheese, but these mac and cheese bites could be made with other cheeses like fontina, gouda, gruyère, etc.
• While our recipe calls for olive oil, you can use avocado oil, butter, or whatever you have on hand.
• You can make the recipe gluten-free by using gluten-free flour and gluten-free Panko and gluten-free pasta.
• The mac and cheese baked bites can be prepared up to 2 days ahead. Just refrigerate the base.  When ready to serve, portion, coat with bread crumbs, and bake.
• Don't skip the mustard, it cuts on the richness of the mac and cheese and it give the bites a wonderful flavor.
• For a touch of heat, add a splash of buffalo or hot sauce to the mac and cheese and red pepper flakes or cayenne to the Panko.
• Serve the mac and cheese bites warm, with a side of marinara sauce.
• Want more food bites? You can pretty much make a “muffin” out of anything. It can be sweet, it can be savory, like these sweet potato meatballs. It can be a cute little appetizer, like these green papaya salad cups with peanut dressing, a quick grab-and-go breakfast or snack, or even part of a light dinner, like these baked green falafel with lemony tahini.
• Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container and reheated in the microwave or oven.

More Appetizer Recipes

Want more food bites? You can make different appetizers in a mini muffin tin.

• They can be sweet, they can be savory, like these sweet potato meatballs. 
• They can be a cute little appetizer, like these green papaya salad cups with peanut dressing,
• A quick grab-and-go breakfast or snack, or even part of a light dinner, like these baked green falafel with lemony tahini
• Our award winning, Potato cups filled with spinach

If you enjoyed this recipe, it would help us tremendously if you left us a star rating in the comments below or on the recipe card. Do you have any questions about the recipe? Do you need a swap for any of the ingredients? We are here to help, just leave us a question in the comments below.