Low Fat Fried Mac and Cheese Balls
Indulge in your guilty pleasures without breaking your diet with these Low Fat Fried Mac and Cheese Balls—crispy, cheesy bites of comfort you can enjoy guilt-free! This lighter twist on a classic favorite combines creamy reduced-fat cheddar, low-fat cream cheese, and perfectly seasoned macaroni, all rolled into crunchy, golden panko-coated balls. Made effortlessly in an air fryer with minimal oil, these savory snacks achieve a satisfying crunch while remaining low in fat. Ready in just under an hour, they're the perfect appetizer or snack to impress guests or satisfy cravings. Serve these delicious bites hot and pair with your favorite low-fat dipping sauce for the ultimate treat!
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Ingredients
- 200 grams Elbow macaroni
- 100 grams Reduced-fat cheddar cheese, shredded
- 50 grams Low fat cream cheese
- 100 milliliters Skim milk
- 50 grams All-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
- 0.5 teaspoon Salt
- 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper
- 3 units Egg whites
- 150 grams Panko breadcrumbs
- 0 Cooking spray
Directions
Step 1
Cook the elbow macaroni according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
Step 2
In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the cream cheese with the skim milk, stirring until smooth.
Step 3
Add the shredded cheddar cheese to the saucepan and stir until completely melted and combined.
Step 4
Add the cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce, stirring until well coated. Mix in the garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper.
Step 5
Remove the mac and cheese from heat and allow it to cool completely in the refrigerator, about 1 hour. This helps them firm up so they can be easily formed into balls.
Step 6
Once cooled, use your hands to shape the macaroni mixture into small balls, about 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter.
Step 7
Prepare three separate shallow bowls: one with flour, one with egg whites (lightly beaten), and one with panko breadcrumbs.
Step 8
Roll each mac and cheese ball first in flour, then in egg whites, and finally in panko breadcrumbs, ensuring they are fully coated.
Step 9
Preheat your air fryer to 200°C (390°F). Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
Step 10
Place the mac and cheese balls in the basket in a single layer, ensuring they're not touching each other. Lightly spray the tops of the balls with more cooking spray.
Step 11
Cook in the air fryer for about 8-10 minutes or until golden brown and crispy, turning halfway through cooking time.
Step 12
Serve immediately while hot and crispy, optionally with a low-fat dipping sauce of your choice.
Nutrition Facts
| Serving size | (761.9g) |
|---|
| Amount per serving | % Daily Value* |
|---|---|
| Calories | 2100.9 |
| Total Fat 40.4g | 0% |
| Saturated Fat 18.9g | 0% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat 0.0g | |
| Cholesterol 94.2mg | 0% |
| Sodium 3266.4mg | 0% |
| Total Carbohydrate 328.7g | 0% |
| Dietary Fiber 15.2g | 0% |
| Total Sugars 26.3g | |
| Protein 103.3g | 0% |
| Vitamin D 66.8IU | 0% |
| Calcium 1022.4mg | 0% |
| Iron 16.9mg | 0% |
| Potassium 629.7mg | 0% |
Source of Calories