This is the kind of recipe that hurts, but hurts so good.
It’s the kind of thing you make when you want to wow your guests with your creativity. The other motive: make sure they eat so many that you don’t have to pick up the slack. But if you have to, that’s fine. Sometimes there is never too much of a good thing!
This recipe for Deep Fried Mac n’ Cheese reminds me a lot of arancini – delicious Italian breaded rice balls filled with cheese or meat sauce and other yummy ingredients. But this lowbrow recipe is much easier to make in your kitchen, and uses ingredients you probably have on hand already.
I made my version with white cheddar elbow macaroni and crispy Panko breadcrumbs, but feel free to mix it up with sharp cheddar macaroni, regular breadcrumbs, herbs, spices – whatever you like! Here’s how to make them:
First, prepare your box of macaroni and cheese. You can use a store-bought variety or make it from scratch. Either way, pour the prepared noodles into a loaf pan or square baking pan, cover and refrigerate until very firm (otherwise the noodles will come apart during frying).
Just before you’re ready to deep fry, prepare your toppings: Place flour, eggs and breadcrumbs in three separate, shallow bowls. Pour nearly an inch of oil into a large, deep pot over medium-high heat on the stove, and place a large tray covered with paper towels near it to soak up any leftover oil from the deep-fried bites.
Then, remove the mac n’ cheese from the fridge and carefully remove the block from its container (the best way to do this is to invert the pan). Cut the block into squares, then coat in flour, egg and breadcrumbs.
Then it’s time to deep fry! Always remember to be safe when frying things in hot oil – wear long sleeves and never, ever put your face near the pot. Also, use a slotted spoon to place the bites into the oil and to remove them. Trust me – freshly oiled food is HOT!
After you’ve placed your bites in the oil and let them deeply brown on both sides, remove them and place them on the paper towels. Voila! Gooey, cheesy, deep-fried deliciousness at your fingertips.
Stephanie (aka Girl Versus Dough) joined Tablespoon to share her adventures in the kitchen. Check out Stephanie’s Tablespoon member profile and keep checking back for her own personal recipes on Tablespoon!
Advertise on Platefull