Golden Air Fryer Mac and Cheese Balls with Ranch Twist

Ingredients

• 1 package of macaroni and cheese dinner mix (7.25 ounces)
• A portion of milk, divided (3/4 cup)
• Pieces of margarine (1/4 cup), cut into small chunks
• Sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded finely (1/2 cup)
• 2 cups of cheese-flavored crackers (like Cheez-It®)
• A packet of ranch dressing mix (1 ounce)
• Beaten eggs (2)
• Nonstick cooking spray

Step 1

Begin by bringing a generously salted pot of water to a lively boil. Add the macaroni and cook it until tender, which should take about 7 to 8 minutes. Once ready, drain the macaroni without rinsing and place it back in the pot. Next, pour in 1/4 cup of milk, margarine, and the cheese sauce packet. Stir everything together until thoroughly mixed.

Step 2

To enhance the cheesiness, sprinkle in some Cheddar cheese and the remaining 1/2 cup of milk. Stir until the Cheddar melts and everything melds into a creamy concoction. Transfer this delightful mix into a bowl with a snug lid and let it chill in the refrigerator for a good 2 hours.

Step 3

Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper. Using an ice cream scoop, craft 1 1/2-inch balls from the now chilled mac and cheese. Line them up on the baking sheet and pop them into the freezer for an hour.

Step 4

Meanwhile, pulse some cheese crackers in a food processor until they transform into fine crumbs. Transfer these crumbs into a bowl and mix in the ranch dressing blend. In a separate bowl, crack and beat the eggs.

Step 5

When the mac and cheese balls have firmed up, preheat your air fryer to 360 degrees F (180 degrees C) and spritz the basket with cooking spray. Dip each ball in the beaten egg, then coat them liberally in the cracker mixture. Arrange the coated balls in the air fryer basket, making sure they're not touching. You might need to work in batches depending on the basket size. Give the tops a quick spray of cooking oil.

Step 6

Slide the basket into the preheated air fryer and let the magic happen for 10 minutes. Spritz the tops with more cooking spray and continue cooking for an additional 3 minutes. Once they're golden and crispy, transfer the mac and cheese balls to a plate lined with paper towels. Repeat the process with the remaining balls until they're all perfectly cooked and ready to be enjoyed.