Mac & Cheese Pizza Lunchbox Bites
These fun, portable Mac & Cheese Pizza Bites are the perfect lunchbox addition, combining creamy pasta with crispy pepperoni cups.
Equipment
- 2 x 12-cup muffin tins
- Large Pot
- Whisk
Ingredients
Pepperoni Cups
- 22 slices pepperoni large
Mac & Cheese Filling
- 4 Tbsp butter
- 4 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 1/4 cups milk
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- to taste Kosher salt
- to taste black pepper
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella
- 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated
- 8 oz elbow pasta
- Fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
- Set your oven racks to the upper and lower thirds, then preheat to 400°F. Cut a small slit in the center of 18 pepperoni slices and push one into each cup of two standard 12-cup muffin tins. Chop the remaining 4 pepperoni slices into tiny bits.
- In a large pot over medium heat, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour and cook until it smells nutty. Slowly pour in the milk and heavy cream while whisking, then add garlic powder and oregano. Season with salt and pepper. Simmer for 2 minutes until thickened.
- Stir in the mozzarella and 1/2 cup of the Parmesan until smooth.
- Boil pasta until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water. Drain.
- Add 2 tablespoons of pasta water to the sauce, stir in pasta, and mix well. Add more water if too thick.
- Spoon mac and cheese into pepperoni cups. Top with remaining Parmesan and chopped pepperoni.
- Bake 20-30 minutes until golden and firm, swapping pans halfway. Cool before removing.
Notes
Nutrition (per bite): Calories: 210, Total Carbs: 18g, Net Carbs: 16g, Fats: 12g, Protein: 9g. #BackToSchoolLunch #HealthyKidsBites #LunchboxIdeas #MacAndCheesePizza
