My family loooooves when I make deliciously crispy Air Fryer Mac and Cheese. It is one of their favorite comfort food recipes and they ask for it lots. The kiddoes love it with a green salad or some air fryer chicken tenders or corn for a totally filling and super satisfying meal.
So yes peeps, I am super excited that I can share this Air Fryer Mac and Cheese with you today. Especially awesome as Thanksgiving recipe, a Christmas recipe and an everyday weeknight supper too.
Yeap, cooking this in the air fryer means your oven is free for all the other holiday baking and cooking you need to be doing. Even better is when you have leftover mac and cheese that you roll up and whip up some awesome Air Fried Mac and Cheese balls. #winningatcooking
 Air Fryer Mac and Cheese – Why You’ll love This Dish
- Pretty much a dump and start recipe, this is a tasty pasta dish that requires virtually no effort to make.
- You do not need to pre boil the pasta first. How awesome is that?!
- This recipe for Air Fried Mac and Cheese comes together easily with affordable everyday ingredients.
- It is immensely adaptable with a few suggestions below.
- This can be made ahead – simply stir in a little bit of milk and warm through before serving.
- It makes a great festive holiday main or side dish.
Basically this is one of those ‘whip up with 5 minutes of effort’ recipes. This means you have all the free time in the evenings to play, read, watch movies and do whatever else you want with all your free time.
Air Fryer Mac and Cheese Tools
KITCHEN TOOLS, UTENSILS & APPLIANCESÂ NEEDED
This post contains affiliate links. For more information, check out my disclosure.
Here are some of the items you will need to make these recipes.
- This Air Fryer is perfect for cooking your food.
- This 13 piece air fryer accessories kit helps you get the most from your Air Fryer.
- Use these measuring teaspoons for your seasonings.
- These handy mixing bowls are good for mixing up ingredients.
- I love these tongs for turning food in the air fryer.
- Bowls with covers.
- Store leftover food in these bowls.
- Flavourings**
- Sea Salt Flakes <= amazing salt that makes your food taste good.
- **Essentials**
- Check out this list of must-have Air Fryer essentials.
So, are you ready to learn just how easy it is to make this Air Fryer Pasta? Then gather up your ingredients and I will show you……
How To Make Air Fryer Mac and Cheese
What Do I Need To Make Air Fryer Mac and Cheese?
You only need a handful of ingredients making this dish soooooo quick and easy to make. All you need is:
Air Fryer Mac and Cheese Ingredients:
- Macaroni
- Cheese
- Milk
- Nutmeg
- Salt and pepper (optional)
Air Fryer Mac n Cheese Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 340 F/170 C.
- Add the macaroni into a deep 7 cm Air Fryer dish.
- Mix in the rest of the ingredients and add the dish into the air fryer basket
- Close the Air Fryer and cook for 20 mins, mixing at about 7 minutes and 15 minutes.
- Open the air fryer remove the Air Fryer Mac and Cheese, mix it let stand for a few minutes before serving.
Air Fryer Mac and Cheese Tips
- Do mix the Air Fryer Macaroni Cheese at least twice during cooking so you avoid ending up with a burnt top.
- When mixing make sure to scrape the bottom of the pan so nothing sticks.
- Test the mac and cheese when cook time is finished, and if needed air fry for a couple more minutes.
- Serve with a lovely green salad to make it a more substantial meal.
- Air fryer temperatures can vary depending on the make and model. I recommend starting with less cooking time, checking food for doneness, and then adding more time as needed.
Air Fried Mac and Cheese Variations
- You can use a mixture of Cheddar cheese and Parmesan if you prefer.
- Feel free to use either straight or elbow macaroni.
- You can stir in some chili or oregano when cooking.
- Feel free to mix in some spinach or cooked broccoli halfway through cooking.
Mac and Cheese Bar
A really fun way to serve Air Fryer Mac and Cheese is a mac and cheese bar. Kids will love this and adults will too (think girls night, book club, other parties).
Here are some toppings suggestions to get you started. Use some or all, and then watch everyone have fun customizing to suit their tastes!
- Sweet corn
- Sliced ham
- Cooked bacon
- Cooked peas
- Chopped sun dried tomatoes
- Olives
- Grape tomatoes, halved
- Pesto
- Beef chili
- Shredded chicken
- Seasoned fried breadcrumbs
More Delicious Air Fryer Recipes
Air Fryer Parmesan Chicken Tenders.
Crispy Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
Air Fryer Mexican Corn on the Cob.
Thank you for reading my Air Fried Mac and Cheese recipe post. And please visit again as I continue dreaming up recipes, traditional African recipes, African fusion recipes, Sierra Leone recipes, travel plans and much more for you. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, UK food blog.
Get the Air Fried Mac and Cheese Recipe:
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Air Fryer Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
For the Air Fryer Mac and Cheese:
- 1.5 cups macaroni
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese
- 2 1/4 cups milk
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- salt and pepper to taste (optional)
Instructions
Make the Air Fried Mac and Cheese
- Preheat the air fryer to 340 F/170 C.
