This Bacon Mac and Cheese Bites recipe is a cheesy appetizer that everyone loves. Make them for your next party or as a fun family dinner!
When it comes to appetizers what could be better than combining macaroni and cheese with bacon? These Bacon Mac and Cheese Bites can be prepared ahead of time and warmed up right before serving. Or make them as a fun dinner for your family!
How To Make Bacon Mac and Cheese Bites
Step One: Line The Muffin Pan
First, grease the muffin pan cups using cooking spray. Line the cups with precooked bacon.
Step Two: Fill With Mac and Cheese
Fill the cups with macaroni and cheese. You can use your favorite homemade recipe or use the boxed kind. I used Annie’s Shells and White Cheddar Macaroni and Cheese and added one cup of finely shredded cheddar cheese. I had about 2 1/2 cups of mac and cheese to divide between the cups.
Step Three: Sprinkle and Bake
Sprinkle the mac ‘n cheese with Italian panko. I used Progresso Italian Panko Style Breadcrumbs. Bake them at 350˚F for 15 minutes. Serve these tasty bites while warm.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can prepare them ahead of time and warm them up in the microwave or toaster oven before serving.
Yes, you can cook bacon for this recipe but make sure to stop cooking it while it is still pliable enough to line the muffin pan.
Yes, you can cool them and store them in an airtight container in the freezer for up to four weeks. When ready to eat, pull them out of the freezer, cover them with foil, and warm them at 400˚F.
More Cheesy Appetizers
- These Bloomin’ Garlic Cheese Biscuits are cheesy pull-apart bread!
- Make Baked Mozzarella Cheese Sticks with string cheese!
- These deep fried white cheddar cheese curds taste like the fair food favorite.
- Macaroni and Cheese Pizza is my son’s favorite!
- Cheese Bombs have warm, melted cheese on the inside!
Bacon Mac and Cheese Bites
Video
Ingredients
- 12 slices precooked bacon
- 2 ½ cups prepared macaroni and cheese see note one
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup Italian Panko breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Line a greased muffin pan with slices of precooked bacon.
- Stir the shredded cheddar cheese into the prepared mac and cheese. Then, divide it between the cups in the muffin pan.
- Sprinkle with breadcrumbs.
- Bake at 350˚F for 15 minutes.
- Allow the bacon mac and cheese cups to set and cool a bit in the pan before removing them.
Rose says
I made this as an appetizer for New Year’s Eve party. Used crumbled bacon which I mixed in with the cheddar to the Mac n cheese. I then used a spring loaded cookie baller to shape the bites. Placed them on a parchment lined baking sheet. Chilled in the fridge for a couple of hours and then baked them for 30 minutes. Made 24 bite size appetizers. Not one leftover. Yummy!
Pam says
Could I fry up regular bacon let cool and use that instead?
Tonia says
Yes, you could but you would need to stop frying it while it was still pliable enough to mold into the muffin tins.
Colby Miles says
Would you recommend this for a cooking test??
Lizzie Heath says
Do you mean serves 12 people or 12 mac and cheese bites? What do you suggest for masking it for 5 people for dinner?
Tonia says
It makes 12 mac and cheese bites. If you are serving it as the main dish for dinner for 5 people you would probably want to make a double batch depending on the age and appetite of the people eating dinner. Kids might be okay with just two but adults would probably want more.
Adrian says
How long do you cook the bacon? Do you cook it in the oven?
teresa says
I used mini muffin tins because that is what it looked like in the picture. I just cut off the wider part of the bacon and stuck it in the micro for a snack! or you could crumble it on top. Even better! I had to cook them at 375 deg for 25 min. then they stayed together. I live at 6oooft so that could have something to do with it. Anyway, they were delish!!! I OD’d on them. My handyman and I had them for lunch!
teresa says
I used Hormel ready mac n cheese. It is in the refrigerated meat case where you would fine ham, etc. Of course I added more sharp cheddar. AItho I am a good cook, my husband says I am the “worst maker of macaroni and cheese!” So there, sucker! I just buy the ready Hormel and add cheese and some milk or half and half and it is VERY good! He never knows the difference…..
Geegee says
If bacon is flexible enough can I put one to cover bottom too before the Mac n cheese, or will that be too much bacon?
teresa says
there is NEVER too much bacon!
N Anderson says
Completely fell apart when I made these. Not sure how you kept these together
M. Symons says
Can you freeze these? If so how would you cook them? Would you leave them in the muffin tin?
Tonia says
Hello! I’ve never tried freezing them but here’s how I would go about it if I were to try. Yes, I would cook them first so that the mac and cheese sticks together and sticks to the bacon. Then, I would let them cool, remove from the muffin tin and wrap tightly. When ready to eat, I would unwrap them, put them back into the muffin tin, cover with foil and bake at 400 degrees until hot.
Another option would be to assemble them in a muffin tin, wrap the entire muffin tin (you could use a disposable one to keep your good one available) and place it in the freezer until ready to bake. Bake at 400 degrees until hot. I’m guessing it will take 20-30 minutes but I’m not sure.
Best of luck!
~Tonia
Marjean says
I made these for a party and froze them for several weeks. I baked them in the mini muffin pans and froze them in the pans also. The day of the party I defrosted them and heated them at 350 degrees for about ten minutes. Everyone loved them and I had requests for the recipe.
Patricia says
Tonia,
Love the recipes and especially you letting us know what products you use. Cannot wait to try these at my next party.
GLENIS BLAKISTON says
Hi Tonia, have I missed something?, there’s no mention of the ‘brown liquid’ in the ingredients or the recipe, can you tell me what it is please. 🙂
Tonia says
Which brown liquid are you referring to?
Jennifer says
I think she means in the photo with just the bacon in the muffin cups. There appears to be liquid in the bottom.
Tonia says
Yes, it’s just oil. 🙂 I used cooking spray.
Jessica H. says
Is the bacon cooked when you line the pan or does it cook as it is in the oven?
Tonia says
I used store bought, precooked bacon. It is still flexible when you take it out of the package but gets crispier when it is baked with the mac ‘n cheese. Enjoy! ~Tonia
sharon says
Are these mini muffins or regular size muffin pans?
Tonia says
I used a regular sized muffin pan. Enjoy! ~Tonia
teresa says
now that I look at the photo again, I see it is regular muffin size. I would definitely go with mini muffin size. then it fits right in your mouth! and stays together 🙂
Sabrina says
Is the 350° F or C?
Sandra says
What I’d in the bottom of the pan? Looks to be something in there when the bacon in placed.
Tonia says
It’s just oil in the bottom of the pan.
Lisa says
Yummy! Have you ever made this with leftover home made mac & cheese?
Aggy says
I have the same question as Darlene. What keeps the Mac and cheese I. Place?
Tonia says
Hi there! The mac and cheese sticks together. Have you ever made baked spaghetti? It’s the same idea. Best of luck! ~Tonia
darlene says
I am wondering how you keep the Mac and cheese from falling out of the bottom of the roll.
Liz says
Thank you Tonia and Happy New Year!
Danielle says
I can’t wait to try these! I love that they’re so easy to make.