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    Home » Recipes » Main Courses

    Bacon Mac and Cheese Burger

    Published: Dec 30, 2021 · Modified: Jul 9, 2025 by Karin and Ken · This post may contain affiliate links. 4 Comments

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    For a fun and different way to enjoy mac and cheese, why not give this crispy bacon mac and cheese burger a try? These mini burgers are perfect for a family-fun dinner or party. A burger both kids and adults alike will love!!

    Mac and cheese burger on a plate with a bite taken.

    Macaroni and Cheese Burger with Bacon

    Burgers and mac and cheese are two favorites in my house and I couldn't wait to find a way to mash them together into one delicious recipe so I could enjoy them at the same time!! Bacon mac and cheese burgers are a great way to use up leftover mac and cheese or easy to make using boxed macaroni and cheese.

    This burger recipe was inspired by my other mac and cheese recipe on this site, and pairs well with this amazing asparagus fries recipe.

    Ingredients

    This easy burger recipe is made using mostly pantry staples along with a few items you can easily find in most grocery stores.

    • Velveeta mac & cheese or leftover mac n cheese
    • panko breadcrumbs
    • bacon
    • garlic powder
    • onion powder
    • black pepper
    • salt
    • eggs
    • all purpose flour
    • vegetable oil, for frying
    • pretzel buns
    • toppings: bacon slices, avocado, red onion

    See recipe card further down on the page for the exact quantities of each ingredient.

    Instructions

    Don't be overwhelmed by all the steps in the recipe as nothing is too complicated and you will be super satisfied when it's all done and you take your first bite!

    Step 1: Prep the Mac and Cheese

    Cook the mac and cheese following the directions on the box. When ready, press it down into a rectangle casserole dish. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

    Step 2: Cook the Bacon

    Cook the bacon in a frying pan over medium high heat until it's crispy. Set aside 5 slices to drain on a paper towel lined plate.

    Continue cooking the remaining bacon for 3 more minutes to get them nice and crunchy. When it's ready, remove from the pan and drain on paper towel before roughly chopping the bacon.

    Finish chopping the bacon into a fine mince using a food processor.

    Step 3: Prep the Dredging Station

    Gather three shallow bowls or plates and set up an area to make the patties.

    Combine flour, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a shallow bowl or plate and mix well.

    In the second dish, whisk the eggs.

    In the last dish, combine the minced bacon bits and Panko breadcrumbs.

    Step 4: Shape the Mac and Cheese Patties

    Preheat the oven to 275*.

    Remove macaroni and cheese from the refrigerator and use a biscuit cutter or your hands to shape the mac and cheese into circles roughly the size of the slider buns.

    You will need to lightly press the macaroni and cheese patties between your palms to help them hold their shape.

    Dredge the patties in the flour, then the eggs, then lastly in the bacon and bread crumb mix. Press crumbs into the patties to adhere.

    Step 4: Cook the Patties

    Heat 1” of vegetable oil in a frying pan to 350° F.

    Place pretzel buns into the oven to lightly toast for 10 minutes.

    When the oil is hot, add the patties three at a time to the hot oil. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes per side.

    When they're done, place the fried patties onto a paper towel lined baking sheet as you work.

    Work quickly, but if necessary place the breaded patties into the refrigerator until they are ready to be fried to keep them from falling apart.

    When all the burger patties are cooked, arrange the sliders and top with avocado, bacon, and/or red onion. Enjoy!

    Hint: Store the mac and cheese patties in the refrigerator after breading and before cooking to keep them from falling apart.

    Mac and cheese burger on a plate ready to eat.

    Substitutions

    Don't have the correct ingredients on hand? Or want to change something up? Here are some helpful tips for you to change this bacon mac and cheese burger recipe.

    • Burger toppings - Swap out the avocado and red onion for your favorite burger toppings! Tomatoes, lettuce, pickles, crispy onions and so many more, make excellent ways to eat these fun and delicious burgers!
    • Bun - Swap out the pretzel bun for a whole wheat bun or your other favorite mini-sized burger bread!
    • Vegetarian - Leave out the bacon if you want to make a vegetarian mac and cheese burger!

