What matters
Stir cheese into sauce off strong heat to keep it smoother.
Everyday cooking Recipe
Air fryer mac and cheese
Air fryer mac and cheese with short pasta and Gouda. Cook the pasta and cheese sauce on the hob, then finish together in a shallow baking dish.
Total time
43 min
Calories
595 kcal
Servings
2 servings
Difficulty
Easy
Why this recipe works
Precooked pasta in a smooth cheese sauce
This is not cooked entirely from dry pasta in the air fryer. Use the hob for pasta and sauce. Two servings fit a dish about 18 × 14 cm, filled no deeper than 4 cm.
Lunch
Dinner
Air Fryer Recipes
Pasta
Recipe
Air fryer mac and cheese
Air fryer mac and cheese with short pasta and Gouda. Cook the pasta and cheese sauce on the hob, then finish together in a shallow baking dish.
Ingredients
2 servings
Method
-
1
Prepare
Boil macaroni in water about 8 minutes until just firm. Follow pack timing if different. Drain and avoid leaving it to dry while making sauce.
-
2
Mix and season
Melt butter in a pan and stir in flour for about 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk and simmer gently about 4 minutes, stirring. Remove from heat, add 50 g Gouda, mustard, salt and pepper.
-
3
Cook
If required by the manufacturer, preheat for 3 minutes at 170 °C. Mix pasta and sauce and spread shallowly in dish. Add remaining 30 g Gouda. Bake about 12 minutes at 170 °C until sauce is hot in the centre. Use a heatproof dish suitable for the appliance, leaving space around it for airflow. Do not preheat with loose paper.
-
4
Check and serve
Remove with heatproof gloves. Keep the sauce creamy rather than baking it into a dry cheese mass. Portion in the dish.
Kitchen know-how
Tips for Air fryer mac and cheese
Serving guidance
Nutrition covers pasta and all sauce, without extra salad.
Variations
How to adapt this recipe
Cheddar can replace Gouda for stronger flavour and different nutrition.
Mix in well-drained precooked broccoli pieces without increasing filling depth.
Nutrition per serving
595kcal
65.9 gCarbohydrates
24.6 gProtein
24.9 gFat
Values are estimates per serving and may vary depending on the ingredients, brands, portion size and preparation method used.
Frequently asked questions
FAQ about Air fryer mac and cheese
Not with these quantities, which are designed for precooked pasta and prepared sauce.
Add milk gradually and whisk across the pan base before adding cheese.
Long baking evaporates liquid; the air fryer stage should heat through and lightly brown.
A deep layer heats more slowly than planned; a suitable shallow dish matters.
Keep cooking