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.
Starting with frozen takes all the prep work out of things, so you can cook and eat your mac and cheese even sooner.
For another gooey and cheesy appetizer, learn how to cook frozen cheese curds in the air fryer!
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.
I of course choose the air fryer. You get that pleasant crunchy exterior just like when you cook frozen onion rings in the air fryer.
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.
Macaroni and cheese bites make a great appetizer or snack, and fit in well on your game day smorgasbord. Make some frozen chicken tenders in the air fryer, frozen egg rolls in the air fryer, or some bagel bites in the air fryer to round out your spread!
Air Fryer Frozen Mac and Cheese Bites
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 Mac and cheese bites (frozen)
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F, following manufacturer guidelines
- Remove frozen mac and cheese bites from all packaging, and place in the preheated air fryer basket. Allow air space between each bite3 Mac and cheese bites
- Air fry for 8 minutes, flipping halfway through
- Check for an internal temperature of 165°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!
Notes
- There’s no need to add any additional oil when cooking frozen mac and cheese bites, as most come with it already included
- Making more than one serving doesn’t increase cook time as long as there is adequate basket space
- It’s normal for the bites to sometimes break open a bit during cooking. They still taste great!
- I like macaroni and cheese bites on their own, but feel free to serve with dipping sauces, such as: buffalo sauce, ketchup, ranch, or garlic parmesan
- Nutrition will vary based on specific brand used, so please just consider this a rough guideline
Nutrition
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!
My cooking philosophy is that great tasting food doesn't have to be complicated or time consuming to make. I'm a home cook with over 20 years of experience feeding myself and others. I've learned from a variety of different people, things I've learned online, and some trial and error as well.
I enjoy cooking a variety of foods, from convenience to comfort foods, as well as international cuisine. You can rest assured that all of my recipes have been actually made, thoroughly tested, and most importantly: tasted! I want you to enjoy my food as much as I do!
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