These Trader Joe’s Mac and Cheese Bites in air fryer are so crunchy on the outside and gooey cheesy on the inside! Perfect quick lunch or snack option for you or your kids. Saves time and it's very helpful to have it in the freezer. Ready in just 10 minutes!

Trader Joe's mac and cheese bites are a popular product that was released in 2010. They are inspired by their popular Diner Mac & Cheese. These cheesy bites contain a mix of cheddar, Gouda, Havarti, and Swiss, and fun elbow pasta, all covered in a crispy breadcrumb crust. They come in a small package and are something fun to always have on hand. Plus they are relatively inexpensive. These bites are a cheese-lovers dream appetizer or snack.

While not the healthiest, these Trader Joe's macaroni and cheese bites are easy to make in the air fryer with only two ingredients and are the perfect indulgent snack or side dish.

Air frying is one of the best ways to cook many frozen foods, and I love that it is so fast. The outside of your food gets nice and crispy while the inside thaws and then cooks. By using an air fryer you will ensure that your mac and cheese bites will be perfectly crispy on the outside and not soggy.

How to cook Trader Joe's Mac and cheese bites

Using the air fryer is one of the fastest and best ways to cook these frozen mac and cheese bites. They are ready in 10 minutes or less and have a crunchy outside and cheesy gooey inside. It's perfect!

Spray air fryer basket with oil spray (optionally) and add raw mac and cheese bites. Make sure they create an even layer and don't overlap too much. Cook for about 8 minutes, until golden in color, crunchy and cooked through.

What mac and cheese bites to use

The ones from Trader Joe's are a favorite, and you can find them in the pasta section of the freezer aisle. For this recipe, you could also use the ones from Stouffer's, Costco, Wholefoods, or your favorite brand. Just make sure that you adjust the cooking time if they are a different size than the TJ's ones.

Ingredients

Trader Joe's recently made a few changes to their recipe, which includes the types of cheeses used and the crust. It has a mix of seven different kinds of cheese - cheddar, Gouda, Havarti, Swiss, cream cheese, Monterey Jack, and Pecorino Romano. This is the same blend as their Diner Mac N' Cheese. The crust is thinner but crispier - featuring a panko-style breading.

They are rich and indulgent, so you only need to eat a few! A serving size is 3 pieces and 190 calories.

How long to bake in the oven

If you don't have an air fryer or don't want to use it and would rather cook them in your oven or toaster oven, you can do that! They may not be as crispy as the air fryer, though.

Preheat the oven to 425F degrees and bake the bites for 17 - 19 minutes. Place them on a paper towel to get rid of any excess oil, then allow them to cool for a few minutes before enjoying!

How do I cook them in the microwave

I wouldn't recommend cooking these mac n cheese bites in the microwave, because they can become soggy and lose their crispy crust.

If you are short on time, you can microwave the bites in a single layer on a microwave-safe plate in 1-minute increments until heated through. Allow them to cool for a few minutes because they will be really hot!

Recipe Tips

• For this recipe, you can use your favorite brand of mac and cheese bites. Just make sure to adjust the cooking time if they are different in size than Trader Joe's.
• There's no need to thaw the mac and cheese bites before putting them into the air fryer.
• Place the bites in a single layer in the air fryer basket. For best results don't crowd the basket.
• Spray the air fryer tray or basket so the bites do not stick to it.
• Using an air fryer will ensure that the bites are perfectly crispy. You can also make them in the oven or microwave if you want.
• Allow the bites to cool for a few minutes before eating, they will be really hot!

Dips we use

My kids absolutely favorite dip for this dish is ketchup. Just simple ketchup and it brings so much joy to my children eyes. I like to mix mayo and ketchup in equal proportions and dip bits in it. Another option is to use delicious sweet and spicy maple aioli. The flavors will explode in your mouth.

Also try other dips with this dish, like Ranch, BBQ sauce, Salsa (tomatillo or classic red), Buffalo sauce or even marinara sauce (warm it up). This dish will become your ultimate party snack when served with one of the dips mentioned above. Yum!

Leftovers

If you have any Trader Joes Mac and Cheese leftovers, just simply store them in the plastic or glass container in the fridge for up to 5 days. They will definitely get soggy. To get them nice and crispy again, add them to the air fryer and lightly spray with oil spray. Reheat on the highest temperature your air fryer can do fro couple minutes.

More appetizers you may like

• Crispy duck fajitas
• Pork tongue recipe
• Beef jerky dip
• Stuffed clams in air fryer
• Pan seared catfish nuggets
• Imitation crab dip recipe

I hope you enjoy this recipe. Let me know in the comments and leave a star rating, if you tried it!