Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: you cook up boxed mac n cheese for no other reason than that your toddler demanded–or yelled or pleaded or ___ –it, only for him or her to eat roughly 4-5 bites and declare themselves finished. (In our case, our son told us he didn’t ever want to eat it again.) You are not eating all that leftover mac and cheese; your child ain’t eating it either–at least not in its present form. What, then, to do?
Answer: think and cook like a child. Ball it. Bread it. Air fry the heck out of it. Make it cheesy; make it crunchy. Most of all, make it something new–or, at least, new to them. It’s portable, it’s got a texture other than, you know, the mush of boxed mac and cheese; most of all, it looks like something else. Sure, you can tell them what you’ve done, but the surprise and/or secret of what (s)he is actually eating is the best part. They’ll thank you later.
Check the Adapt section and these posts for more ideas on how to repurpose leftovers!
What Are Leftover Mac and Cheese Bites?
Think crispy, cheesy snack meets toddler-approved finger food. These bites start with cold leftover mac and cheese, get stuffed with an extra hit of cheddar, coated in Parmesan-panko crumbs, and air-fried until golden. The result? A crunchy outside, gooey inside, and a whole new way to serve yesterday’s dinner—no spoon required.
What You’ll Need
- Mac and cheese – cold works best for shaping (about 1 cup)
- Cheddar cheese slices – or whatever sliced cheese you’ve got
- Egg – to help the coating stick
- Garlic powder + onion powder – for a little flavor boost
- Panko breadcrumbs – the crunch factor
- Grated Parmesan – because more cheese is always right
How It Comes Together
- Shape it up – Grab a chunk of cold leftover mac and cheese and squeeze it into a rough ball or square (your call).
- Hide the bonus cheese – Press a piece of sliced cheddar into the middle, then seal it back up.
- Freeze – Pop the shapes on parchment and freeze for 30–60 minutes so they hold together.
- Bread it – Dip in a garlicky-oniony egg wash, then roll in Parmesan-panko breadcrumbs.
- Air fry – 400°F for 10 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Serve – Offer with their favorite sauce, whether that’s ketchup, ranch, or mystery pink dip.
FAQ – Leftover Mac and Cheese Bites
Q: Can I use fresh mac and cheese instead of leftovers?
A: You can, but it’s way easier to shape when it’s cold from the fridge.
Q: What if the shapes fall apart when I press the cheese inside?
A: Just squish it firmly, patch any gaps with extra noodles, and remember freezing will firm them up before cooking.
Q: Can I bake instead of air fry?
A: Yep—bake at 400°F for 12–15 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden.
Q: Do they reheat well?
A: They crisp back up nicely in the air fryer or oven—microwaving will make them a little soft.
Q: Any other foods I can do this with?
A: Absolutely. Try the same method with leftover rice, mashed potatoes, or even chopped veggies. You can also borrow the coating trick for meat or seafood (like our chicken kieve).
Easy Leftover Mac and Cheese Bites For Kids
Description
Put all that leftover mac and cheese your kid didn't eat to good use with these air fryer mac and cheese bites. With a crispy exterior and gooey center, they make for an easy and delicious lunch the next day.
Ingredients
Instructions
Prep, Cook, and Assemble
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Cut or rip each cheese slice into roughly four pieces. Cover a flate plate or pan in parchment paper.
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Grab a chunk of mac and cheese, then squeeze and/or roll it in your hand(s) until the pieces stick together. (Don’t worry if it’s not a ball–as you can see from the recipe photo, mine ended up more like squares.) With your thumb, push a piece of cheese into your mac and cheese shape, then push or roll the sides until the hole is covered. Place on parchment-lined plate or pan.
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Freeze mac and cheese pieces for at least 30-60 minutes.
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When ready to cook, line up two flat and shallow containers next to one another. In one, crack open the egg and add a few shakes each of garlic and onion powders; mix until blended. In the other, add the breadcrumbs and a smattering of parmesan; sift to blend.
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Dip the mac and cheese shapes into the egg wash, making sure to cover all sides; then roll in the breadcrumbs until lightly dusted all over.
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Air fry at 400 for ten minutes, turning over midway through cooking.
Serve
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If your child is already a big fan of mac and cheese, it may help the first time you serve to show him or her the noodles and cheese inside; then again, they might be a “tots” or “nuggs” kind of kids, so you can also sell that way. Offer a favorite condiment or sauce to go alongside.
Adapt
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You can take the exact same approach with leftover rice, potatoes, or vegetables with similarly good–and good eating–results. Note: we use basically the same cooking approach in our chicken kiev recipe; rolling leftover or extra meat or seafood in crumbs and cooking it up is also something we know well.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 5
Serving Size 2 bites
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 65kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 3g5%
- Cholesterol 15mg5%
- Sodium 50mg3%
- Total Carbohydrate 6g2%
- Protein 2g4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
