An easy air fryer mac and cheese recipe where you don't have to boil the pasta first!
Pop the ingredients into a baking dish, give it a stir, then air fry for 25-30 minutes, stirring regularly!
This creamy air fryer macaroni cheese recipe is quick and easy to prep because you don't need to pre-boil the macaroni!
It's a simple and tasty pasta side dish for busy weeknights that the kids love!
👩🍳 Don't have an air fryer? Try my traditional bacon mac and cheese recipe instead!
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✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!
- Easy air fryer pasta recipe.
- Quick to prep and only 7 ingredients.
- Kids (and adults) love mac and cheese!
- No need to pre-boil the pasta first on the hob.
🛒 Ingredient notes
Pasta - I like to use standard dried macaroni (elbow pasta) as it's small and cooks quickly.
Cheese - a combination of extra-mature cheddar and Parmesan cheese for the best flavour. Other cheeses such as gruyere work well too.
Milk - use whole milk for this recipe, or alternatively for a smoother sauce, use half double cream and half water.
Seasonings - mustard powder, garlic powder, and smoked paprika really help to lift the flavour of the mac and cheese. You could also add cayenne pepper or dried herbs such as oregano.
🥄 Equipment
Which air fryer? I use the Ninja Foodi MAX PRO Health Grill, Flat Plate and Air Fryer with 7 customisable cooking functions including grill, flat plate, air fry, roast, bake, reheat and dehydrate! It also comes with a digital cooking probe that precisely monitors your food’s temperature as it cooks!
What is an air fryer?
Air fryers are small(ish) kitchen appliances that operate like a convection oven—except in a smaller, more concentrated space.
The air is circulated at a high temperature and evenly around the food, which makes the food cook more quickly than in a conventional oven (saving energy), and helps give foods a crispy coating without the need for lots of oil and fat.
🔪 Instructions
The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post
One: Preheat the air fryer to 170C (340F) and set 30 minutes on the timer.
Two: Place the macaroni, grated cheeses, and seasonings into an oven-proof dish that will fit in your air fryer basket.
Three: Pour in the milk and give everything a mix.
Four: Air fry for 25-30 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes or so with a wooden spoon. It will look like the cheese sauce is separating at times but keep stirring regularly and incorporating all the ingredients back together. Continue to cook until the macaroni is al dente. Season with salt and black pepper before serving.
💭 Expert tips
- Cook time depends on the type of pasta you use. Start checking for doneness after 20 minutes. If you are using a larger pasta shape it may take longer than 30 minutes.
- Foil trays, oven-proof baking dishes, and air fryer silicone dishes can all be used in an air fryer to make this mac and cheese. Make sure your dish fits into your air fryer basket!
🍴 Serving suggestions
Serve the air fryer mac and cheese with a green salad or vegetables, such as air fryer asparagus, peas, sweetcorn, or roasted Tenderstem broccoli.
Or, how about homemade focaccia or garlic bread?
📖 Variations
- Make it spicy and add chilli flakes.
- Sprinkle over cooked bacon pieces or toasted bread crumbs at the end of cooking.
- Add chopped sun-dried tomatoes, olives, and pesto for extra flavour.
- Garnish with freshly chopped herbs such as parsley or chives.
- Use leftovers to make air-fried mac and cheese balls.
🥡 Storage
Store: Due to the nature of the cheese sauce, this air fryer mac and cheese is best eaten fresh out of the air fryer. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheat: Reheat in a microwave but please be aware the pasta will dry out on reheating. This mac and cheese recipe tastes better when eaten straight away.
Freeze: This macaroni cheese recipe is not suitable for freezing. If you would like to make mac and cheese that you can freeze, try my smoky chorizo mac and cheese instead.
❓ Frequently asked questions
Any dish that is oven-proof can be used in an air fryer. That includes foil trays and baking dishes, but you can also purchase specialised air fryer safe silicone baking dishes.
No, this recipe has been developed to be made in an air fryer.
Use a cheese that melts well and has a strong cheesy flavour. I like to use extra mature cheddar cheese, Parmesan, and occasionally gruyere.
😋 More air fryer recipes
- Air fryer chicken fajitas
- Air fryer baked camembert
- Air fryer sausages
- Air fryer whole chicken
- Air fryer breakfast frittata
- Air fryer sausage rolls
- Air fryer chicken nuggets
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Recipe
Easy Air Fryer Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 150 g Macaroni
- 150 g Extra Mature Cheddar grated
- 30 g Parmesan grated
- ½ teaspoon Mustard Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- 500 ml Whole Milk
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 170°C (340F) and set 30 minutes on the timer.
- Place the macaroni, grated cheeses, and seasonings into an oven-proof dish that will fit into your air fryer basket.150 g Macaroni, 150 g Extra Mature Cheddar, 30 g Parmesan, ½ teaspoon Mustard Powder, ¼ teaspoon Garlic Powder, ¼ teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- Pour in the milk and give everything a mix.500 ml Whole Milk
- Air fry for 25-30 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes or so with a wooden spoon. It will look like the cheese sauce is separating at times but keep stirring regularly and incorporating all the ingredients back together. Continue to cook until the macaroni is al dente. Season with salt and black pepper before serving.
Notes
- Cook time depends on the type of pasta you use. Start checking for doneness after 20 minutes. If you are using a larger pasta shape it may take longer than 30 minutes.
- Foil trays, oven-proof baking dishes, and air fryer silicone dishes can all be used in an air fryer to make this mac and cheese. Make sure your dish fits into your air fryer basket.
- Make it spicy and add chilli flakes.
- Sprinkle over cooked bacon pieces or toasted bread crumbs at the end of cooking.
- Add chopped sun-dried tomatoes, olives, and pesto for extra flavour.
- Garnish with freshly chopped herbs such as parsley or chives.
- Use leftovers to make air-fried mac and cheese balls.
Laura
Such an easy recipe for mac and cheese in an air fryer. Love that you don't need to pre cook the pasta!