Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Fried Mac N Cheese Balls

We are in a
Macaroni and Cheese
challenge.


Yes, your read correct.
How do you choose the best
Mac 'n Cheese?
Anything with cheese is a winner.

When we heard about this contest we knew right away what recipe we would use our
Fried Mac N Cheese Balls a la Cheesecake Factory

BUT- there was only 1 rule and we had to use a recipe found from a blog.
What were we going to do?
Hello- Mr. Google (he is such a good friend)
We did our search and found OUR recipe at
Okay to be honest we found this recipe years ago from Mr. Google, but this is the same recipe.

1 pound elbow macaroni
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups milk, warmed, plus 2 tablespoons for egg wash
1 pound grated smoked Gouda
1 pound grated White Sharp Cheddar
Salt and black pepper
2 large eggs
3 cups seasoned bread crumbs (we use Panko)
Vegetable oil, for frying
Cook the macaroni according to package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking. Drain again and set aside.

In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Sprinkle the flour into the butter and stir it with a whisk. Cook for 2 minutes.

How do you like my special measuring spoon?

Whisk the warmed milk into the flour mixture, working out any lumps. Cook until the sauce thickens, about 2 minutes.
Remove from the heat, add the cheeses, and stir until melted and smooth; season with salt and pepper.
yummmmm cheese!!!!

 Fold the cheese sauce into macaroni.
 Pour the mac and cheese into a shallow pan and refrigerate until cold, at least 2 hours.

Shape the cold mac and cheese into meatball-sized balls and place them onto a waxed paper-lined tray. Freeze the balls overnight.

Beat the eggs and 2 tablespoons milk together to form an egg wash then into the bread crumbs. Put the balls back into the freezer until you are ready to fry.

Heat the oil in a deep-fat fryer to 350 degrees F. Fry the mac and cheese balls until they are golden brown and center is hot, about 5 minutes. Serve hot with our favorite Marinara or Alfredo sauce or combination of both for dipping.  


How are you going to enjoy your Mac 'n Cheese Balls?
We enjoyed ours with
Chicky Nuggets a la Chick fil A
“Age is something that doesn't matter, unless you are a cheese.”
Luis Buñuel (1900-1983)

52 comments:

  1. Oh my holy heck! We used to get fried mac and cheese from this play place near us but they stopped making tit. I'm SO making this! Looks freakin' awesome!!!!

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  2. I havn't had Fried Mac in Cheese in like 3 years! We use to eat them at the TGI Fridays in Carolina Beach! yum! i need to mae some!

    Stopping by from the MACARONI & CHEESE Linky Party through Moms Crazy Cooking

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  3. These are seriously my fav at Cheesecake Factory, and was wondering if there was a copy cat recipe out there somewhere! So thank you for sharing, they look amazing!!

    I also am in the challenge, we ROCK! ;)

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    Replies
    1. I agree, I have a friend who is the head chef their and I begged him to give me the recipe and he definitely said "NO". Therefore I am so glad I found something similar, now I just have to try it out.

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  4. Hi I found your blog on the crazy cooking challenge. You have a great blog these look so yummy :) Check out my food blog

    www.thedailysmash101.blogspot.com

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  5. I love these at The Cheesecake Factory - thank you for sharing this. Im in the challenge too -I made the Macaroni 'n Cheese Muffins.

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  6. Fried, well that's off the charts wonderful! I want your measuring spoon, stinkin' cute.
    My Crazy Cooking Challenge entry: Velvety Mac & Cheese.

    Lisa~~
    Cook Lisa Cook

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  7. Yum!!!! I definitely have to try this recipe. I found you at the crazy cooking challenge.

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  8. Your Fried Mac N Cheese is awesome, we would really enjoy this treat. Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful week!
    Miz Helen

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  9. These are super fun! And so is your spoon. Where can I find one? They look delicious!

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  10. Your recipe sounds very interesting! I love that cute measuring spoon :)

    Stopping by on my way through the links from Moms Cooking Challenge!

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  11. Yum, fried mac and cheese! Like mac and cheese isn't awesome enough but frying, wow! My husband would LOVE this! I also did the crazy cooking challenge and am your newest follower. I have a Whisking Wednesdays link party that I'd love for you to stop by sometime and link up a few recipes!

    http://pinchofthisthatandtheother.blogspot.com

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  12. That's it... I think I'm in love! Seriously, this is my first time joining the ccc, but I'm totally going to vote for you! Fabulous recipe.... and yes, I like your cute measuring spoon.

    :)
    ButterYum

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  13. WOW, WOW, Mac & Cheese awesome, Fried even better!

    Just FYI.. the linky party is not on your post? Please email me if you have trouble posting it?

    Thanks for joining CCC, I can't wait for next month, Chocolate Chip Cookies, YEA!

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  14. Fried mac and cheese? What? Awesome! Thanks for sharing this gem.

    Miranda
    Crazy Cooking Challenge: Beer Mac and Cheese
    Mangoes and Chutney|Foodie Forums

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  15. Outrageous! but sounds sooo good. Love the spoon btw
    Thanks for sharing..

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  16. Just when I thought Mac and Cheese couldn't get much better on it's own, you went ahead and deep fried it, yum!

