Looking for the perfect side dish to take to your 4th of July party? Four words: Mac & Cheese Cups. You can’t get anymore patriotic than this American classic! I put a little spin on traditional macaroni and cheese by baking them in a muffin tin to create individual servings. These babies are yum and I even got the thumbs up from my 3 year old. The blend of cheddar and mozzarella, the crispy outside and the creamy inside will keep your taste buds happy. Make them a little more festive by adding a stick adorned with a little felt star to each Mac & Cheese cup.
Ingredients (yields approximately 18 cups)
16 oz elbow macaroni
4 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons flour
1 cup milk
1 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
1 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
cooking spray
Instructions: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Spray a muffin tin with cooking spray (I used coconut oil spray). Cook elbow macaroni according to package, subtracting 2 minutes off the suggested cooking time. Drain the pasta and add in the butter, paprika and salt over medium heat. Mix until the butter is fully melted.
Add the flour and milk, mixing for a few minutes until everything is melted. Remove from heat and add the mozzarella and cheddar cheese, mixing until melted. Use an ice cream scoop to scoop a ball of mac & cheese into the muffin tin slots. Bake for 10-15 minutes until the outside is crispy. Allow the cups to cool before removing so they retain their shape.
Check out these other 4th of July favorites from some of my bloggy friends:
Sparkling Raspberry Lemonade from Mom Endeavors
Homemade BBQ Sauce from BetsyLife
Apricot Crumble In A Jar from The Rebel Chick
4th Of July Marshmallow Pinwheels from Home Cooking Memories
Grilled Corn With Honey Mustard Butter from A Little Claireification
Grilled Pineapple & Watermelon Fruit Kabobs from A Night Owl Blog
Strawberry Rhubarb Lemonade from Bless This Mess Please
Veggie BBQ Sliders with Slaw from Million Moments
Deep Dish Crumb Topped Apple Pie from Eat Your Heart Out
Popsicle Rockets from Around My Family Table
Caesar Burgers from Plugged In Family
4 Responses
These are so great! I know what I’m bringing to the 4th of July party this year! YUM!!
Awasome food, i ilke that …… that’s beatifully some food
My kids love mac and cheese- they would gobble these up in a flash!