Fried Mac and Cheese Balls - crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside! They are the ultimate comfort food. Whether you're serving them as a side dish or a party appetizer, they're sure to steal the show. Dip 'em, pop 'em, and savor the cheesy goodness.
Using a medium cookie scoop, scoop macaroni and cheese and roll into balls.
Place balls on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and freeze for 15 to 20 minutes.
Place flour in a shallow dish. Season with garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Whisk together eggs and honey mustard in another shallow bowl.
Place cheez-it crackers in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until finely crushed. Pour crackers into a separate shallow bowl.
Remove mac and cheese balls from the freezer. Roll balls in flour; dip into the egg mixture and coat in cracker crumbs. Place on the baking sheet and return to the freezer while the oil heats.
Heat vegetable oil in a deep fryer or Dutch oven to 350ºF. Place balls in the fryer basket or cooking spider and fry until golden brown on the outside, about 4 to 6 minutes.
Drain balls on paper towels. Garnish with parsley.
Notes:
I use store-bought Bon Evans macaroni and cheese.
I tried this recipe with Stouffer's Mac & Cheese, which was too runny.
You can use leftover homemade macaroni and cheese.
I use crushed Cheez-Its to coat the mac and cheese balls.
You can use any breadcrumbs that you like. Italian bread crumbs or panko bread crumbs work great.
This is equally delicious with potato chips!
Add a dash of cayenne pepper to the flour for a little kick.
Sprinkle fried balls with kosher salt for a salty snack!
Can I freeze Mac and Cheese Balls? Yes. Assemble the balls and store in the freezer until ready to fry.
Can I bake them in the oven? Yes. You can bake them in the oven at 375ºF for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Just spritz with cooking spray before baking.
You can also air fry them at 360ºF for 8-10 minutes.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.