While we are isolated with more (super-imposed) together time than ever before, these muffins offer home-cooking that our families long for, while at home 24-7.
Mac and Cheese Muffins have been a highlight at my family’s Thanksgiving dinners, and lately, we have a lot to be thankful and hopeful for, especially our health.
The muffins’ layered textures melt in the mouth —the crunchy top is crisp and buttery. These muffins freeze well, re-heat easily and make tasty lunchtime treats.
Macaroni and Cheese Muffins (makes 18)
2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked
1 Tbsp butter
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup Cheddar Cheese, shredded
1 cup milk (whole or skim)
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1 cup Mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp salt (to taste)
1 tsp pepper (to taste)
Crunchy Topping
1/2 cup seasoned dry bread crumbs
2 tsp olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded
1. In a bowl, stir together the bread crumbs, olive oil, and salt.
2. Add cheese.
Muffins
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or grease tin with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook for about 8 minutes (until slightly firm).
3. Remove pot from heat, drain macaroni, and return macaroni to pot. Stir in butter and beaten egg until pasta is evenly coated.
4. Add to the pasta the Cheddar cheese, milk, Parmesan, mozzarella, and cottage cheese. Add garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Stir.
5. Distribute mixture into each cup of prepared muffin tin.
6. Sprinkle the Crunchy Topping mixture over the tops.
7. Bake for 30 minutes or until tops are nicely browned.
8. Allow to cool for a few minutes before removing muffins from the tin (this allows the cheese to set and muffins to take shape).
Muffin Mama 
These muffins were off the hook!! My kids devoured them. And one decided that that mac n cheese prior to baking was so good she wants that as her homemade mac n cheese from now on (probably minus the beaten egg and maybe a little less milk???) We will definitely be making these again. Our only issue was that the muffins really stuck to the muffin tins, but that was easily solved by just eating the rest of it straight off the tin. #nomuffinleftbehind Thanks, Carmel!! Loved this recipe.
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Tracey, I’m so happy to hear that your daughter is enjoying the mac and cheese (yes, no egg if you aren’t going to bake!). You must be so happy. To prevent the muffins from sticking to the muffin tin, make sure your grease the tin well (you can use baking spray or butter or oil), or you could use muffin liners or parchment paper as well.
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