Mac ‘n’ Cheese Bites
Ingredients
- Cooking spray
- Kosher salt
- 1/2 pound elbow macaroni
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
- 1 small clove garlic, finely grated
- 1 cup shredded mild Cheddar (about 3 ounces)
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese (about 3 ounces)
- 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
- Hot sauce, for serving, optional
Directions
- Position oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven, and preheat to 400 degrees F. Line 2 or 3 mini muffin trays with liners, and coat the liners generously with cooking spray.
- Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni, and follow package directions for al dente. Drain the macaroni, and rinse in cold water until it is cool. Shake off any excess water.
- Put the heavy cream, cream cheese, eggs, mustard, paprika and garlic in a large bowl. Beat on low speed with an electric mixer until combined (the mixture may have small lumps). Add the cooked macaroni, Cheddar and Monterey Jack, and stir until combined.
- Drop heaping tablespoonfuls of the macaroni mixture into the prepared muffin liners. Combine the breadcrumbs and butter with your fingers in a small bowl until the mixture is the texture of wet sand. Sprinkle the top of each macaroni mound with buttered breadcrumbs.
- Bake until the cheese is melted and the bites are golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool for at least 5 minutes before serving hot or at room temperature. Serve with hot sauce on the side if desired.