The first time I had mac and cheese balls was at a local gas station convenience store, and I loved them! Needless to say, I don’t feel the need to go for a drive every time I want to enjoy them. So, I learned how to make air fryer frozen mac and cheese bites right at home.
How Long Do You Cook Frozen Mac and Cheese Bites in the Air Fryer?
You cook frozen mac and cheese bites in the air fryer for approximately 8-10 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
You’ll want to pause once halfway through and give them a shake to encourage even heating and crisping.
Depending on the exact size and composition of your macaroni and cheese balls, they may take a couple minutes more or less, but this is a great approximation.
It’s the same concept I see when we make Hot Pockets in the air fryer where certain flavor fillings take a minute or two difference from others.
How to Air Fry Frozen Mac and Cheese Bites: Step By Step
Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F
Remove frozen mac and cheese bites from all packaging, and place in the preheated air fryer basket. Allow air space between each bite
Air fry for 8 minutes, flipping halfway through
Check for an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, and add additional cook time in 1 minute increments if needed
Cool for around 2 minutes before enjoying
Serve with your favorite dippers or enjoy on their own!
For larger sized bites, you may need a minute or two more. Just add time in 1-minute increments and check in on them for doneness.
If you prefer a slightly less crispy exterior, lower the heat to 380 and increase cooking time by 1-2 minutes. However, I don’t think you can go wrong with the satisfying crunch with a warm, cheesy center!
How Do You Cook Frozen Mac and Cheese Bites?
The best ways to cook frozen mac and cheese bites are in the oven (regular or convection) or an air fryer.
While you could probably heat them in a toaster oven, it’s not recommended and would take a long time. The microwave is fast, but you lose the crunchy exterior heating them that way.
Incidentally, both items go well on your appetizer or game day snack spread!
Can You Put Frozen Mac and Cheese Bites in the Air Fryer?
Yes, you can put all frozen mac and cheese bites in the air fryer.
Here are some of the most popular brands of mac and cheese bites you may want to try:
Stouffer’s Mac and Cheese Bites
Trader Joe’s Mac and Cheese Bites
Market Pantry (Target) Mac and Cheese Bites
Crav’N Mac and Cheese Bites
Wellsley Farms (BJ’s Wholesale Club) Mac and Cheese Bites
Feel Good Foods Mac and Cheese Bites (Gluten Free)
The Crav’N brand are the little triangle-shaped bites I was first introduced to. The other brands are all mac and cheese balls.
If you’re wondering, today we’re making the Stouffer’s variety because: they add bacon! Who can say no to bacon? It’s the number one topping to everything around here, including baked potatoes in the air fryer.
No matter what shape your macaroni and cheese bites take, though, they’re still delicious!
If Stouffer’s makes you think of stuffing, then you might also enjoy these spinach stuffing balls in the air fryer! Since a kid, I’ve always loved these appetizers!
Final Thoughts
So that’s it. In around 10 minutes (including preheat) you can make frozen mac and cheese bites in the air fryer. They’re crispy and golden on the outside and filled with melty cheese on the inside.
Frozen mac and cheese bites get warm, cheesy, and crispy in 10 minutes or less thanks to your air fryer. It’s handheld macaroni and cheese to please everyone!
Keyword appetizer, frozen mac and cheese balls, frozen mac and cheese bites, frozen mac and cheese bites air fryer, mac and cheese bites, stouffer’s mac and cheese bites air fryer, Super Bowl snacks
I enjoy trying new recipes, creating my own, and dabbling with new techniques all the time. My husband loves to protest when I make him my guinea pig, but it’s all for the love of food!
