A great party appetizer made easy with leftover mac 'n cheese. Oven-baked, not fried means less fat. The toasted breadcrumbs give these bites a crisp, crunchy coating with the warm, cheese filling inside.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread breadcrumbs across the bottom in an even layer.
Bake for 3-4 minutes, stir the breadcrumbs, and bake another 2-3 minutes or until light golden in color. Remove from the oven and cool on the baking sheet.
Prepare the Bites:
Remove the leftover mac and cheese from the refrigerator and scoop into balls with a medium size (1-1/2 tablespoon) cookie scoop. Roll each scooped portion with your hands into a round, smooth ball and place it on a plate.
Transfer the cooled breadcrumbs to a shallow dish.
Add the egg whites to another shallow dish and whisk lightly with a fork
Place a wire rack on the rimmed baking sheet and keep close at hand.
Dip a ball of mac ’n cheese in the dish of egg whites, then place in the dish of toasted breadcrumbs. Roll the balls to coat them completely. Press down as you roll to adhere the crumbs.
Place on the wire rack. Continue dipping and coating the remaining balls and adding to the wire rack.
Transfer the baking sheet to the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes.
While the Mac ’n Cheese Bites are Baking:
In a small dish, combine the buttermilk ranch dressing with the mayonnaise, whisking to blend into a thick dip.
When the mac ‘ cheese bites have finished baking and golden brown, remove them from the oven and place on a serving plate and garnish with a sprinkle of chopped parsley.
Serve warm with the ranch dip along side.
Notes
Chill the mac first: Cold leftovers are firmer and shape into balls without falling apart.Keep portions consistent: A scoop or spoon makes it easy to form even-sized bites that cook at the same rate.Firm them up in the freezer: A short chill before baking helps them stay intact in the oven.Brown the breadcrumbs: Toasting the panko gives deeper flavor and a crunchier finish.Watch the bake time: Pull them out once the crust is golden so the inside stays creamy.Serve right away: These bites taste best hot with your favorite dipping sauce.