A no-boil recipe, this Air Fryer Mac and Cheese is creamy, easy and full of cheesy goodness! Quick, flavorful and the perfect side dish!
DELICIOUS AIR FRYER MAC AND CHEESE
I bet y’all didn’t know you could make macaroni and cheese in an air fryer! You can and I know a simple way to do it where you don’t even have to boil the noodles first. This recipe is baked of my No-Boil Mac and Cheese recipe. It truly is a simple recipe that is full of flavor and once you have a creamy bite, you will want to make it over and over again. Just another reason to get an air fryer if you don’t have one! No need to heat up your house either. If you want a new spin on your mac and cheese game, then you must make this Air Fryer Mac and Cheese recipe!
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)
- elbow macaroni
- half and half
- Velveeta
- shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- unsalted butter
- garlic powder
- pepper
- onion powder
- cayenne pepper
- salt
HOW TO MAKE AIR FRYER MAC AND CHEESE:
Preheat the air fryer at 360°F for 10 minutes. While the air fryer is heating, in a large bowl, add the macaroni noodles, half and half, Velveeta, 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese, butter, garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder, cayenne (if using), and salt. Stir to combine.
Spray an air fryer baking dish with cooking spray and pour the mixture into the dish.
Air fry for 15-18 minutes (please see the notes in the recipe card below for more information about cook times).
Stir every 5 minutes to incorporate the ingredients together.
Add the remaining shredded cheese on top.
Air fry an additional 2-3 minutes until melted and slightly browned, serve immediately.
PrintAir Fryer Mac and Cheese
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Total Time: 23 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups dried elbow macaroni
- 1 ½ cups half and half
- 8 ounces Velveeta small diced
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided use
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
- pinch of salt
Instructions
-
Preheat the air fryer at 360°F for 10 minutes.
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While the air fryer is heating, in a large bowl, add the macaroni noodles, half and half, Velveeta, 1 cup of the shredded cheddar, butter, garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder, cayenne (if using), and salt.
-
Stir to combine.
-
Spray an air fryer baking dish with cooking spray and pour the mixture into the dish.
-
Air fry for 15-18 minutes (please see my note below about cook times).
-
Stir every 5 minutes to incorporate the ingredients together.
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Add the remaining shredded cheese evenly on top.
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Air fry an additional 2-3 minutes until melted and slightly browned. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Please note: there are so many different types of air fryers out there these days and some of them may cook slower or faster than the one I am using (depending on their size, shape, air circulation, heating element, etc.) So please bear that in mind. The cook time is only an estimate based on the one I used. Please check your noodles for doneness before turning off your air fryer. The best time to check your noodles is after you stir them each time (this also helps the noodles to cook evenly).
- You can use milk, just make sure it is not skim.
- You do not need to cook the noodles before hand.
- Use your favorite cheese, just make sure that it is freshly shredded.
- Use any oven proof pan for this recipe. It will work in the air fryer. Just make sure it is deep enough and fits into your air fryer basket.
