Description
These mac and cheese arancini are golden balls of comfort, featuring creamy mac and cheese wrapped around a melty mozzarella center, breaded and fried until crisp.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups cooked macaroni and cheese
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Oil for frying
Instructions
- Let the cooked macaroni and cheese cool until it’s easy to handle. If loose, chill in the fridge for 20-30 minutes to firm up. Season with salt and pepper.
- Take a small handful of cooled mac and cheese and flatten it in your palm. Place a piece of mozzarella in the center and wrap the mac and cheese around to form a ball about 1.5–2 inches wide. Repeat until all mac and cheese is used.
- Set up a breading station with flour, beaten eggs, and breadcrumbs. Roll each ball in flour, dip in egg, then press into breadcrumbs until fully coated.
- Heat oil in a fryer or large pot to 350°F (175°C). Fry arancini in batches for 2–4 minutes, turning until golden brown. Do not overcrowd the pot.
- Remove arancini with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Let rest for a minute to allow cheese to set, then serve hot with dipping sauce.
Notes
Chill mac and cheese for better shaping. Fry in small batches for even browning. Baked version available for a lighter option.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 arancini
- Calories: 240
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 0mg