Mac-N-Cheese – Mini Burgers level up the appetizer platter at your next game day party. A deep fried creamy mac-n-cheese circle forms the base for a juicy mini (think white castle) burger with all of your favorite fixings. Bacon, cheese, onion, tomato, and lettuce. Watch them disappear.
Key Takeaways:
- Creative Twist on a Classic: This appetizer elevates game-day snacking by combining juicy mini burgers with crispy, deep-fried mac-n-cheese discs as the base.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: The mac-n-cheese can be prepared and baked in advance, then cut into circles and frozen for easy frying later.
- Flavor-Packed Layers: Each bite includes melty American cheese, smoky bacon, fresh tomatoes, red onion, and crisp lettuce for the perfect flavor balance.
- Kid and Crowd Approved: Loved by both kids and adults, especially when served hot on a fun platter with cocktail picks.
- Smart Meal Planning Tip: Double the mac-n-cheese recipe and freeze a portion for a future quick meal.
- Simple Breading and Frying Method: A 3-step breading process ensures a golden, crispy mac-n-cheese base perfect for stacking.
Overview
Get ready to take your game day appetizer spread to the next level with these mouthwatering Mac-N-Cheese Mini Burgers! Each bite packs a punch of flavor and texture—starting with a deep-fried, golden-brown circle of creamy, cheesy mac-n-cheese as the “bun.” On top, you’ll stack a juicy mini burger patty seasoned just right and loaded with all your favorite fixings: crispy bacon, melty cheese, crunchy lettuce, sweet tomato, and sharp onion.
Perfect for parties, tailgates, or any fun get-together, these stacked sliders are fun to prep and even more fun to devour. The mac-n-cheese is made ahead, frozen into rounds, then breaded and fried to crispy perfection. Add your fresh, prepped toppings and cook the mini burgers just before assembling. Serve on a bed of lettuce with baby pickles for a playful, irresistible platter that’s sure to disappear in seconds.
Whether you’re cooking for kids, sports fans, or just serious snack lovers, this recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser—and a great excuse to double up the mac-n-cheese for extra meals later.
This page contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click a link, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Make the Mac - N - Cheese
How do I Make the Mac-N-Cheese for the Mac-N-Cheese – Mini-Burgers?
This super cheesy and creamy recipe is an all-time favorite recipe for Mac-N-Cheese of my grand kids and Farmer Fred. Here is how you can make it:
- Cook and drain the macaroni. The macaroni should be al dente.
- Add the 3 different cheeses and the butter to the macaroni. Mix in.
- Beat the egg and add it to the half and half. Pour this over the macaroni and cheese.
- Pour into a greased 9 X 13-inch baking dish. The macaroni will only be about 1 inch deep. Cover with Aluminum Foil.
- Bake until the center is hot and bubbly, about 30 to 40 minutes. Let cool for several hours.
- Take the Mac-n-cheese out to the pan as one big piece.
- Cut into 2-inch circles and freeze the circles for 1 hour. Reheat the leftover pieces for lunch or dinner the next day.
SIS TIP
Double the recipe and put half in a 9 X 13-inch pan. Put the rest in a 9 X 9-inch pan. Cover the 9 X 9-inch pan with aluminum foil and freeze the pan for a quick meal at another time.
Prep the Toppings:
While the Mac-N-Cheese circles are freezing, prep the topping.
- Fry the bacon and cut it into two-inch pieces.
- Cut the American cheese slices into two-inch squares.
- Cut some red onion into squares.
- Cut the cherry tomatoes in half.
- Assemble the stack. Stack the toppings and piece with a plastic sword cocktail pick.
- Have the toppings ready to go.
Make the Mini-Burgers
- Season the hamburger with salt and pepper and flatten to about 3/4 inch thick disc.
- Use the 2 inch circle cutter and cut the burgers.
- Cook the mini-burgers in a grill pan or on the cuisinart griddler.
- When the burgers are rare removed and set aside. You will finish cooking them just before serving them on top of the fried macaroni.
- I use a 3 stage breading for the Mac-n-cheese. Dip the frozen circles in flour, then beaten egg, and finally bread crumbs.
- Fry in a deep fryer or frying pan with at least an inch of oil in the pan. When circles are golden brown, drain briefly on a wire rack.
Assemble and Serve the Mac-N-Cheese – Mini-Burgers.
- Arrange a bed of lettuce on a serving platter.
- Finish cooking the mini-burgers.
- Assemble as soon as the mini-burgers and fried mac-n-cheese is done.
- Stack a mini-burger on top of a fried Mac-n-cheese circle. Add a piece of American cheese and then the stack of toppings.
- Arrange on the bed of lettuce.
