You have found easiest Air Fryer Mac and Cheese recipe you will ever make. This creamy, mouthwatering, homemade mac and cheese is a tasty comfort food dish that the whole family will enjoy! No need to pre-boil the pasta first.
Suitable for vegetarian diets. Post includes Weight Watchers points.
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 & APPLIANCES 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.
- 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.
Wow, I didn’t think this would work, but it did!: Came out perfect, plus I used gluten free macaroni!:SO easy! I took a pic but not sure how to post it. the cheese was a bit grainy but I may have used the wrong cheese. Thank you!!.
I tried this mine did not turn out was pasta supposed to be cooked first
Not h9od t
Just made this and it turned out brilliantly! So easy. I must admit I doubted it would work and imagined some hard macaroni but it was perfect. I made a little less and used a 6in deep so just tried to guess the reduced amounts (1 cup macaroni, just under 2 cups milk and cheese) and it worked! I also added some tinned salmon and sweetcorn, chives and parsley and it was superb. I sprinkled a little grated Red Leicester cheese for the final minute. Thank you so much for this recipe. Not only is is quick and easy – it saves a lot of washing up using one pan. And no bubbling bobs for pasta and sauce. Genius!
Just to add – That’s just under 2 cups of the cheese and the same of the milk and half was evaporated milk (notes for next time I try to make it!)