    Variations

    Want to personalize your mac and cheese burger recipe? Here are some of my tried and true tips for changing up them up.

    • Buffalo - Mix in buffalo sauce into the mac and cheese after cooking. Start with 1-2 tablespoons and add more to reach desired level of spiciness.
    • Mexican - Top the burgers with guacamole and salsa.
    • Deluxe BBQ - Top off the burger with your favorite bbq sauce and crispy onions.

    If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy this jalapeno cheeseburger slider recipe.

    Equipment

    Making these unique and delicious burgers doesn't require any special equipment. All you need are a few simple tools and basic kitchen equipment.

    • Food processor
    • 3 Shallow bowls or plates
    • Saucepan
    • Rectangle baking dish
    • Biscuit Cutter
    • Skillet
    • Spatula
    • Measuring cups and spoons
    • Paper towels

    Storage

    You can store cooked burgers in the refrigerator for up to five days and in the freezer for up to 1 month.

    In order to store, allow them to fully cool and then transfer to an airtight container with a piece of parchment in between.

    To reheat the burger patties, place the pre-cooked patties on a baking tray and heat in the oven until heated through.

    Tips

    Making bacon mac and cheese burgers is easy to do and manageable for any level cook. Here are some tips to help you get perfect results each time you make them!

    • You can shape the patties using your hands or use a biscuit cutter to make perfect rounds for the patties.
    • Work quickly when breading and cooking the mac and cheese patties. If they are having trouble staying together keep them in the refrigerator in between working with them.
    • Don't overcrowd the pan when cooking the burgers. Leave enough room to easily flip them over to the other side in the pan.
    Mac and cheese burger with bacon on a plate with a bite mark.

    More Burger Recipes

    Do you like fun and delicious spins on burgers? Here some recipes you may also like to try

    • Parmesan Double Pork Burger
    • Ultimate Everything Burger
    • Venison Burger Recipe

    FAQ

    Can mac and cheese burgers be baked in the oven instead of fried?

    You can opt to make these burgers in the oven or air fryer instead of frying them in oil though they may end up a bit more fragile when cooked using these methods.

    To cook in the oven, line them on a well sprayed baking sheet. Place in the oven at 425° F and cook until lightly browned on one side and then flip over and cook on the other side.

    If you prefer to cook in the air fryer, cook them in batches until lightly crispy on each side. Flipping them over midway through the cook time.

    What's the best way to chop the bacon without a food processor.

    If you don't have a food processor, don't worry you only need it to chop the bacon. Since the bacon is very crispy you can place it in a Ziploc bag and crush it with a glass or rolling pin until the texture is a fine crumb.

    What sauce is best to serve with a macaroni and cheese burger?

    You can serve up your burgers with just about any burger. Some of my favorites are: chipotle mayonnaise, bbq sauce, honey mustard or spicy ketchup!

    Bacon Macaroni and Cheese Burger Recipe

    Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.

    Mac and cheese burger on a plate with a bite taken.

    Bacon Mac and Cheese Burger

    Karin and Ken
    For a fun and different way to enjoy to mac and cheese, why not give this crispy bacon mac and cheese burger a try? These mini burgers are perfect for a family-fun dinner or party. A burger both kids and adults alike will love!! Serve these mini burgers on game night and watch them disappear!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 30 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 45 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12
    Calories 403 kcal

    Equipment

    • food processor
    • 3 shallow bowls or plates
    • rectangle baking dish
    • biscuit cutter
    • skillet
    • spatula
    • Measuring cups and spoons
    • paper towels

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 box Velveeta mac & cheese or 16 ounces leftover Mac n cheese
    • 2 cups Panko breadcrumbs
    • ½ lb bacon
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 2 eggs
    • 1 cup all purpose flour
    • vegetable oil for frying
    • 12 mini pretzel buns

