Mac and Cheese Bites with Bacon

New Year's Eve is the perfect occasion to indulge in something elegant and decadent, let's face it, it's the last hooray before all those resolutions kick in! The nice thing about this appetizer recipe is that it can be made the day before refrigerated and then placed in the oven moments before your guests arrive.

If you are looking for such a nibble for your New Years' Eve Party, I highly recommend these Mac and Cheese bites with Bacon. They have all the goodness of my full-scale Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe but in a dainty bite-sized form! 

Why You'll Love This:

• Rich, cheesy, and salty, these little macaroni bites are the perfect morsel to serve with a glass of champagne.
• Due to their bite-size portion, you don't feel too guilty popping a few in your mouth in one sitting.
• There's something so lovely about greeting your guests with a hot appetizer and a chilled glass of champagne just as soon as they walk through the door. 

Watch My Video of This Recipe Below!

 

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Step #1: Boil The Pasta

• You'll boil the pasta just until it is "al dente".
• You don't want to overcook the pasta because it will continue to cook in the oven as it bakes.
• Look for the small macaroni pasta. Remember it needs to fit in a mini muffin tin once it's cooked. So the smaller the better!

Step #2: Make Your Cheese Sauce

• The cheese sauce is a basic mornay sauce with your favorite type of cheese.
• I think a sharp cheddar works well for these since it's a great flavor combination with the bacon. But you could also use Gruyere cheese too.

Step # 3: Add Sauce, Bacon, Eggs, and Flour

• You'll toss your pasta with your cheese sauce until all the pasta is coated.
• Then you'll add your cooked bacon, eggs to bind the mixture together, and a little flour to help with the stability of the bites.
• If you have any leftover bacon you can put it to good use in my Potato Bacon Cheddar Soup Recipe. A great one for the winter months! 

Can you reheat mac and cheese bites?

Yes! To reheat these mac and cheese bites, place them on a baking sheet in a 400F (204C) degree oven for about 10 minutes, until warmed through.

Step #4: Portion Out Batter

• Scoop out the mixture with a small 1" cookie dough scoop. This is the perfect size to fill the mini muffin tin.
• A non-stick mini muffin tin is really the best size for a macaroni bite that you can just pop in your mouth in 1-2 bites!
• I'd also highly recommend using a non-stick mini muffin tin since these bites are cheesy and sticky and you want to make sure they just pop out of the tin.
• Be sure to top each well with a generous amount of grated cheese. The cheese will melt over the mac and cheese and create a wonderful little crispiness to the top of the appetizer as it bakes.

Make-Ahead Tips for Macaroni Bites:

• Prepare the filling ahead of time and then portion it out in your tin.
• Cover your tin with foil and keep refrigerated until ready to bake.
• Moments before guests arrive, pop the macaroni bites in the oven and your guests will be greeted with the most fantastic aroma coming from your kitchen.

Do mac and cheese bites freeze well?

• Yes! Just like other cheesy kinds of pasta dishes, these mac and cheese bites freeze beautifully.
• After baking, portion out the bites into a freezer-safe container.
• Then to reheat place them on a baking sheet at 375F for 20 minutes.
• The mac and cheese bites will keep for about 3 months in the freezer.

These Mac and Cheese Bites look really pretty when placed on a rectangular platter and sprinkled with chives. It's a great way to get the party started! HAPPY NEW YEAR!! xx

More Elegant Appetizer Recipes!

• Tarte Au Soleil
• Baked Brie Platter
• Goat Cheese Tartlets
• Honey Glazed Cashews

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