Bacon Mac and Cheese Burger
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!
Servings: 12
Calories: 403kcal
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
Instructions
- Get out and measure your ingredients.
- 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.
- 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.
- Stir until blended.
- In a second dish, whisk the eggs.
- Whisk until scrambled.
- In the last dish, combine bacon bits and Panko breadcrumbs.
- Stir until blended.
- 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.
- Use a biscuit cutter to make perfect rounds for the patties or your hands.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Add avocado slices, more bacon if desired and red onion.
- Serve.
- Enjoy every bite.
Nutrition
Calories: 403kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 292mg | Potassium: 79mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 40IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 74mg | Iron: 2mg