Baked Mac And Up Cheese Cups Recipe As Appetizer Or Snack

Delight in the comforting warmth of Baked Mac and Cheese Cups, where every bite offers a harmonious blend of gooey cheddar and al dente pasta, with a hint of garlic to elevate the classic flavor. These bite-sized treats serve up a new twist on traditional mac and cheese, perfect for sharing or savoring solo.

Baked Mac And Up Cheese Cups

Ingredients

For the Mac & Cheese Cups:
- 8 ounces pasta (shells, elbows, or gemelli recommended)
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

Preparation:

- Butter all 12 cups of a standard size muffin tin and set aside.
- Place a pot of salted water over high heat on the stovetop to boil and preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

Making the Pasta:

- Cook the pasta according to the package directions, or until it is al dente.

Creating the Sauce:

- While the pasta is cooking, melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Whisk in the salt and flour until the flour is smooth.
- Slowly whisk in the milk and heat it until just boiling, then remove from the heat and stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until smooth.

Combining:

- Once the pasta is done, drain it well and gently stir into the cheese sauce.

Baking:

- Divide the pasta among the 12 muffin cups.
- Top evenly with breadcrumbs if desired.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the tops are just starting to brown.

Cooling:

- Let the Mac and Cheese Cups cool completely before removing them from the pan. You may need to loosen the cups with a butter knife before gently removing them.

Tips and Techniques

Use a smaller pasta shape like elbows or shells to make filling the cups easier. Fun shapes like gemelli can add a unique texture.
Shred the cheddar cheese from a block for the best melting and texture.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Use within 2-3 days.

For Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese Cups

To make this recipe gluten-free, you will need to use gluten-free pasta and gluten-free breadcrumbs.
Swap out the all-purpose flour for an equal amount of cornstarch to achieve almost identical results.