An easy air fryer macaroni cheese recipe where you don’t have to boil the pasta first!
Pop the ingredients into a baking dish, give everything a stir, then air fry for 25-30 minutes!
This creamy air fryer mac and cheese recipe is quick and easy to prep because you don’t need to pre-boil the macaroni!
Best of all, the air fryer gives the mac and cheese a crispy, golden crust that’s hard to resist.
It’s a simple and tasty pasta dish for busy weeknights, that the kids (and adults) will love!
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 helps to lift the flavour of the mac and cheese. You could also add cayenne pepper or dried herbs such as oregano.
How to make mac and cheese in air fryer
One: Preheat the air fryer to 170°C (340°F) 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.
PrintEasy Air Fryer Macaroni Cheese
- Prep Time: 4 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 34 minutes
- Yield: 3 1x
- Category: Pasta
- Cuisine: British
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
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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
- 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.
