Crispy on the outside, creamy and flavor-packed on the inside. Classic mac and cheese - elevated with the flare of tikka masala
What happens when comfort food gets a kick of spice? You get Tikka Mac & Cheese Bites—crispy on the outside, creamy and bold on the inside. Classic mac and cheese is leveled up with a swirl of tikka masala paste and warm spices, chilled, formed into bites, breaded, and baked or fried to golden perfection.
These are spicy, cheesy, crowd-pleasing flavor bombs—perfect for sharing, snacking, or straight-up showing off.
Ingredients
For the Tikka Masala Mac:
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8 oz elbow macaroni
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2 tablespoons unsalted butter
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2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
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1 ½ cups whole milk
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1 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar
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½ cup shredded mozzarella or Monterey Jack
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2 tablespoons tikka masala paste (like Patak’s or homemade)
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1 teaspoon garam masala
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½ teaspoon smoked paprika
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Salt to taste
For Forming & Breading:
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½ cup all-purpose flour
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2 eggs, beaten
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1 ½ cups panko breadcrumbs
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Neutral oil, for frying (or baking spray if baking)
Instructions
1. Make the Mac & Cheese
Boil the pasta until just shy of al dente. Drain and set aside. In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute to form a roux. Slowly whisk in the milk until smooth and thickened, 3–4 minutes. Add cheddar, mozzarella, tikka masala paste, garam masala, and paprika. Stir until smooth. Salt to taste. Fold in the cooked pasta.
2. Chill the Mixture
Spread the mac and cheese into a shallow dish and refrigerate until fully cooled and firm, at least 1 hour or overnight.
3. Shape & Bread
Scoop out about 2 tablespoons of chilled mac mixture and roll into a ball or nugget. Repeat until all mixture is used. Set up a breading station: flour, beaten egg, and panko. Coat each bite in flour, dip in egg, then coat with panko. Press the crumbs in gently.
4. Cook ‘Em Up
To fry: Heat oil to 350°F in a heavy pan. Fry bites in batches until golden, about 2–3 minutes per side.
To bake: Preheat oven to 425°F. Place bites on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spray with oil, and bake 15–18 minutes, flipping halfway, until crispy and golden.
5. Serve
Let cool for 2–3 minutes, then serve with a cooling yogurt dipping sauce or cilantro chutney.
Pro Tips / Notes
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Make-ahead: You can freeze the bites after breading and cook from frozen—just add 2–3 minutes to the bake time.
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Tikka masala paste note: Start with 2 tablespoons, but if you love the heat, go up to 3. Homemade paste can pack more punch, too.
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Bite-size tip: For party trays, go smaller—tablespoon-sized bites make awesome cocktail snacks.
Nutritional Estimates (per 3-bite serving, baked)
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Calories: ~320
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Fat: 15g
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Carbs: 34g
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Protein: 10g
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Sugar: 3g
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Sodium: 440mg
