Cheesecake Factory Fried Mac and Cheese Balls
A copycat of The Cheesecake Factory's fried mac and cheese balls: three-cheese elbow macaroni with bacon, chilled, formed into balls, breaded in seasoned flour, egg and Panko, and deep-fried until golden.
⏱️ Prep: 40 min🍳 Cook: 20 min🍽️ Makes 20
Nutritionper 1 ball (~45 g)›
150
Calories
6g
Protein
12g
Carbs
9g
Fat
Ingredients
| 4 or 5 slices | bacon |
| 1/2 pound (225 g) | large elbow macaroni |
| 2 tablespoons (30 g) | butter |
| 1 cup (240 ml) | whole milk, heated |
| 1 tablespoon | flour (for the sauce) |
| 3/4 cup (85 g) | grated sharp cheddar cheese |
| 3/4 cup (85 g) | grated smoked Gouda cheese |
| 3/4 cup (85 g) | shredded Italian blend cheese |
| to taste (be generous) | salt and pepper |
| 1/2 cup (60 g) | all-purpose flour (for breading) |
| 1 teaspoon | salt (for breading) |
| 1/2 teaspoon | ground black pepper (for breading) |
| 1 teaspoon | cayenne pepper |
| 1/2 teaspoon | paprika |
| 1/2 teaspoon | sugar |
| 2 | eggs |
| 3 tablespoons | milk (for egg wash) |
| 1 box | Panko bread crumbs |
| for deep frying | peanut or canola oil, for frying |
Instructions
- Put the bacon in a 425°F (220°C) oven and cook about 15 minutes (don't fully cook it, as it cooks more in the fryer). Let cool, then cut into little pieces and set aside.
- Cook the macaroni according to the package directions and set aside.
- In a saucepan, melt the butter. Once melted, whisk in the 1 tablespoon flour until there are no lumps.
- Add the milk and cook over medium heat about 4 minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Remove from the heat and stir in all the cheeses. Immediately fold in the cooked macaroni and bacon, and season generously with salt and pepper.
- Chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
- Shape the cold mac and cheese into balls of your desired size. Place in the freezer for about an hour, then compress into tighter balls and freeze another 45 minutes.
- Set up three bowls: in the first combine the 1/2 cup flour, salt, black pepper, cayenne, paprika and sugar; in the second whisk the eggs and milk; in the third put the Panko.
- Heat the oil in a deep fryer or large deep skillet. Roll each ball in the flour mixture, then the egg, then the Panko.
- Fry each ball until lightly golden brown. Drain on paper towels and serve immediately.