• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Burnt Apple
  • About
  • Recipes
    • Amazon
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Recipes
    • Amazon
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » snack

    Baked Macaroni and Cheese Balls

    Published: Aug 23, 2013 · Modified: Oct 29, 2023 by burntapple · This post may contain affiliate links · 3 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
     A plate of baked macaroni and cheese balls with a side of marinara sauce for dipping. The macaroni and cheese balls are golden brown and crispy on the outside, and cheesy and gooey on the inside. The marinara sauce is red and chunky.

    Ready to try a unique spin on traditional mac and cheese? Our delicious Baked Macaroni and Cheese Balls are sure to be a hit with adults and kids alike! Packed with cheesy, creamy goodness inside a crunchy coating, these tasty treats are sure to satisfy your craving for comfort food. They taste really similar to the Cheesecake Factory ones they used to sell too!

    A plate of baked macaroni and cheese balls on a table. The macaroni and cheese balls are golden brown and crispy on the outside, and cheesy and gooey on the inside. The macaroni and cheese balls are served with a side of marinara sauce for dipping.

    Baked Macaroni and Cheese Balls Recipe

    Traci Wennerholm
    Baked macaroni and cheese balls are a delicious and fun appetizer or snack that is perfect for parties, potlucks, or just a weeknight treat. They are made with leftover macaroni and cheese, which is then rolled into balls, breaded, and baked. The result is a crispy on the outside, cheesy on the inside bite of deliciousness.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    0 minutes mins
    Total Time 35 minutes mins
    Course Appetizer, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 397 kcal

    Equipment

    • mini muffin cups optional

    Ingredients
      

    • ½ pound elbow macaroni
    • 1 cup pureed butternut squash
    • ¾ cup chicken or vegetable broth
    • ¾ cup reduced fat milk
    • ¼ teaspoon pepper
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 1 cup reduced fat cheddar cheese we used Cabot 1%
    • ¼ cup parmesan cheese
    • ½ cup unbleached all purpose flour + 1 tablespoon
    • 2 eggs lightly beaten
    • 1 cup parmesan herb bread crumbs you can use plain breadcrumbs or even gluten free if desired
    • 4 tablespoon olive or canola oil

    Instructions
     

    • Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain, then set aside while you prepare the sauce.
    • In a saucepan, combine the pureed squash, broth, milk, pepper, salt and one tablespoon flour over medium heat. Heat just until boiling, then reduce heat to low and slowly stir in cheeses. Once cheese is melted, stir in the pasta and coat in the cheese mixture.
    • Place macaroni and cheese into the refrigerator to allow it to cool.
    • When macaroni has cooled, form into tablespoon sized balls and place onto a parchment lined baking sheet or scoop mixture into lightly greased mini muffin tins. Place mixture in freezer and allow mixture to freeze for at least one hour.
    • Right before taking the macaroni out of the freezer, preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Place the flour, eggs, and breadcrumbs in three separate bowls. Remove the macaroni from the freezer. Roll each macaroni ball completely in the flour, then the eggs, then the breadcrumbs. Place the macaroni on parchment lined baking sheets. If you used the mini muffin cups to freeze, do not place them back into the muffin cups. You will need to move them to a parchment lined baking sheet.
    • Place the macaroni balls into the oven and cook at 425 degrees for ten minutes. After ten minutes, flip each macaroni ball to the other side to allow for even cooking. Cook for an additional seven minutes. For crispier macaroni, turn the broiler on and broil them for an additional thirty seconds to a minute after cooking before flipping and broiling on the other side. The macaroni is done when it is browned.
    • Remove from the oven and serve warm with marinara sauce.

    Notes

    Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for several days. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 397kcalCarbohydrates: 48gProtein: 17gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 64mgSodium: 605mgPotassium: 275mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 2724IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 211mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword baked mac and cheese, baked macaroni and cheese balls, cheesy macaroni and cheese balls, fried macaroni and cheese balls, quick macaroni and cheese balls
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Making Baked Macaroni and Cheese Balls

    Fall is just around the corner and it's time for some fall family fun! Our family loves football. Since game days are Saturdays and Sundays, I usually start the weekend  by heading out the door for a good long early Saturday morning run. My trusty german shorthair pointer accompanies me as we head out for our thirteen mile run.

    After my run, it's time to relax, take a shower, watch some football and eat!!

    Preheat oven and grease a baking sheet

    If you love The Cheesecake Factory, you will love this recipe! My husband introduced me to the fried mac and cheese balls on a recent trip to the restaurant. While I'm not usually a fan of fried things, I have to admit these were really, really good! I wanted to reproduce the recipe at home for the kids (and I'll be honest--myself) using better ingredients. I came up with this recipe for baked macaroni and cheese balls. A plate of these with some marinara sauce and you will be ready for game time too! If you're looking for a more classic mac and cheese try this dutch oven mac and cheese recipe.

    Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly grease a baking sheet with cooking spray or butter. Arrange the macaroni and cheese balls on the prepared baking sheet, leaving at least 1 inch of space between each ball. Spray or brush the tops lightly with more cooking spray or melted butter and bake for 18-22 minutes, until golden brown and crispy.

    Cook baked macaroni and cheese according to package instructions, then drain and rinse

    Combine the cooked macaroni with the cheese, egg, bread crumbs, and spices in a large bowl. Using your hands or an ice cream scoop, form the mixture into 1 – 1 ½ inch balls, making sure they’re tight and compact. Place each ball onto a plate and chill in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes before baking.

    Mix in cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, spices, and eggs

    In the large bowl containing the cooked macaroni, add in cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, spices and eggs. Use your hands to combine all of the ingredients together until well mixed. The additional cheeses will help raise the flavor profile of the macaroni and cheese balls. Add more salt and pepper to taste if needed.

    Form the mixture into small balls and roll each one in a bowl of parmesan herb bread crumbs for the crunchy coating

    To form the baked macaroni and cheese balls, scoop up 1.5 tablespoons of the mixture and roll it into a balls with your hands. Place each ball in a bowl or plate containing the parmesan herb bread crumbs. Gently roll the ball around to allow the bread crumbs to adhere to all sides of the ball. Transfer each ball to a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes in preheated oven until golden brown on top. Enjoy!

    Bake on the prepared baking sheet for 20 minutes or until golden brown

    Transfer each macaroni and cheese ball to a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Place the balls about an inch apart from each other. Bake for 20 minutes in preheated oven until golden brown on top. Allow the balls to cool for few minutes before serving and enjoy!

    A plate of baked macaroni and cheese balls on a table. The macaroni and cheese balls are golden brown and crispy on the outside, and cheesy and gooey on the inside. The macaroni and cheese balls are served with a side of marinara sauce for dipping.

    More Great Recipes...

    • chicken coconut curry
      T's Foods Class Chicken Coconut Curry Recipe
    • A top-down view of a single, shiny Cheddar's honey butter croissant on a round, white plate featuring black abstract floral and geometric designs. A partial croissant on a wooden board and a grey cloth napkin are visible at the edges, with white orchid flowers in the upper left corner.
      Copycat Cheddars Honey Butter Croissants
    • A mason jar filled with a Sonic-style Dirty Dr Pepper sits on a rustic white wooden surface. The drink is dark brown, filled with ice, and has visible carbonation bubbles on top. A fresh lime wedge is perched on the rim of the jar, while two additional limes, one whole and one sliced in half, rest nearby on the table. The background features a weathered wood texture, adding to the casual, homemade aesthetic.
      Copycat Sonic Dirty Dr Pepper
    • Top-down view of a white plate with a folded scrambled egg and avocado with salsa. The omelet is topped with slices of bright green avocado and a spoonful of chunky red salsa. A silver fork lies across the omelet. To the left of the plate is a folded white cloth napkin. In the upper right corner, a wooden cutting board holds half of a sliced avocado, a small pile of orange powder (possibly paprika), and a small pile of black peppercorns. A white bowl of red salsa is also on the cutting board. The scene is set on a light-colored marble countertop.
      Scrambled Eggs and Avocado with Salsa
    « 25 Minecraft Birthday Party Ideas
    Pumpkin Cake Pops »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Maria

      August 24, 2013 at 5:25 pm

      What an awesome idea!!! These look so good, and what a great idea for a party! Such a fun thing to serve! Thanks for sharing!!!

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    traci burntapple website featuring recipes with five ingredients or less

    Hi, I'm Traci! Cooking hasn't always come easy. I'm the burnt pancake on one side and perfect on the other pancake person that serves it to you with the pretty side up. I've learned to cook and make it look easy to my family and others. I'm now helping you save time & money with easy simple recipes with five ingredients or less!

    More about me →

    Popular

    • A plate of folded breakfast scrambled eggs seasoned with pepper, served with sliced avocado, a sprinkle of orange powder (possibly paprika), and a side of red salsa.
      Breakfast Scrambled Eggs
    • Four gluten-free strawberry coconut macaroons gluten free drizzled with chocolate on a red speckled enamel tray, with a red spoon and white daisies in the background.
      Strawberry Coconut Macaroons Gluten Free Version Too!
    • A top-down view of square pieces of dark spicy chocolate on a crumpled white surface. Some of the squares have a dusting of red chili powder and a few have chocolate chips scattered around them. A sprig of greenery and a few extra chocolate chips are visible in the bottom right corner.
      4 Ingredient Spicy Chocolate
    • Three chicken breasts topped with melted cheese are arranged on a blue and white patterned platter as part of a Spanish chicken recipe.
      5 Ingredient Spanish Chicken Recipe

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 Burnt Apple

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.