Mac and Cheese cups
These baked mac and cheese cups pack all the creamy, cheesy flavors of your favorite dish in bite-sized form. With just 5 minutes of prep time, it’s the perfect way to kick off your next game day party!
Cheesy goodness
The flavor of these mac and cheese appetizer is so delicious. What I love about them is that you can either eat them straight out of the muffin cups or eat them with a fork. I like eating them straight from the cup.
And talk about satisfying.
I love that this recipe calls for pre-made cheese sauce. The taste of this RAGÙ sauce is so good that I can eat it with a spoonful. It has a wonderful combination of sharp cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese and Romano cheese.
They make for the perfect game day appetizer. I also love these beef appetizers in phyllo cups. They make for the perfect snacks.
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Another great thing about this recipe is you can prepare it ahead of time and cook it right before you want to serve it.
Helpful tips
- Using jarred cheddar cheese sauce makes this mac and cheese appetizer easy. I use Ragu, but you can use any brand of cheese sauce.
- You can also make your own with sharp cheddar cheese. I use a homemade creamy sauce on another mac and cheese recipe.
- Storage – you can store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. You can freeze this appetizer, but only if you put lots of cheese sauce before you do.
How to make this mac and cheese appetizer
Pre step
Fill a stockpot with water and set it on to boil. And line a muffin tin with baking cups.
Step one
Gather the ingredients – elbow macaroni pasta, cheddar sauce, and crumbled Ritz crackers. (A)
Step two
Once it comes to a boil, salt it and add the elbow macaroni to the pot of salted water. Stir and set the timer to 8 minutes.
Step three
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Set a colander in the sink, drain the macaroni, and place it in a mixing bowl. (B)
Step four
Time to pour the cheddar on the macaroni. Look at how thick and creamy that is!! (C)
Step five
Fold the cheese in and mix it with the macaroni with a rubber spatula or large spoon until it coats all the pasta mixture! (D)
Step six
Fill each muffin cup with the cheesy macaroni. (E)
Step seven
Time to sprinkle the crushed butter crackers on top of the macaroni cups. (F)
Step eight
Bake for 15 minutes. Remove the mac and cheese cups out of the pan to a serving platter.
I pick one up and take a bite.
So delicious! When you serve these at your next game day party, all you are going to hear are people saying, “Mmmmm!”
I hope you enjoyed this mac and cheese appetizer recipe!
And as always, may all your dishes be delish!
If you’ve tried this recipe, I’d love to know your thoughts in the comments below. I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!
Baked Mac and Cheese Appetizer
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound elbow macaroni
- water to boil
- salt for water
- 1/2 jar RAGÚ® Double Cheddar Sauce (or more)
- 1/4 cup crushed butter cracker crumbs or bread crumbs
Instructions
Make it
- Set water on to boil and salt the water.water to boil, salt for water
- Place elbow macaroni in boiling water and set the timer for 8 minutes until al dente1/2 pound elbow macaroni
- Preheat oven 350℉.
- Drain elbow macaroni and place in a mixing bowl.
- Pour as much of the cheese sauce as you want over the macaroni and mix to combine.1/2 jar RAGÚ® Double Cheddar Sauce
- Fill 12 muffin cups with the mac & cheese.
- Sprinkle butter crackers on top of mac & cheese.1/4 cup crushed butter cracker crumbs or bread crumbs
- Bake 15 minutes.
- Eat, smile, and enjoy.
Notes
Helpful tips
- Using jarred cheddar cheese sauce makes this mac and cheese appetizer easy. I use Ragu, but you can use any brand of cheese sauce.
- You can also make your own with sharp cheddar cheese. I use a homemade creamy sauce on another mac and cheese recipe.
- Storage – you can store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. You can freeze this appetizer, but only if you put lots of cheese sauce before you do.
Nutrition
From lighting up stages with her BA in theater to food journalist, Elaine Benoit's journey is a testament to passion's transformative power. As the CEO of Dishes Delish, she offers a blend of healthy, comforting recipes and exquisitely crafted cocktails. Beyond the kitchen, Elaine voiced her culinary adventures on her podcast, "Dishing," and co-owns Food Blogger Help, extending her expertise to guide budding food bloggers to success. Whether it's for a heartwarming dish or insights into food blogging, Elaine's diverse experiences make her a beacon in the culinary digital landscape.