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  17. Great pick! mmm fried mac and cheese?! Sounds delish! Stopping by from the Crazy Cooking Challenge... I'd love if you'd stop by my blog and check out my mac and cheese post too!

    http://steaknpotatoeskindagurl.blogspot.com/2011/09/crazy-cooking-challenge-and-buffalo.html

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  18. Yum, we don't have a Cheesecake Factory in our neck of the woods..so this fried mac-n-cheese is a new discovery to me! What a perfect game day recipe too! Yummmm!
    Thanks for stoppin by my place!

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  19. I say, I don't want to fry my food but that is not true. I love fried food. I am cutting down but I think, I will make, these anyway.

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  20. Okay - that looks delicious. Fridays are my "fry" nights so let me at 'em.
    Thanks for sharing. Saw you on TT&J

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  21. You can never go wrong with frying :)

    Stopping by from CCC - #17

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  22. I want to try these soooo much, I love mac n cheese and I love fried so this looks a perfect combo... have to wait until after my friend's wedding though as I am currently dieting to get in to my new dress! I'm bookmarking this for my first post wedding treat!!

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  23. All I can say is... mmmmmmmm!!

    I found you on the Young and Crafty linky party. New follower through GFC!

    http://photographernaturally.blogspot.com
    Come on over and enter to win a $30 Target Gift Card. Ends tonight!!

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  24. Oh Heck yum! I think you just stepped up Mac n Cheese!

    tnicolej.blogspot.com

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  25. These sound heavenly :) Thanks for sharing!

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  26. Yum! I had these last time I was at Cheesecake and really liked them! Definitely need to try to make them at home!

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  27. Thank you for sharing this recipe. I never knew how to make these. They look scrumptious! I'd love for you to stop by and link up to my Share the Wealth Wednesday Link Party at www.laughloveandcraft.com.

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  28. OMGosh, you are making me drool! This is a must try!
    Thanks!

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  29. Oh my goodness gracious. This looks AMAZING! So glad I peeked over here from Sew Much ado linky party! I am now following your great blog!
    -Robyn from Tips from the Heart

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  30. Yet again another amazing recipe. Thanks for posting at the Rhinestone Beagle!

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  31. I came across your blog on Fingerprints on the Fridge and I love your

    post!

    I would love it if you would drop by Jane Deere and link up to Fusion Fridays with your favorite or most recent recipes, handmade crafts, diy projects, tips & tricks, and how to's! { open through Wednesday! }

    http://janedeereblog.blogspot.com

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  32. Looks delish! Featuring these today on my blog! Hope you'll stop by!
    Jen
    Scissors & Spatulas

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  33. So totally making these for dinner tomorrow...and I love the measuring spoon!! I love and collect giraffes! Where did you find it?

    Would love it if you would link this up at our current 'It's A Rockin' Party" at RoCa and Company.

    Carmen @ RoCa and Company
    www.rocaandcompany.blogspot.com

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  34. Your recipe sounds very interesting! That cute measuring spoon, I prepared it with the milk and butter milk, It is such a delicious dish. Looks delicious.

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  35. I will skip the recipe comments, since it is truly awesome. On a side note - I want that giraffe-zebra spoon! ><

    ___
    International Calls to Australia

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  36. I had the best mac and cheese once. I asked what secret was...they boiled the elbows in milk to make them even creamier. I bet these would be even awesomer (is that a word?) boiled with the milk...

    I love you tablespoon too...I have the same spoons..except I don't have a black one?? My TBL is light blue. Boooo lol

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  37. I can't wait to try this!

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  38. Has anyone ever made these ahead of time, frozen them and then reheated by baking??

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  39. I'm making these tonight and I'm guessing your make the egg wash with milk, roll them in that, then dip in panko before frying? Mine don't seem to want to hold onto much panko after I dip them in the egg wash. Maybe since they're frozen still? Other that that, they look super good!

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  40. HOLY CRAP!!! I'm on it!!!!

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  41. They sound great, but can you bake them instead of frying?

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    Replies
    1. Yes- they can be baked, but the taste is not the same and they don't hold up as nice.

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    2. Janoriginal41@gmail.comJune 24, 2015 at 12:30 PM

      Glad you can bake them, I can't eat greasy foods do deep fried would be out of the question for me. I tried a bite at Mac N Grill, someone else ordered them and passed them around the table. Don't know how they were repaired but they were good.

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  42. My husband and kids would love these!

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  43. Made this over the weekend. Only put them in the freezer for 2 hours. They came out PERFECT! They were a huge success. Even though I made a little over 60 balls they were all GONE quickly! They were such a hit I have been asked to make them for Thanksgiving this year! THANKS for the recipe! Oh... and I didn't even have a chance to make the sauce to dip them in! lol

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  44. i baked mine in muffin tins and they are just as awesome, and bite size portions...thanks for the \wesome recipe!

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  45. Dear Lord Jesus....let the heart attack begin!! Bookmarking this to make tomorrow!!

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  46. Found this on pinterest just as the 2012 holiday season got under way and after making making them for my huge family Thanksgiving dinner, it has become a constant special occasion request item. They're amazing, thank you!

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    Replies
    1. So glad your family likes them. They are always on our holiday table.

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  47. Minor edit for this paragraph? Missing part of a step ;)
    "Beat the eggs and 2 tablespoons milk together to form an egg wash then into the bread crumbs. Put the balls back into the freezer until you are ready to fry."

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  48. I am going to make these right now! I've been having a craving and searching all over for an easy, more nutritious recipe.

    Make fried cheese cubes

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