Mini Mac Cheese Muffins (Printable)

Bite-sized macaroni muffin bites with creamy cheese and crispy golden topping for easy snacking.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 7 oz elbow macaroni

→ Cheese Sauce

02 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
03 - 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
04 - 1 cup whole milk
05 - 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
06 - ⅓ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
07 - ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
08 - ½ tsp Dijon mustard
09 - ¼ tsp garlic powder
10 - ¼ tsp onion powder
11 - ¼ tsp salt
12 - ⅛ tsp ground black pepper

→ Topping

13 - ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
14 - 1 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
15 - 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
16 - 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (optional)

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Grease a 12-cup muffin tin using butter or nonstick spray.
02 - Boil salted water and cook the macaroni until just al dente, approximately 1 minute less than package instructions. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
03 - Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook, stirring continuously, for 1 minute.
04 - Gradually add milk while whisking steadily until smooth. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes until thickened.
05 - Remove from heat. Stir in cheddar, mozzarella, Parmesan, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper until cheeses melt completely.
06 - Add drained macaroni to cheese sauce and stir well to combine.
07 - Evenly distribute the mac and cheese mixture among muffin cups, pressing gently to fill each completely.
08 - Mix panko breadcrumbs, melted butter, and Parmesan cheese in a small bowl. Sprinkle mixture evenly over each filled muffin cup.
09 - Bake for 15 to 18 minutes until topping is golden brown and crisp.
10 - Allow muffins to cool for 5 minutes in the tin. Loosen edges with a knife, remove from tin, and garnish with parsley if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Every single bite has that crispy, buttery edge you usually fight over in a casserole.
  • They hold their shape beautifully, so you can eat them with your hands at a picnic or pack them cold in a lunchbox.
  • The triple-cheese blend melts into something silky and rich without being heavy.
  • You can make a batch on Sunday and reheat them all week for quick snacks or side dishes.
02 -
  • Undercook the pasta by a full minute or it will turn mushy when it bakes in the cheese sauce.
  • Press the mac and cheese firmly into the cups or they'll crumble when you try to remove them.
  • Let them cool for at least 5 minutes, they need time to set or the cheese will ooze everywhere.
03 -
  • Use a nonstick muffin tin or silicone cups if you have them, it makes releasing the muffins almost effortless.
  • Taste your cheese sauce before adding the pasta, it should be slightly overseasoned because the pasta will dilute it.
  • If you want extra-crispy tops, broil them for the last minute of baking, but watch closely so they don't burn.
Go Back