Air Fryer Mac And Cheese: Quick, Easy, Cheesy!

Air Fryer Mac and Cheese is a quick and easy meal that can be made in under 30 minutes. It's a comforting, homemade dish that's full of flavour and is sure to be a hit with both kids and adults. To make it, you'll need to preheat your air fryer to around 350-360°F, then add your macaroni, cheese, milk, cream, butter, and seasonings. Stir everything together, then place it in the air fryer and cook for around 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Once it's done, remove it from the air fryer and let it cool for a few minutes before serving.

Cooking times and temperatures

The cooking time and temperature for mac and cheese in an air fryer depend on the ingredients and the type of air fryer you are using.

If you are using a box of mac and cheese, you should preheat your air fryer to 350°F or 360°F for 10 minutes. Then, cook the mac and cheese for 14-20 minutes, stirring halfway through. You should check on your mac and cheese around the 18-minute mark, as different air fryer brands cook at different speeds. If you are using an air fryer basket, you should stir the mac and cheese once the air fryer is done cooking and then remove the pan from the basket. If you are using a baking dish, you should stir the mac and cheese every 5 minutes and add the remaining shredded cheese on top for the last 2-3 minutes of cooking.

Once the mac and cheese is done cooking, you should remove it from the air fryer and let it cool for 5-10 minutes. The mac and cheese will thicken as it cools.

How to prepare the macaroni

To prepare the macaroni, start by preheating your air fryer to 350°F or 360°F. While the air fryer is heating up, grab a large bowl and add the macaroni noodles, half and half, Velveeta, shredded cheddar cheese, butter, garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder, cayenne (if using), salt, dry mustard, and milk. Stir all of these ingredients together until they are well combined.

Next, you'll need to grease an air fryer baking dish with cooking spray or butter. Make sure the dish is large enough to accommodate all of your ingredients. Pour the macaroni mixture into the prepared dish, ensuring that the pasta is fully covered by the milk.

Place the dish into your preheated air fryer and set the timer. The cooking time may vary depending on your air fryer model, but generally, you'll want to cook the mac and cheese for around 15 to 20 minutes. It's important to stir the macaroni every 5 minutes or so to ensure even cooking and prevent sticking.

About halfway through the cooking process, open the air fryer basket and add the remaining shredded cheese on top. Close the basket and continue cooking for another 2 to 3 minutes until the cheese is melted and slightly browned.

How to prepare the cheese sauce

To prepare the cheese sauce, you will need to combine the macaroni noodles with half and half, Velveeta, shredded cheddar cheese, butter, garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder, cayenne (if using), and salt. Stir all of these ingredients together in a large bowl until they are well combined.

Next, spray an air fryer baking dish with cooking spray to prevent the mac and cheese from sticking. Pour the macaroni mixture into the dish, making sure that all of the pasta is fully covered by the milk.

Place the dish in the air fryer and set the temperature to 350-360°F. The cooking time will vary depending on your air fryer model, but generally, you should cook the mac and cheese for 15-20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes to incorporate all of the ingredients.

Halfway through the cooking time, open the air fryer basket and add the remaining shredded cheese on top. Close the basket and continue cooking for another 2-3 minutes until the cheese is melted and slightly browned.

Once the timer goes off, remove the pan from the air fryer and allow the mac and cheese to cool for 5-10 minutes. The dish will thicken as it cools.

How to prepare the air fryer

To prepare your air fryer for cooking mac and cheese, you will need to preheat it to 350°F. Some recipes suggest preheating for 10 minutes, while others recommend heating the air fryer before you begin cooking and stirring the macaroni after 7 minutes.

Before adding your macaroni, you should grease the inside of the pan with non-stick cooking spray or butter. You can also use an air fryer baking dish, which you should spray with cooking spray before pouring in the macaroni mixture.

If you are using a baking dish, make sure that all the pasta is fully covered by the milk. If you are cooking the macaroni directly in the air fryer basket, you can add the milk and heavy cream directly to the basket with the macaroni.

Some recipes suggest adding the cheese to the macaroni before cooking, while others recommend adding it halfway through the cooking process. If you are adding the cheese before cooking, stir it into the macaroni mixture. If you are adding it during cooking, open the air fryer basket and sprinkle the cheese on top of the macaroni, then stir before closing the basket and continuing to cook.

How to serve

Once your mac and cheese is cooked, remove the pan from the air fryer basket and allow it to cool for 5-10 minutes. The mac and cheese will thicken while it cools.

You can serve it as a main dish, or as a side dish. It's a great comfort food for kids and adults alike.

If you're serving it as a main, you could add some garlic bread or a side salad to make it a more substantial meal. You could also add some extra cheese on top, or some chopped spring onions or chives for a bit of extra flavour and colour.

If you're serving it as a side, it would go well with some grilled chicken or fish, or a juicy burger. You could also add some extra vegetables, like roasted peppers or onions, to the dish to make it a more well-rounded meal.

Frequently asked questions