Dairy-Free Crispy Mac and Cheese Balls

Transform comfort food into bite-sized, golden treasures with these irresistible Dairy-Free Crispy Mac and Cheese Balls. Perfect for those avoiding dairy, this recipe features tender dairy-free elbow macaroni enveloped in a creamy, savory "cheese" sauce made with nutritional yeast and unsweetened almond milk. Chilled, shaped, and coated in crunchy panko breadcrumbs, each ball is fried to crispy perfection, ensuring a gooey center with every bite. Elevate your appetizer game with these indulgent yet allergy-friendly treats, ideal for parties, game-day snacking, or as a crowd-pleasing finger food. Simple to prepare and rich in flavor, these cheesy bites are a dairy-free dream come true!

Nutriscore Rating: 54/100

Prep Time:30 mins

Cook Time:20 mins

Total Time:50 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 8 ounces Dairy-free elbow macaroni
• 1 cup Nutritional yeast
• 1.5 cups Unsweetened almond milk
• 2 tablespoons Dairy-free butter
• 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon Onion powder
• 1 teaspoon Paprika
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper
• 0.25 cup All-purpose flour
• 2 flax eggs Flax eggs (2 tablespoons flaxseed meal mixed with 5 tablespoons water)
• 2 cups Panko breadcrumbs
• 3 cups Vegetable oil (for frying)

Directions

Step 1

Cook the dairy-free elbow macaroni according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.

Step 2

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the dairy-free butter. Sprinkle the flour and whisk continuously for 1-2 minutes until golden.

Step 3

Gradually add the unsweetened almond milk, whisking continually to avoid lumps. Cook until the mixture thickens, about 5 minutes.

Step 4

Add nutritional yeast, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper to the saucepan. Stir well until the sauce is smooth. Adjust seasoning to taste.

Step 5

Combine the cooked macaroni with the cheese sauce, stirring to coat well. Allow the mac and cheese to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until firm.

Step 6

While the mac and cheese chills, prepare the flax eggs by mixing 2 tablespoons of flaxseed meal with 5 tablespoons of water. Let sit for 5 minutes to thicken.

Step 7

Once the mac and cheese is firm, use your hands to shape it into 1.5-inch balls.

Step 8

Set up a breading station: place the flax eggs in one bowl and the panko breadcrumbs in another.

Step 9

Dip each mac and cheese ball into the flax egg mixture, then roll it in the panko breadcrumbs until fully coated.

Step 10

Heat the vegetable oil in a deep pot or fryer to 350°F (175°C). Fry the mac and cheese balls in batches until golden and crispy, about 3-4 minutes per batch.

Step 11

Remove the balls with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Serve warm and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1576.7g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	7880.3

Total Fat 756.5g	0%
Saturated Fat 109.1g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.0g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 3480.5mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 290.9g	0%
Dietary Fiber 24.6g	0%
Total Sugars 15.5g
Protein 63.3g	0%

Vitamin D 131.8IU	0%
Calcium 789.1mg	0%
Iron 17.5mg	0%
Potassium 994.4mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 82.8%

Protein: 3.1%

Carbs: 14.1%