How To Make Deep-Fried Mac and Cheese Bars
Crispy on the outside, and tender on the inside mac and cheese bars makes the cheesiest, creamiest, and most savory lunch meal!
Serves:
Ingredients
- ½lbelbow macaroni
- 3tbspbutter
- 3tbspall purpose flour
- 1tbspdry mustard
- 2cupsmilk
- 1cupheavy cream
- ½cupyellow onion
- 1lbandouille sausage,casing removed
- 1bay leaf
- 1tspsweet paprika
- 1egg
- 3cupssharp white cheddar cheese
- 1tspkosher salt
- 1tspblack pepper
- 2tbsphot sauce
For Topping:
- 3tbspbutter
- 1cuppanko bread crumbs
- 1cupsharp white cheddar cheese
For Breading:
- 3cupsall purpose flour
- 1tspcayenne pepper
- 5eggs
- 1lbpanko bread crumbs
- oil
Instructions
-
Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente; don’t overcook. Drain in a colander and rinse under running water until cooled slightly. Set aside.
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Melt butter in 6-quart pot over medium-high heat. Add flour and mustard and whisk constantly for 5 minutes or until lightly browned.
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Stir in milk, cream, onion, sausage, bay leaf, and paprika, and cook, stirring constantly, for about 5 minutes, until thickened. Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes longer.
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Gradually stir about 1 cup milk mixture into beaten egg, then add egg mixture back to milk mixture in pot. Add cheese, salt, pepper, and hot sauce, and stir until cheese is melted.
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Remove from heat and stir in macaroni. Pour into a greased 2-quart rectangular baking dish.
Topping:
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Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat; stir in bread crumbs and remove from heat.
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Sprinkle cheese evenly over macaroni, then sprinkle with bread crumb mixture.
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Bake in a 350 degrees F oven for 30 minutes.
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Let cool completely, then cover and refrigerate overnight.
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The next day, cut the casserole lengthwise down the middle, then across into 1-inch bars.
Breading:
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Set up three bowls: in one, combine flour and cayenne; beat eggs in the second bowl, and place bread crumbs in the third.
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Dredge macaroni bars in flour, then egg, then bread crumbs, and place on a baking sheet. Work quickly; don’t over handle.
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Let bars rest in refrigerator the for 20 minutes to set crumbs
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Heat several inches of oil in a deep-fryer to 350 degrees F.
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Fry bars, a few at a time, for 3 to 4 minutes or until golden brown. Season hot bars with additional salt and pepper.
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Serve immediately, and enjoy!
Nutrition
- Calories: 513.51kcal
- Fat: 28.93g
- Saturated Fat: 13.36g
- Trans Fat: 0.46g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 9.38g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 2.69g
- Carbohydrates: 44.86g
- Fiber: 1.94g
- Sugar: 3.10g
- Protein: 17.89g
- Cholesterol: 115.97mg
- Sodium: 485.84mg
- Calcium: 282.08mg
- Potassium: 183.94mg
- Iron: 1.91mg
- Vitamin A: 187.25µg
- Vitamin C: 1.53mg
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