Bushra Griffith
Macaroni and cheese is a beloved dish for many, but it's not always easy to get the proportions just right, and you may be left with leftovers. Fortunately, there are many ways to use up leftover macaroni and cheese, from adding it to sandwiches and salads to creating new dishes like macaroni and cheese bites, pizza, or even waffles! With a bit of creativity, you can transform your leftovers into something delicious and avoid wasting food.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reheating | In the microwave, oven, air fryer, or on the stove top |
| Recipes | Mac and cheese bites, pizza, sandwiches, macaroni salad, soup, chilli mac, casseroles, macaroni alfredo, shepherd's pie, sliders, paninis, stuffed vegetables |
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What You'll Learn
Macaroni salad
Macaroni and cheese is a delicious dish, but it's not always great as leftovers when reheated. However, leftover mac and cheese can be transformed into a tasty macaroni salad. This is a flexible dish, and you can add or omit ingredients according to your taste. Here is a guide on how to make a spectacular macaroni salad with your leftovers:
Firstly, decide if you want to add any extra ingredients to your leftover macaroni and cheese. You could add ingredients such as onion, celery, eggs, sweet pickle relish, salt, black pepper, and dill. You could also add some extra cheese, such as cheddar, or melt in some cream cheese for an extra creamy texture. If you want to add some spice, sprinkle in some cayenne pepper or garlic powder. You can adjust the seasoning to your taste.
Next, you can add in some extra vegetables to make a nutritious salad. Try adding chopped tomatoes, green onions, peppers, and carrots. You could also add in some protein such as cooked ham, bacon, or tuna. If you want to make a more substantial meal, you could even add in some ground beef or bison, cooked with onions and garlic.
Finally, combine all your ingredients in a mixing bowl and chill before serving. You can serve your macaroni salad on a bed of lettuce or, for a more creative presentation, stuff it inside a hollowed-out loaf of bread.
There are many ways to transform leftover macaroni and cheese into a delicious new dish, and macaroni salad is a great option to try!
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Macaroni sandwiches
Macaroni and cheese is a delicious comfort food, but what to do with the leftovers? One option is to turn them into sandwiches! Here are some tips and ideas to make mouth-watering macaroni sandwiches:
Preparation
Before making your sandwich, bring the leftover macaroni and cheese to room temperature. This ensures that it heats evenly when you cook the sandwich. You can also add a tablespoon of butter and milk to restore its creamy texture and enhance the cheese flavour.
Ingredients
The classic combination of cheddar and mozzarella works well for these sandwiches. The mozzarella keeps everything together and provides that desirable cheese pull. However, feel free to use any cheese of your choice. You can also add crispy bacon bits for extra flavour and texture. If you're vegetarian, simply omit the bacon.
Cooking
Place your sandwich in a frying pan over medium heat. Cook each side until golden crispy and gooey in the middle. For an extra indulgent touch, butter the outside of the bread before frying.
Serving
These sandwiches are perfect on their own, but you can serve them with a side of tomato soup or creamy coleslaw for dunking. For a truly decadent experience, scoop up any macaroni that falls out with a sturdy chip like a Dorito.
Variations
Get creative with your macaroni sandwiches! Try adding lobster, sun-dried tomatoes, or artichokes for a fancier twist. You can also experiment with different types of bread, such as focaccia or dinner rolls, to change up the texture and taste.
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Macaroni pizza
Ingredients
- Pre-baked pizza crust, flatbread, or naan
- Leftover macaroni and cheese
- Cheese, shredded (optional)
- Toppings of your choice (e.g. sliced bell peppers, broccoli, or jalapeños)
- Olive oil
- Oregano
- Garlic powder
- Salt and pepper
- Crumbled bacon (optional)
Method
- Preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place your chosen base on a pizza pan dusted with cornmeal.
- Combine olive oil, oregano, and garlic powder. Spread this mixture evenly across the crust.
- Bake the crust for 5-8 minutes, until it starts to turn golden brown and has absorbed most of the oil.
- In a bowl, mix your leftover macaroni and cheese with half of the shredded cheese, if using.
- Spread the macaroni and cheese mixture evenly across the pizza crust.
- Top with the remaining shredded cheese, if using, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Bake for about 5 minutes.
- Add crumbled bacon, if desired, and any other toppings.
- Bake for another 5-10 minutes, or until the crust is dark golden brown and the macaroni and cheese is warmed through.
