Air Fryer Mac and Cheese is creamy, cheesy, comforting, and incredibly easy to make. It’s a delicious way to turn simple pasta and cheese into a golden, bubbling dish with a lightly crisp top. Perfect as a quick side dish, easy lunch, or comforting family dinner, this recipe is sure to become a favourite.

DELICIOUS AIR FRYER MAC AND CHEESE

If you love classic macaroni and cheese, you’re going to love making it in the air fryer. The air fryer gives the top a delicious golden finish while keeping the inside rich, creamy, and loaded with melted cheese.

This recipe is especially convenient when you want a smaller batch without heating up the oven. It’s also a great way to use leftover cooked macaroni.

The combination of tender pasta, creamy sauce, and melted cheese makes this an easy comfort food that works for almost any occasion. Serve it alongside grilled chicken, burgers, steak, roasted vegetables, or enjoy it on its own.

For an extra cheesy finish, sprinkle a little additional cheddar or Parmesan over the top before air frying. The cheese melts and becomes lightly golden, creating the perfect contrast with the creamy pasta underneath.

Ingredient Notes

Macaroni: Elbow macaroni is the classic choice, but other short pasta shapes such as shells, cavatappi, or penne can also work.

Cheddar Cheese: Sharp cheddar provides plenty of flavour and melts beautifully. For the smoothest texture, grate the cheese yourself rather than using pre-shredded cheese.

Mozzarella: Mozzarella adds extra creaminess and gives the mac and cheese that delicious cheese pull.

Milk: Whole milk gives the sauce a rich and creamy texture. You can use another type of milk, but the final result may be slightly less rich.

Butter: Butter adds richness and helps create a smooth, flavourful sauce.

Cream Cheese: A small amount of cream cheese makes the sauce extra creamy and helps prevent it from becoming dry.

Garlic Powder: Adds a subtle savoury flavour without overpowering the cheese.

Mustard: A small amount of Dijon mustard or yellow mustard enhances the flavour of the cheese without making the dish taste strongly of mustard.

Salt and Black Pepper: Season according to taste. Remember that cheese already contains salt, so add a little at a time.

Parmesan Cheese: Optional, but sprinkling Parmesan over the top gives the dish a delicious golden, savoury crust.

How to Make Mac and Cheese in Your Air Fryer

Start by cooking the macaroni according to the package instructions until just al dente. Avoid overcooking the pasta because it will continue cooking slightly in the air fryer.

Drain the pasta well and set it aside.

In a bowl, combine the cooked macaroni, milk, melted butter, cream cheese, shredded cheddar, mozzarella, garlic powder, mustard, salt, and black pepper.

Stir everything together until the pasta is evenly coated and the ingredients are well combined.

Transfer the mixture to a small oven-safe baking dish or air fryer-safe casserole dish that fits comfortably inside your air fryer basket.

Spread the macaroni evenly in the dish.

Sprinkle additional shredded cheddar and Parmesan cheese over the top if desired.

Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C).

Place the dish carefully into the air fryer basket and cook for approximately 8–12 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbling, and lightly golden on top.

For an especially golden top, you can cook it for another minute or two, but keep a close eye on it because cheese can brown quickly in an air fryer.

Carefully remove the dish from the air fryer and let the mac and cheese rest for a few minutes before serving. The sauce will continue to thicken slightly as it cools.

Serve hot while the cheese is creamy and melted.

Storage and Reheating

If you have leftover Air Fryer Mac and Cheese, allow it to cool before transferring it to an airtight container.

Store it in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.

Reheating in the Air Fryer

The air fryer is an excellent way to reheat mac and cheese while bringing back some of the golden texture on top.

Place the leftovers in a small air fryer-safe dish. Add a splash of milk and gently stir to help restore the creamy texture.

Cover the dish loosely with foil and air fry at 325°F (165°C) for about 5–8 minutes, or until heated through.

Remove the foil during the final minute or two if you want the top to become slightly crisp and golden.

Reheating in the Microwave

For a faster option, place a portion in a microwave-safe bowl. Add a small splash of milk and stir.

Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval, until hot and creamy.

Adding a little milk is especially helpful when reheating because the pasta tends to absorb some of the cheese sauce while it sits.

Can You Freeze Mac and Cheese?

Yes, you can freeze mac and cheese, although the texture may change slightly after thawing because dairy-based sauces can sometimes separate.

If you plan to freeze it, place cooled mac and cheese in an airtight freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 2–3 months.

Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before reheating. Add a splash of milk and gently stir before warming it in the air fryer or microwave.

For the best creamy texture, however, Air Fryer Mac and Cheese is best enjoyed fresh.

Air Fryer Mac and Cheese

Print Recipe

Whip up comforting air fried macaroni and cheese as a delicious side dish!

Author: Julia
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 16 mins
Total Time: 21 minutes
Yield: 3 1x

Ingredients

Scale

1 ½ cup elbow macaroni
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (plus more for topping)
1 teaspoon dry mustard
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 cup milk (room temperature)
½ cup heavy cream (room temperature)

Instructions

Preheat the air fryer to 350°F if required by your model.
Stir together the macaroni, shredded cheese, dry mustard, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
Pour the ingredients in the air fryer pan and top with milk and heavy cream. Make sure all the pasta is fully covered by the milk.
Set the air fryer to cook for 20 minutes. Halfway through the cook time, remove the pan from the air fryer and stir the ingredients.
When 1 minute is left, remove the pan and top with additional cheese, if desired.
Cook for additional minute to melt the cheese on top.