- Add a few baby pickles and serve while the Mac-n-cheese – mini-burgers are still hot.
FAQ:
Q: Can I use boxed mac-n-cheese for this recipe?
A: While boxed mac-n-cheese can work in a pinch, the homemade version gives a firmer, creamier base that’s better for cutting and frying.
Q: What kind of cheese works best in the mac-n-cheese base?
A: A combination of three cheeses—like cheddar, mozzarella, and parmesan—provides the best flavor and texture.
Q: Do I need a deep fryer to make these?
A: No, a frying pan with at least an inch of oil works fine. Just make sure the mac-n-cheese circles are golden and crispy.
Q: How do I keep the mini-burgers warm before serving?
A: Finish cooking them right before assembly, or keep them in a low oven (around 200°F) covered loosely with foil.
Q: Can I skip the toppings?
A: Absolutely. The toppings are customizable—use what you love or keep it simple with just cheese and burger.
Q: Are these good for kids’ parties?
A: Yes! They’re fun, handheld, and can be made smaller for little hands. Plus, kids love the mac-n-cheese + burger combo.
Mac-N-Cheese - Mini Burgers
Equipment
- This page contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click a link, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you
- 1 baking pan, size 9 X 13.
- deep fryer (optional)
- grill pan or griddler
Ingredients
Mac and Cheese Casserole
- ½ lb macaroni (225g) elbows
- ½ stick butter (55g) melted
- ½ cup cheddar cheese (55g) sharp grated
- 1½ cups Shredded Mexican cheese blend (170g) (see notes)
- 5 ounces Velveeta cheese (140g) cut into small cubes
- ¾ cups Half and Half (180ml)
- 1 egg beaten
- salt and pepper to taste
3-stage breading mix
- ½ cup flour (60g)
- 2 eggs beaten
- 1 cup bread crumbs (56g) plain
- oil for frying
Mini Burgers
- 2 lbs 85% lean Hamburger (1kg)
- salt and pepper to taste
Burger toppings
- 1 handful spring greens
- 1 red onion cut into 24 two-inch squares
- 12 cherry or grape tomato cut in half
- slices of american cheese cut into 24 two-inch squares.
- 6-8 pieces bacon fried until crispy and cut into 2-inch pieces.
- 24 sword toothpicks
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
Mac and Cheese
- Cook the pasta in 3 quarts of salted boiling water until the pasta is al-dente, about six minutes. Drain in a colander and run under cool water to chill. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
- Melt the butter and mix it into the pasta. Add the cheeses and stir to mix in.
- Add the eggs to the half and half, whisk to combine, and pour over the macaroni and cheese.
- Add salt and pepper to taste. Stir to mix well.
- Add the pasta to a greased 9 X 13-inch baking pan. The pasta should be about one to 1½ inches deep.
- Cover with aluminum foil and Bake 350° F for 35 minutes. Cool to room temperature and chill in the refrigerator for 3 hours or overnight.
- Cut the pasta into 2-inch circles with a biscuit or cookie cutter. Freeze the circles for 30 minutes before breading.
Prep the toppings
- Fry the bacon until crisp, cut the onions and cheese into 2-inch squares, cut the cherry tomatoes in half. Set Aside.
Make the Mini Burgers
- Season the hamburger meat with salt and pepper. Then flatten into a disc that is about ¾ inch thick.
- Cut the burger into 2-inch circles with the same cutter you used for the mac-n-cheese. Freeze the burgers for 30 minutes.
- Heat a grill pan or Cuisinart Griddler. Fry the mini burgers until desired doneness. Set aside.
Breading and Frying
- Put the breading ingredients into 3 separate shallow containers.
- Remove the chilled mac and cheese circles from freezer.
- Bread each circle by coating it first with the flour, then the egg, and last with the bread crumbs. Set breaded circles aside.
- Put 1 inch of oil in a frying pan or use a deep fryer. Heat the oil to 350°F. Keep the oil at or slightly less than 350° to prevent the triangles from over-browning before they are hot in the center. Deep-fry the breaded circles until they are golden brown, about 1 - 2 minutes. Fry in small batches of 4 to 5 circles at a time.
- Serve hot. If the triangles cool down, reheat them just before serving in the microwave or oven until the cheese in the middle is hot and melted. (see notes)
Assemble the burgers and serve.
- Briefly reheat the mini-burgers in the grill pan or the Cuisinart Griddler.
- Stack a mini burger on top of the fried mac-n-cheese.
- Add the cheese, bacon, onion, and half of a cherry tomato. Secure the whole stack with a plastic sword cocktail pick.
- Place the mac-n-cheese mini-burger stacks on an appetizer serving plate with a bed of spring-mix lettuce, add a slice of pickle and serve.
