Fried Mac and Cheese Bites

Photo and Food Styling by Aramael Pena-Alcantara

Pure dairy-on-carbs joy. Crispy Panko crumb encrusted bite sized bites of mac and cheese, deep-fried until they're golden brown squares of heaven. Seriously, the ultimate comfort food.

Preparation

Step 1

Prepare mac & cheese according to package directions, then stir in 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese. Use a 4-ounce block of American cheese from the deli counter; prewrapped slices of American cheese will result in a drier mac and cheese.

Step 2

Line a 13 by 9-inch baking dish with parchment paper; brush parchment lightly with butter. Spread mac & cheese evenly in dish. Cover and chill until firm, at least 8 hours and up to 24 hours.

Step 4

Invert set mac & cheese onto a cutting board and remove parchment. Cut into 1-inch squares with a sharp knife.

Step 5

Make a dredging station: Whisk eggs, garlic powder, onion powder, 1/2 tsp. kosher salt, and 2 Tbsp. water in a large shallow bowl. Place panko, 1/2 tsp. salt, and 1/2 tsp. pepper in another large shallow bowl.

Step 6

Working with a few mac & cheese square at a time, dip the mac & cheese square into egg wash, letting excess drip back into bowl. Dredge in panko, pressing firmly to adhere, ensuring no bare spots remain. Lightly shake off excess crumbs. Transfer to a wire rack set on a baking sheet.

Step 6

Pour 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil into a large heavy skillet. Heat over medium until shimmering. Line a rimmed baking sheet with paper towels, then place a wire cooling rack upside down on the paper towels.

Step 7

Working in batches to avoid crowding the pan and returning the oil to temp after each batch, carefully lower coated mac & cheese squares in a single layer with tongs. Cook until all sides are golden-brown for 5-7 minutes total, about 1-2 minutes per side. Transfer to the prepared rack and cool slightly. Sprinkle with parsley and serve warm.