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–+ servings
Air fryer macaroni cheese in a baking dish.
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5 from 5 votes

Easy Air Fryer Mac and Cheese

An easy air fryer mac and cheese recipe where you don't have to boil the pasta first!
Course Pasta
Cuisine British
Prep Time 4 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 34 minutes
Servings 3
Calories 535kcal
Author Beth Sachs

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Equipment

Ingredients

Metric - US Customary
  • 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 (340°F) 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

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.
 
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. 
 
Nutrition:
The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
 

Nutritional Information (Approximate)

Calories: 535kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 77mg | Sodium: 556mg | Potassium: 426mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 940IU | Vitamin C: 0.03mg | Calcium: 695mg | Iron: 1mg
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