- Add the macaroni into a deep 7 cm Air Fryer dish.
- Mix in the rest of the ingredients and add the dish into the air fryer basket.Â
- Close the Air Fryer and cook for 20 mins, mixing at about 7 minutes and 15 minutes.
- Open the air fryer remove the Air Fryer Mac and Cheese, mix it let stand for a few minutes before serving
Notes
Air Fryer Mac and Cheese Tips
- Do mix the Air Fryer Macaroni Cheese at least twice during cooking so you avoid ending up with a burnt top.
- when mixing make sure the scrap the bottom of the pan so nothing sticks
- Do mix the Air Fryer Macaroni Cheese at least twice during cooking so you avoid ending up with a burnt top.
when mixing make sure the scrap the bottom of the pan so nothing sticks
- Test the mac and cheese when done and if it need then air fry for a couple more minutes.
- Serve with a lovely green salad to make it a more substantial meal.
- Air fryer temperatures can vary depending on the make and model. I recommend starting with less cooking time, checking food for doneness, and then adding more time as needed.
Rachel says
04/02/2015 at 9:23 amOOh this is one of my favourite meals, I like adding peas into mine too x
Bintu says
04/02/2015 at 10:12 amPeas would make it lovely and sweet right? More freezer goodness.
Sus @ roughmeasures.com says
04/02/2015 at 9:33 amOh I really like the addition of basil in the cheese sauce! Great idea!
Bintu says
04/02/2015 at 10:12 amJust a little bit different in a very good way.
The Diary Of A Jewellery Lover says
04/02/2015 at 10:37 amThis looks delicious. My husband keeps nagging me to make cauliflower cheese too, so I have bookmarked it.
Bintu says
04/02/2015 at 10:50 amHahaha. My other half seems to want to eat cauliflower cheese at least once a week during the colder months.
fashion-mommy says
04/02/2015 at 10:44 amThis is one of my absolute fave dishes, and I love putting the cauliflower and broccoli together. Gorgeous.
Bintu says
04/02/2015 at 10:57 amThese two just work together really well.
Madeleine Morrow says
04/02/2015 at 10:56 amHaven’t made a cauliflower cheese in years! Strange how one forgets about such great dishes. Thanks for the reminder.
Bintu says
04/02/2015 at 11:00 amPlease to re-inspire you Madeline. Stock up your freezer and make this.
Glamorous Glutton says
04/02/2015 at 2:19 pmI love cauliflower cheese and this has a great twist with the sun dried tomatoes. So easy straight from the freezer too. GG
Bintu says
04/02/2015 at 2:25 pmExactly GG.
Camilla @FabFood4All says
04/02/2015 at 5:27 pmOne of my all time favourite comford foods is cauliflower cheese but I’ve never thought to use frozen vegetables in it! I used to work for Birds Eye so know all about the nutritional benefits as one of my jobs in the press office was writing up fact sheets for student’s queries!
Sylvia @ Happiness is homemade says
04/02/2015 at 6:05 pmYum yum! Can I come over for dinner? Looks lovely and I’m a big fan of cauliflower too 🙂
Michelle says
04/02/2015 at 6:08 pmWow this looks so tasty! xxx
Bintu says
05/02/2015 at 12:45 pm😀
Ciara (My Fussy Eater) says
04/02/2015 at 6:12 pmLove this recipe. So easy using frozen vegetables, perfect for a quick mid week dinner!
Cherished By Me says
04/02/2015 at 6:37 pmYour recipe looks great, mac and cheese is one of my all time favourites. 🙂
Janice says
04/02/2015 at 8:00 pmLovely bake there, bet it’s tasty.
Choclette says
04/02/2015 at 8:54 pmMmmmm, comfort food at its best.
Elsa says
05/02/2015 at 12:21 amThis looks wonderful!
Mike says
05/02/2015 at 11:47 pmBintu! OMG…that sounds good! 🙂 I sooooo am going to try this.
Akaleistar says
06/02/2015 at 3:44 amThis looks delicious 🙂
Jess @UsedYorkCity says
06/02/2015 at 5:03 pmSaturday night dinner, done and done!!!
kim says
27/08/2019 at 12:18 pmI would have never thought to make Mac and cheese in the air fryer, but this came out perfect! So creamy and delicious!
Paula Montenegro says
27/08/2019 at 12:47 pmWow, making mac and cheese in an air fryer! I can’t get over how easy it is! I really need to get one. Love the short list of ingredients. Thanks for sharing!
Emily says
27/08/2019 at 1:58 pmLove how easy this is and mac and cheese is my fav comfort food!
Emily says
27/08/2019 at 2:01 pmOhhh so happy we just got an air fryer. I’ll be trying this recipe soon!
Jas @ All that's Jas says
27/08/2019 at 2:19 pmDelicious! Bookmarking this for when I get an air fryer. Must first find room to store one more gadget, lol.