    Optional toppings

    • thinly sliced red onion
    • avocado
    Get Recipe Ingredients

    Instructions
     

    • Get out and measure your ingredients.
      Ingredients to make mac and cheese burger on the table.
    • Prepare macaroni and cheese according to directions on the box. Pour into a casserole dish and lightly press down. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
      Cooked macaroni and cheese in a rectangle baking dish.
    • While waiting for the macaroni and cheese to set, prepare the bacon.
    • Heat a frying pan over medium high heat and cook bacon until crispy. Remove 5 slices and place those onto a paper towel lined plate and set aside to use as the slider topping. Continue to cook remaining bacon for 3 additional minutes to get them nice and crunchy. Roughly chop the bacon and add to a food processor to finely mince. Alternatively, add to a resealable bag and crush until the texture is a fine crumb.
    • Heat 1” of vegetable oil in a frying pan to 350 degrees.
    • Prepare a dredging station. In a shallow dish, mix to combine flour, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
      Dry ingredients for the breading in a shallow bowl.
    • Stir until blended.
      Dry ingredients for mac and cheese burger breading is mixed in a bowl.
    • In a second dish, whisk the eggs.
      Eggs in a mixing bowl.
    • Whisk until scrambled.
      Eggs mixed together with a whisk.
    • In the last dish, combine bacon bits and Panko breadcrumbs.
      Prepping the panko breadcrumbs and bacon.
    • Stir until blended.
      Panko breadcrumb mixture for mac and cheese burgers is mixed together.
    • Prepare toppings. Slice avocado and red onions.
    • Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.
    • Remove macaroni and cheese from the refrigerator. Remove macaroni and cheese and shape into circles roughly the size of the slider buns.
      Using a biscuit cutter to mac and cheese burger patties.
    • Use a biscuit cutter to make perfect rounds for the patties or your hands.
      Mac and cheese burger patties are cut and ready for breading.
    • Lightly press the macaroni and cheese patties between your palms to help them hold their shape. Dredge the patties in the flour.
      Breading mac and cheese burger in flour mixture.
    • Then the eggs.
      Mac and cheese burger patty in the egg mixture.
    • Then lastly in the bacon and bread crumb mix. Press crumbs into the patties to adhere.
      Mac and cheese burger patty in panko and bacon breading.
    • Place the breaded patties covered, on a platter, inside the refrigerator until they are ready to be fried.
    • Add the patties three at a time to the hot oil. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes per side.
      Cooking the mac and cheese with bacon burger in oil.
    • Place fried patties onto a paper towel lined baking sheet as you work. It is important to work quickly for this step so that the macaroni and cheese does not soften as burgers can break apart.
      Flipped over mac and cheese burgers cooking in oil.
    • Place pretzel buns into the oven to lightly toast for 10 minutes, if desired.
    • At your workstation, place burger on top of the bottom half of your bun.
      Mac and cheese burger patty on a bun.
    • Add avocado slices, more bacon if desired and red onion.
      Toppings are added on top of the mac and cheese burger.
    • Serve.
      A mac and cheese burger ready to eat on a plate.
    • Enjoy every bite.
      Mac and cheese burger with bacon on a plate with a bite mark.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 403kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 8gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 292mgPotassium: 79mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 40IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 74mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword bacon mac and cheese burger, fried mac and cheese burger, mac and cheese burger
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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    Comments

    1. Robyn says

      June 09, 2023 at 1:54 pm

      5 stars
      These are so good. What a wild idea. They actually turned out great. I haven't had Velveeta in years. Those pretzel buns are a blast from the plast for me as well. These are so good with or without the avocado and onion.

      Reply
      • Karin and Ken says

        June 09, 2023 at 6:02 pm

        I’m so glad you enjoyed them as much as we all do! Hopefully you find some other recipes on this site that you enjoy just as much. All the best. Karin

    2. Sally says

      May 09, 2023 at 9:50 am

      5 stars
      Thanks you for these fantastic little burgers. I didn't even think I could do that with the Mac and cheese. I just made these and they were super easy. Everyone loves them. The bacon really makes it pop.

      Reply
      • Karin and Ken says

        June 09, 2023 at 6:04 pm

        I’m so glad you enjoyed them. I wish we could make them more often than we do. I’m grateful you took the time to let me know. All the best. Karin

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    Welcome!

    We are the kitchen divas: Karin and my partner in life, Ken.

    We have been attached at the heart and hip since the first day we met, and we love to create new dishes to keep things interesting. Variety is definitely the spice of life!

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