Oh. My. Goodness. Not only are these adorable, but they look SO good, too! Appetizer, though? I think I’d rather call them dinner. 😉
Hehe Abby! You could have them for dinner too!
These look so delicious and pretty!! I bet they would go quickly once served… al that warm cheesy goodness n that also baked is definitely a Hit!
Thanks so much Molly! They are a hit, for sure!
What a fun idea! Bite-size mac and cheese!!!
Thanks Suzy!!
Yum! These would be so great to have waiting for my kiddos after school. Love it.
Thanks Valentina!! It would be a great snack!
Shut the front door! How cute are these. Great for football parties, birthday parties, tonight…love!
Hehe Teri!! Thanks for your comment. It made me smile!
You just can’t beat Mac and cheese – it’s classic comfort food. I love that this is perfect party food size.
Thanks Dannii, they are so easy and delicious!
Oh man, danger danger! I would eat allllll of these morsels of goodness! Mac and cheese is my weakness!
Don’t I know it Kate! It’s my weakness too!
Mac n Cheese is good in EVERY way, shape and form. What a fun little party app this would be. I know they would not last long on the tray either. Double batch for sure.
Thanks Gloria! I agree. People go for this like it’s going out of style!
Simple and mess free eating. These would make a fun replacement for regularold mac & cheese at cookouts and parties.
Definitely. Thank you Sharon!
This is such a great idea – especially for us mac n cheese lovers! So easy too!
Thanks Carrie!! It’s so good!
I love the sound of these, I don’t have much of a sweet tooth and savoury is always my mojo… I reckon I could even do these as a “dessert” 😉 😮
Hehe Brian! I’d rather some cake for dessert but hey, they are so delicious that you’d be satisfied having these for dessert. 😉
These bite size mac and cheese look so good, I need to get me a jar of that Ragù sauce and make it! 🙂
Thanks Patty!! It’s super yummy!
Oh my goodness! Those look AMAZING! and what a fantastic idea to serve them in muffin cups so they can be eaten without utensils… wicked smaht! 😉
Haha Catherine! Love that you used that phrase!!
So cheesy and yummy! I love the fact that these are so easy to eat straight from the cups too.
Thanks Amanda! They are fun to eat!!
Oh how I love mac and cheese! Any kind of mac and cheese is great with me! I’d love to pack a couple of these portable cups in my lunch! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Analida!! It’s so yummy!
These mac and cheese look so pretty in muffin cups! Easy and delicious appetizer!
Thanks Meymi! They are super easy!
Such a great idea to put the mac and cheese into a muffin paper. Your cheese ragu sounds fantastic and I would put it on everything. I am a cheese fanatic, you know
Hehe. Thanks Laura!! Christopher is a fanatic too!
Ahhh you always make the cutest little apps, and these are no exception!
Thanks Leslie! 🙂
That is so clever making these in the muffin pan, so convenient. I am a big cheese head so saving this for maybe tomorrow if its not too late. Thanks for sharing your recipes!
Thanks Tina! It’s never too late for cheese 😉
What an awesome idea!! I love mac and cheese in every form.
Thanks Cathleen. I love it too!
I find that alot of mac & cheese appetizer cups are baked until they resemble mac & cheese pucks, but these look nice and soft and saucy – just how I like it!
Thanks Jenni! It is very soft and delicious!
I love all of that cheesy happening in these bites! My kids will love ’em and they’re perfect for parties!
Stacey, they will love them!
This looks incredibly tasty! I can’t wait to try your recipe!
Thank you Sara!
Handheld macaroni and cheese — could it possibly get any better?! This is like the ultimate dream come true!
Hehe, Julie! Thanks!
I never thought of myself as a “big” eater, but there’s something so satisfying about eating a bunch of these cups as opposed to a pile of mac n’ cheese on a plate that I have to wonder! Fun recipe and great appetizer.
Thanks Christopher! 🙂
Do you suggest paper or foil liners? Making for a cocktail party. How do I suggest to keep warm
I’ve used both paper and foil. Foil does seem to hold up better but either will do. I’ve never had to worry about keeping them warm as they usually go real fast. I have seen people use an electric griddle and set it on low with the individual mac and cheese cups on them, but I’ve never done it myself. Let me know what you came up with. Thanks for your question Kim.
Anybody have to keep these warm for about 30 min or so. Will you please share how did it?
Brenda, I’ve never had to do that as I make them right before I serve them. I’m thinking you could keep them warm on 200 degrees Fahrenheit for a half hour. I hope this helps.