Three-Cheese Mini Macs

The New Year is upon us and many of us will be hosting parties and get togethers with family and friends to celebrate. So, I thought I would share and document for my master list a favorite little hors d’oeuvres in our house.

I think it is safe to say that almost everyone likes mac-n-cheese. It is just good comfort food. Why not enjoy that comfort food in one irresistible bite? Pass them with cocktails or place them on the buffet table and let your guests serve themselves. These will disappear before your eyes.

Not only are they delicious, they are easy to make and they can even be made the day before. Just remove the unbaked mini macs from the refrigerator and bake them just before party time.

My inspiration for these came from an old Food & Wine article. The original called for cheddar and American cheese, but I opted for a cheddar and Gruyère combination. Those two cheeses pair perfectly with the parmesan. I also added a bit more milk and an extra egg yolk. A pinch of salt and some Panko crumbs for a little crunch and mmm–these are fantastic. Who wouldn’t want to eat mac-n-cheese with their fingers?

Feel free to change up the cheeses to what you like. Jazz them up and add bits of ham or veggies. Maybe give them a kick with some chiles and spices. As I have said before– make them for you , make them your own. For today’s purposes, I am keeping them plain and simple in their pure comfort food form.

So whether you are ringing in the New Year with a cocktail party with friends or having a simple gathering with your family, make a batch of the Three-Cheese Mini Macs. They will surely be a hit.

Wait–I almost forgot. If you are in charge of packing those school lunches, then make a half a batch of these. Kids, mac-n-cheese, bite sized portions–smiles all around!

Three-Cheese Mini Macs

By Nicole Prep: 15 minsCook: 25 minsTotal: 40 mins Servings: 48 bites A classic comfort food in one irresistible bite!

Equipment

• 2 24-cup mini muffin pan

Ingredients 

• ½ pound elbow macaroni
• 1 ½ tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons unbleached all-pupose flour
• 1 cup whole milk
• 4 ounce aged white cheddar cheese, grated
• 4 ounce Gruyère, grated
• 2 extra large egg yolks
• ¼ cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese
• ¼ cup Panko crumbs
• Pinch of kosher salt

Instructions 

1. Adjust the oven racks to the upper and lower thirds of the oven. Preheat the oven to 425ºF. Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook according to the manufacturer's directions. Drain the macaroni completely and set aside.
2. Spray 2-24 cup mini muffin tins with non-stick cooking spray. In a small bowl combine the Parmigiano-Reggiano and Panko. Set aside.
3. In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour and cook the mixture for 2 minutes, whisking constantly. Add the milk and continue whisking until the mixture is thick, about 5 minutes. Add the cheddar and Gruyère and whisk until the cheeses are completely melted. Remove from the heat and whisk in the egg yolks. Fold in the macaroni and season with salt.
4. Evenly fill the prepared muffin tins with the macaroni and cheese, about ¾ full. Sprinkle the Panko and cheese mixture evenly over the tops. Bake the mini macs until they are sizzling and golden on top, about 10-12 minutes rotating the pans halfway through baking. Remove from the oven and let the mini macs cool for 5 minutes. Using a the edge of a small offset spatula, carefully remove the mini macs and transfer to a platter and serve. Enjoy!

Notes

The recipe can be made just before baking and kept in the refrigerator overnight.

Nutrition

Calories: 50kcal, Carbohydrates: 4g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 0.01g, Cholesterol: 15mg, Sodium: 46mg, Potassium: 24mg, Fiber: 0.2g, Sugar: 0.4g, Vitamin A: 80IU, Calcium: 56mg, Iron: 0.1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.