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a hand holding up a split fried mac and cheese ball revealing the mac and cheese middle
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4.75 from 4 votes

Fried Macaroni and Cheese Balls (Cheesecake Factory Copycat)

Fried mac and cheese balls are delicious, spot on Cheesecake Factory copycat recipe. Featuring creamy pasta in a crunchy coating, these are an appetizer everyone will devour anytime you make them!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Chill Time2 hours
Total Time2 hours 20 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine: American
Servings: 12
Calories: 191kcal

Ingredients

  • 8 oz. elbow macaroni noodles- cooked
  • 1 Tablespoon butter
  • 1 Tablespoon flour
  • ¼ cup heavy cream
  • ½ cup milk
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ cup cheddar cheese- shredded
  • ½ cup Monterey Jack cheese- shredded
  • ½ cup mozzarella cheese- shredded
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 cups Italian breadcrumbs

Instructions

  • Prepare your macaroni noodles according to package instructions and set aside.
  • In a medium saucepan melt the butter and add in the flour and whisk well. Add in the cream and milk
  • and whisk until smooth.
  • Add salt, pepper, and garlic powder and whisk to combine.
  • Remove from heat and add all three cheeses and fold until completely melted and smooth.
  • Pour over macaroni noodles and stir until the noodles are evenly coated.
  • Place the noodles in a thin layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and place in the
  • refrigerator for at least 2 hours to overnight.
  • Once the noodles are nice and chilled, crack two eggs into a small bowl and lightly whisk. Add the
  • breadcrumbs into another bowl.
  • In a large pot, heat about 3 inches of oil to 350 degrees.
  • Using a 3 Tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop out macaroni noodles and use your hands to form into a ball.
  • Dip in the eggs and shake off any extra. Roll in the breadcrumbs and repeat one more time.
  • Place the balls about 3 at a time in the oil and fry 1-2 minutes per side or until golden brown.
  • Remove from the oil and place on a paper towel lined plate to absorb some of the oil.
  • Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce

Notes

  • Don't skip chilling the mac and cheese. It helps it solidify so you can form it into balls. You won't be able to do that with warm mac.
  • When you are frying the mac and cheese balls, do not overcrowd the oil. 
  • Let the balls drain after you fry them so they aren't too soggy.
  • Prop tip! Add a freshly cooked mac and cheese ball to a juicy burger to enjoy another popular Cheesecake Factory dish.

Nutrition

Calories: 191kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 46mg | Sodium: 377mg | Potassium: 98mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 274IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 136mg | Iron: 1mg