One of my “Air Fryer Recipes for Beginners” Facebook page followers asked me to create an air fryer mac and cheese recipe. To my pleasant surprise, it was actually pretty easy to make!
If you and your family enjoy creamy mac and cheese, this homemade air fryer mac and cheese is sure to satisfy.
The best part about this recipe is that you don’t have to boil the noodles in advance. You just mix everything in an air-fryer-safe dish and the air fryer does the rest of the work. In a relatively short amount of time, you’ll have a hot, cheesy, and gooey mac and cheese that creamy macaroni and cheese lovers will enjoy.
Step-By-Step Directions
Here’s how to make it:
1. Preheat your air fryer to 360°F for 3-5 minutes.
2. Combine all of the cheeses in a medium bowl.
3. In a large bowl, combine the macaroni, water, vegetable oil, butter, half and half, salt, seasoned salt, black pepper and ⅔ of the cheese mixture.
4. Pour the contents of the large bowl into an air fryer-safe dish that has been sprayed or brushed with oil.
5. Place the dish in the air fryer basket and cook uncovered for 20 minutes at 360°F – stirring at the halfway mark.
6. After 20 minutes, open the basket and stir the mac and cheese. Sprinkle the remaining ⅓ of the cheese mixture on top.
7. Close the basket and cook for an additional 2 minutes at 360°F.
8. Remove the dish from the air fryer, stir and let cool for 10 minutes before serving.
Tips:
- You can use your favorite cheeses in this recipe. Just make sure that they are freshly grated.
- I use a 7-inch air fryer pan from a Bellagione Air Fryer Accessories set that I purchased because it fits into my NINJA AF101.
- This recipe is also great for meal prepping. Simply cook the mac and cheese according to the instructions, then let it cool completely. You can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days before reheating it in the air fryer at 360°F for approximately 5-7 minutes.
Air Fryer Mac and Cheese Recipe
Air Fryer Mac and Cheese
How to easily make creamy, delicious mac and cheese without boiling the noodles in advance
Ingredients
- 1 cup uncooked elbow macaroni
- 1 cup water
- 1 tsp vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter, cut into cubes
- 1 cup half and half
- 4 oz mild cheddar cheese, freshly grated
- 4 oz sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
- 4 oz Monterey Jack cheese, freshly grated
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp seasoned salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 360°F for 3-5 minutes.
- Combine all of the cheeses in a medium bowl.
- In a large bowl, combine the macaroni, water, vegetable oil, butter, half and half, salt, seasoned salt, black pepper and ⅔ of the cheese mixture.
- Pour the contents of the large bowl into an air fryer-safe dish that has been sprayed or brushed with oil.
- Place the dish in the air fryer basket uncovered and cook for 20 minutes at 360°F - stirring at the halfway mark.
- After 20 minutes, open the basket and stir the mac and cheese. Sprinkle the remaining ⅓ of the cheese mixture on top.
- Close the basket and cook for an additional 2 minutes at 360°F.
- Remove the dish from the air fryer, stir and let cool for 10 minutes before serving.
I hope that you enjoy this recipe! Be sure to share this air fryer mac and cheese recipe if you find it helpful.
P.S. If you don’t have an air fryer and/or like a firmer, baked mac and cheese, you can make my Simple Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe Without Flour. It IS one of my top three requested “friends and family” favorite dishes.