Grinch Mac and Cheese Bites
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These Grinch Mac and Cheese Bites are a festive, bite-sized party appetizer, snack for the kids, or a fun family dinner. This recipe is the perfect combination of cheesy delicious and super easy to make!
Aren’t those fun?! I am already thinking up ways to turn my Toxic Waste Mac and Cheese into bite-size as well. I just need to make sure that they stay creepy!!
Not that these bites have to be a crazy green color, simply leave out the coloring for a delicious “normal” mac and cheese bites recipe.
📋 What you will need
- Elbow Macaroni – cooked per the package directions.
- Butter, Flour and Milk – to create a creamy sauce.
- Sea salt, Black Pepper, Onion Powder, Paprika, and Mustard Powder – are used to flavor the sauce.
- Sharp White Cheddar Cheese – gives this recipe extra tang without adding any additional color. It is mixed into the sauce and melted onto the bites in the oven.
- Red Bell Pepper – gives these mini bites their adorable heart.
Be sure to check out the detailed printable recipe card below
🥣 more delicious macaroni and cheese recipes
👩🏻🍳 how to make grinch mac and cheese bites
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease three mini-muffin pans with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
Remove the core and seeds from a red bell pepper. Lay it flat on a cutting board and cut out mini hearts with a tiny cutter. Set aside until ready to use.
Cook the macaroni according to the package instructions. While your pasta is cooking, melt the butter in a large pan. Add the flour and whisk together to create a roux that will thicken the cheese sauce.
Simmer for 1.5 to 2 minutes to cook out the flour taste.
Pour in the milk and whisk to combine. Add the salt, pepper, onion powder, mustard powder, and paprika, stir to combine. Heat mixture over medium heat until it thickens and starts to simmer, about 6 or 7 minutes.
Add 6 drops of Electric Green Gel Coloring and 1 drop of Forest Green Gel Coloring. Stir to combine.
Remove from heat and add the grated cheese. Stir until all of the cheese is melted.
Drain the macaroni and add to the cheese sauce.
Stir to thoroughly coat the pasta. Scoop 2 tablespoons of mac and cheese into each cavity of the prepared pans.
Sprinkle a few pieces of cheddar on top of each mac and cheese bite, and place once bell pepper heart in the center.
Place in the oven and bake until the cheese is melted and the bites start to brown, about 13 to 15 minutes. Let the mac and cheese bites cool in the pan for 15 minutes before removing.
Serve while hot or at room temperature.
🥗 what to serve with mac and cheese bites
Serve 3 or 4 bites (depending on appetite) with a bowl of Instant Pot Tomato Basil Soup, a Harvest Apple Salad, or Instant Pot Barbecue Ribs.
📌recipe notes & tips
- For lactose – free, use sharp cheddar cheese that has been aged for over 90 days and lactose-free milk or unsweetened almond milk.
- For vegan, substitute vegan cheese (one that melts well) and vegan milk.
- For gluten-free, substitute your choice of gluten-free macaroni.
🥄 tools used to create this recipe
You can see the rest of my favorite kitchen tools and gadgets here in my Amazon Affiliate Page. I earn a small commission when you purchase through my links, at no cost to you, so I can keep bringing you more delicious recipes!
- Mini-Muffin Pans x 3
- Dutch Oven or large pot
- Chefs Knife and Cutting Board
- Whisk
- Silicone Spatula
- Measuring Cup
- Electric Green Gel Coloring
- Forest Green Gel Coloring
- Cookie Scoop
- Box Grater
- Mini Heart Cutter – comes in a set. I used the smallest one.
🥡 to store leftovers
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or air fryer.
For longer storage: cool bites completely then freeze in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Defrost then reheat in the oven or an air fryer before serving.
❤️ more grinch recipes
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Enjoy!!
Grinch Mac and Cheese Bites
Equipment
- Mini Muffin Pans
Ingredients
- .25 cup unsalted butter
- .33 cup all-purpose flour
- 2.5 cups whole milk Unsweetened Almond Milk
- .25 teaspoon black pepper
- 0.5 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon dry mustard powder
- 8 ounces sharp white cheddar cheese grated
- 1 pound elbow macaroni cooked and drained
Topping
- 4 ounces sharp white cheddar cheese
- 1 large red bell pepper cored, seeded, and cut into tiny hearts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease three mini-muffin pans with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
- Remove the core and seeds from a red bell pepper. Lay it flat on a cutting board and cut out mini hearts with a tiny cutter. Set aside until ready to use.
- Cook the macaroni according to the package instructions. While your pasta is cooking, melt the butter in a large pan. Add the flour and whisk together to create a roux that will thicken the cheese sauce. Simmer for 1.5 to 2 minutes to cook out the flour taste.
- Pour in the milk and whisk to combine. Add the salt, pepper, onion powder, mustard powder, and paprika, stir to combine. Heat mixture over medium heat until it thickens and starts to simmer, about 6 or 7 minutes.
- Add 6 drops of Electric Green Gel Coloring and 1 drop of Forest Green Gel Coloring. Stir to combine. Remove from heat and add the grated cheese. Stir until all of the cheese is melted.
- Drain the macaroni and add to the cheese sauce. Stir to thoroughly coat the pasta. Scoop 2 tablespoons of mac and cheese into each cavity of the prepared pans.
- Sprinkle a few pieces of cheddar on top of each mac and cheese bite, and place once bell pepper heart in the center.
- Place in the oven and bake until the cheese is melted and the bites start to brown, about 13 to 15 minutes. Let the mac and cheese bites cool in the pan for 15 minutes before removing.
- Serve while hot or at room temperature.
Notes
- For lactose – free, use sharp cheddar cheese that has been aged for over 90 days and lactose-free milk or unsweetened almond milk.
- For vegan, substitute vegan cheese (one that melts well) and vegan milk.
- For gluten-free, substitute your choice of gluten-free macaroni.
- Do not use packaged, pre-shredded cheese. It contains stabilizers that will turn your mac and cheese into a gooey glob.
- Use a block of cheese and grate it yourself for the best results.
- This recipe makes 36 bites, 48 smaller 1 to 1.5 tablespoon bites (you will need 4 pans), or one 13 x 9 pan of mac and cheese.
