By Little Northern Bakehouse

Easy High-Protein Vegan Breaded
Gluten-free Air Fryer Mac and Cheese Bites:
Turn Leftovers into a Cheesy Dairy-free
Appetizer with a Crispy Crust!

Whether you call them bites or balls, this High-Protein Vegan Breaded Gluten-free Air Fryer Mac and Cheese Bites recipe gives gluten-free mac and cheese leftovers a scrumptious second act, so they never go to waste!

With a crispy, crunchy, two-layer gluten-free breadcrumb crust and a gooey melted cheese middle, this easy recipe turns last night’s plant-based mac and cheese into the perfect hot and savoury weeknight snack.

But just because these gluten-free breaded air fryer mac and cheese bites work best with cold and creamy mac that’s firm from the fridge doesn’t mean you have to wait for actual leftovers.

Dedicate a full (or double!) batch of High-Protein Vegan Gluten-free Mac and Cheese to the cause for the ultimate gluten-free appetizer!

(Just make sure you let your dairy-free mac and cheese chill for a few hours before you start rolling bite-sized balls for that showstopping party platter!)

Close-up: High-Protein Vegan Breaded Gluten-Free Air Fryer Mac and Cheese Bites with Marinara Sauce

Instructions:
To make the High-Protein Vegan Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese Bites:
    1. Preheat your air fryer to 360°F. (If baking, preheat your oven to 375°F).
    2. In a small bowl, mix the ground chia or ground flaxseed and plant milk. Let your chia or flax egg thicken slightly for 5 minutes.
    3. In a medium bowl, mix seasoned breadcrumb ingredients. Measure out 1/3 cup and set aside.
    4. In a large mixing bowl, season tapioca starch with paprika and garlic powder and whisk or stir until combined. Add grated dairy-free cheddar and toss with the seasoned tapioca starch until shreds are well coated.
    5. Add 1/3 cup of seasoned gluten-free breadcrumbs and cold leftover vegan gluten-free mac and cheese, and fold together with a wooden spoon until grated dairy-free cheese, seasoned breadcrumbs, and tapioca starch are evenly mixed.
    6. Place a baking sheet or large plate beside your mixing bowl. Use an ice cream or cookie scoop (or a ½-cup dry measuring cup) to portion gluten-free mac and cheese mixture into clean hands. Roll between your hands using just enough pressure to form a ball. Set the ball on the baking sheet and repeat until all vegan gluten-free mac and cheese mixture has been rolled.
    7. Roll each vegan gluten-free mac and cheese bite in seasoned breadcrumbs and return to the baking sheet. Working one at a time, give breadcrumb-coated gluten-free mac and cheese bite a quick dip in chia or flax egg to coat (do NOT let the balls sit in the plant egg). Immediately roll each mac and cheese bite in seasoned gluten-free breadcrumbs to form a second layer of crust. Set aside and repeat.
To air fry High-Protein Vegan Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese Bites: 
  1. In batches that will fit your air fryer, spray breaded gluten-free mac and cheese bites lightly with vegetable oil spray, and rotate to ensure even coverage.
  2. Gently transfer oiled and breaded gluten-free mac and cheese balls to preheated air fryer.
  3. Air fry for 12 minutes total; pause at 6 minutes and use tongs to gently flip the balls so tops and bottoms brown evenly. As air fryer cook times vary from model to model, check for doneness when 2 minutes are left on the timer. High-Protein Vegan Breaded Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese Bites are done when all sides are crisp and golden.
    (Tip: for basket-style air fryers, second and third batches may cook faster; be sure to check with 2 minutes left on the timer, even if your first batch needed the full 12 minutes. Countertop oven-style air fryer times may be longer).
  4. Transfer your air fried breaded gluten-free mac and cheese bites to a wire rack set over a cookie sheet and set aside. Repeat in batches until done.
To bake High Protein Vegan Gluten-free Mac and Cheese Bites in the oven:
  1. Place oiled and breaded gluten-free mac and cheese balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet and space evenly.
  2. Bake 20 – 25 minutes, flipping once after 10 minutes, until the gluten-free breading is golden brown and crispy on all sides.
To serve:
  • Serve 1 – 2 High-Protein Vegan Breaded Gluten-free Air Fryer Mac and Cheese Bites as a snack or starter, or 2 – 4 with a side, soup, or salad for a meal.
  • Pair with a dipping sauce like your favourite plant-based marinara, burger sauce, or ranch dressing.
  • Serve hot, but with a caution: Fresh from the air fryer or oven, the insides of these High-Protein Vegan Breaded Gluten-free Air Fryer Mac and Cheese Bites are molten—and the double crust holds in the heat. Let the balls cool enough to touch, then break the first one open with your fingers or a fork to release any steam and check if they’re safe to eat without scalding your mouth and enjoy!
Tips:
  • Got lots of leftover High-Protein Vegan Gluten-free Mac and Cheese or just a little? Double or halve this recipe with ease—just use a 4-to-1 ratio of 4 parts leftover gluten-free mac and cheese to 1 part grated plant-based cheddar. For a half batch, use 2 1/2 – 3 tablespoons each for the seasoned gluten-free breadcrumbs and tapioca starch in the mix.
  • Got an odd amount that’s more than a full batch but less than double? This recipe isn’t fussy. Stick to the 4-to-1 mac-to-cheese ratio for the grated dairy-free cheddar and start with the tapioca starch, seasoning, and gluten-free breadcrumb volume for a full batch plus a half batch.
  • Need to air fry in multiple batches? Whether your air fryer is small, you’ve made a party-sized batch of gluten-free mac and cheese balls—or both!—set your oven to Warm to keep them hot until you’re ready to serve.
  • Hosting or heading to a potluck? Appie-size this crowd pleaser! These High-Protein Vegan Gluten-Free Air Fryer Mac and Cheese Bites are snack-sized by default. Use a smaller scoop for bite-sized balls better suited for pass-around party appies.
  • Give them an extra gooey middle and show off the plant-based cheese pull of your dreams. How? Stuff the centre of each bite with a little ball of extra cheddar-style shredded cheese and serve your gluten-free mac and cheese bites hot from the air fryer. (Tip: Dust the extra grated dairy-free cheese in a little tapioca starch or toss shreds with a drizzle of olive or avocado oil before stuffing to up the melty action).

Can’t wait to make your first batch of High-Protein Vegan Gluten-Free Air Fryer Mac and Cheese Bites? There’s more where this recipe came from! Scroll down to sign up for Little Northern Bakehouse emails to invite gluten-free goodness into your inbox. And follow us on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook to find us in your favourite social feed!