Simply Fun Food
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Crispy Baked Mac & Cheese Cups
Individual mac and cheese with crunchy, golden tops — no serving spoon needed.
Creamy macaroni baked in a muffin tin until the edges turn crisp and the tops go golden. They're kid-approved, grown-up loved, and perfect for buffets.
Crispy Baked Mac & Cheese Cups
- Prep Time
- 20 min
- Cook Time
- 25 min
- Servings
- 24 cups
Ingredients
- 8 oz (225 g) elbow macaroni
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 1/4 cups milk
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar
- 1/2 cup shredded Gruyère or Monterey Jack
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs tossed with 1 tbsp melted butter
- Chopped parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- 1.
Heat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Generously grease a 24-cup mini muffin tin.
- 2.
Cook macaroni 1 minute less than package directions. Drain.
- 3.
Melt butter in the same pot, whisk in flour, and cook 1 minute. Slowly whisk in milk and simmer until thickened, 3 minutes. Off the heat, stir in cheeses until melted, then salt and paprika.
- 4.
Let the sauce cool 2 minutes, then stir in the egg and macaroni.
- 5.
Pack mixture into muffin cups and top with buttered panko. Bake until golden, 15–18 minutes. Cool 10 minutes before removing.
Make It Special!
- Stir in crumbled bacon or diced jalapeños for a grown-up twist.
- Serve on a tiered stand for a party-ready look.
- Make ahead: bake, cool, and refrigerate up to 2 days. Rewarm at 350°F for 10 minutes.
From Simply Fun Food · SimplyFunFood.com
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