Cheesy Mac Cheese Rice Balls (Printable Version)
Crispy rice balls filled with creamy macaroni and cheese, great for snacks or appetizers.
# The Ingredients You'll Need:
→ Mac and Cheese
01 - 1 cup elbow macaroni
02 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
03 - 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
04 - 1 cup whole milk
05 - 1 1/4 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
06 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
07 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
→ Rice
08 - 1 cup cooked and cooled white rice
09 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
→ Coating
10 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
11 - 2 large eggs, beaten
12 - 1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs
→ Frying
13 - Vegetable oil, for deep frying
# Step-by-Step Instructions:
01 - Boil elbow macaroni in salted water until just al dente. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
02 - Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add flour, whisking continuously for 1 minute. Pour in the milk gradually, whisking until a thick sauce forms, about 3 to 4 minutes.
03 - Add shredded sharp cheddar, salt, and black pepper to the sauce. Stir until cheese melts and the sauce is velvety.
04 - Stir the drained macaroni into the cheese sauce. Allow mixture to cool completely.
05 - In a large bowl, blend the cooled macaroni mixture with cooked rice and Parmesan until fully integrated.
06 - Form approximately 2 tablespoons of mixture into compact balls. Continue rolling until all mixture is used.
07 - Roll each ball in flour, then dip in beaten eggs, ensuring full coverage. Finally, coat with panko breadcrumbs.
08 - Heat vegetable oil in a deep frying pan or Dutch oven to 350°F. Fry the balls in small batches for 2 to 3 minutes until crisp and golden brown.
09 - Transfer fried rice balls to paper towels to drain excess oil. Serve warm, accompanied by marinara sauce if desired.
# Additional Tips::
01 -
- Quick prep and cook brings homemade appetizers together in under an hour
- Uses everyday fridge and pantry items making it budget friendly
- Perfect for parties or kids’ lunchboxes because they are bite-sized and crowd pleasing
- Crispy outside and creamy cheesy center for unbeatable texture
02 -
- High in protein and calcium thanks to cheese milk and eggs
- Great for making ahead and freezing for quick snacks or party prep
- Versatile with almost any cheese variety that melts well
03 -
- If your rice balls fall apart while rolling press the mixture firmly and chill the balls before coating
- Always check oil temperature with a thermometer so they crisp evenly and do not soak up grease
- For extra crunch double dredge each ball by dipping twice in egg and panko for a super thick shell