Tips
- If you have time, you can make your own pizza dough and macaroni and cheese from scratch.
- You can also use store-bought or leftover macaroni and cheese, as long as it is creamy.
- If you want to add a sauce, a spicy Buffalo sauce is recommended.
- For an extra indulgent twist, drizzle hot sauce or ranch dressing over the pizza before serving.
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Mac and cheese bites
Step 1: Prepare the Leftover Macaroni and Cheese
Start by chilling your leftover macaroni and cheese in the fridge. It is important that the macaroni and cheese are cold before you form them into balls, as this will help them retain their shape. You can use any type of leftover macaroni and cheese, whether it is homemade, from a box, frozen, or from a restaurant.
Step 2: Form the Macaroni and Cheese into Balls
Take portions of the cold macaroni and cheese and roll them into balls using your hands or a cookie scoop. Aim for a meatball-sized ball, about 1-2 inches in diameter. Try to make the balls as round as possible, and ensure they are all roughly the same size so they cook evenly.
Step 3: Prepare the Breading Station
Set up three small to medium-sized bowls. In the first bowl, place all-purpose flour, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, black pepper, and any other desired seasonings. You can also add a pinch of salt to the flour to enhance the savouriness of the bites. Mix the ingredients in this bowl well. In the second bowl, add eggs and cream, and beat them together. For an egg wash with a richer flavour, you can use milk instead of cream. In the third bowl, pour in the breadcrumbs. You can use panko breadcrumbs for an extra crispy texture. To this bowl, you can also add grated Parmesan cheese, and a pinch of salt and garlic powder for extra flavour.
Step 4: Coat the Mac and Cheese Balls
Take each mac and cheese ball and roll it first in the flour mixture, ensuring it is evenly coated. Then, dip the ball into the egg mixture, and finally, roll it in the breadcrumbs, pressing lightly to ensure the crumbs adhere well. Repeat this process for a second coating if desired.
Step 5: Bake or Fry the Mac and Cheese Bites
If you are baking the mac and cheese bites, preheat your oven to 350°F/180°C. Place the coated mac and cheese balls on a lined baking tray and bake for 15-20 minutes, turning halfway, until they are golden brown. For an even crispier texture, you can spray the tops of the bites with cooking spray before baking.
If you are frying the mac and cheese bites, heat vegetable oil or peanut oil in a deep saucepan, Dutch oven, or deep fryer to a temperature between 350-375°F. Fry the coated mac and cheese balls in small batches for about 3 minutes or until they are golden brown.
Step 6: Serve and Store
Leftover mac and cheese bites can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4-7 days. They can also be frozen and reheated in the oven, air fryer, or microwave when desired.
Macaroni casserole
To make this recipe, you can use any leftover macaroni and cheese you have or make a fresh batch. You can also use any vegetable oil of your choice to sauté the onions and garlic. Heat up the oil in a medium saucepan. Add diced onions, paprika, and pressed garlic. Let it cook for 2 minutes and season with salt and black pepper. Next, mix in vegan ground beef and cook for another 3 minutes. You can use any plant-based ground meat substitute you prefer.
Transfer the mixture to a casserole dish and sprinkle cheddar cheese on top. You can also experiment with different types of cheese, such as Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, or Parmesan. Bake for 15 minutes until the top is golden brown. For extra flavor, add a sprinkle of chili powder or black pepper to the ground beef as you brown it.
To store leftover macaroni and cheese casserole, allow it to cool to room temperature before refrigerating to prevent condensation. Transfer it to an airtight container or cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate within two hours of cooking to minimize the risk of bacterial growth.
Frequently asked questions
You can make a grilled cheese sandwich by adding ingredients like lobster, sun-dried tomatoes, or artichokes. You can also make a mini mac sandwich by stuffing macaroni and cheese inside dinner rolls. If you have Thanksgiving leftovers, you can make a sandwich with leftover turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce.
You can add a few spoonfuls of leftover macaroni and cheese to waffle batter, egg bake, or baked potato rounds. You can also use it as a topping for pizza or add it to your favourite soup.
You can make a cheese casserole by adding cauliflower or pumpkin to your leftover macaroni and cheese. You can also make a chilli mac by combining it with chilli.
Yes, you can make macaroni and cheese bites by frying or baking small portions of leftover macaroni and cheese. These can be made in an air fryer or oven and are a great bite-sized party food.
