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Fried Salsa Verde Macaroni and Cheese Balls

Fried Salsa Verde Macaroni and Cheese Balls are macaroni and cheese balls with a bold flavor boost from salsa verde, fried into crunchy awesome, game-day party food. And surprisingly easy to make!

You guys! I just can’t. I cannot EVEN get over this recipe. Crayyyyyzeee fun football food, and DELICIOUS. You have got to give this a try and wow everyone.

Fried Salsa Verde Macaroni and Cheese Balls #MakeGameTimeSaucy #ad

The first key to this Fried Salsa Verde Macaroni and Cheese Balls recipe is the Pace® Salsa Verde. Macaroni and cheese, as classic and awesome as it is …can actually be bland.

That’s why it needs love – it needs attention to detail. So because I was making football food, to easily inject great flavor and “ban that bland” if you will, I added Pace® Salsa Verde.

Holy win!

Fried Salsa Verde Macaroni and Cheese Balls #MakeGameTimeSaucy #ad

Mmmmm cheese sauce.

Fried Salsa Verde Macaroni and Cheese Balls #MakeGameTimeSaucy #ad

The Salsa Verde Macaroni and Cheese even by itself is fantastic. YUM.

This new salsa is SO good, with a great kick of flavor that will never disappoint.

For chip-dipping snacks or incorporated into a recipe like this, Pace® Salsa comes in a variety of heat levels and textures, like the 24 oz. Pace® Picante Sauce I also picked up.

I love adding Pace® to recipes like my Mexican Bruschetta pretty much because they bring all that flavor with no effort required on my part.

Then, in trying the new Pace® Salsa Verde with tomatillooo and jalapenooo, I was REALLY happy with that Southwestern flavor it brought to my cheesy mac.

Fried Salsa Verde Macaroni and Cheese Balls #MakeGameTimeSaucy #ad

A medium scoop makes perfect-sized balls.

The second key is making the balls, and honestly it was not hard at all but because there is some fridge time required, you do have to just plan ahead.

We make our Salsa Verde Macaroni and Cheese, then let that chill in the fridge overnight so that it chills to a firm texture that can be shaped into balls. The next day, I used a medium scoop to make the portions and shaped into balls.

Then those go in the freezer for two hours. Then we bread them and fry them up – basic stuff. And then we have our glorious FOOTBALL READY, PARTY PERFECT bites.

Fried Salsa Verde Macaroni and Cheese Balls #MakeGameTimeSaucy #ad

Coat the mac and cheese balls in flour, then egg wash, then the crumb mixture just as if making cutlets.

Fried Salsa Verde Macaroni and Cheese Balls #MakeGameTimeSaucy #ad

By the way, be sure to serve with extra Pace® Salsa Verde for dipping. In my opinion, all fried food requires a dip. And it just works so do it. ?

So that’s it kids. Fried Salsa Verde Macaroni and Cheese Balls.

Because every once in a while, you see something on the internet that is awesome but kinda ridiculous at the same time and you totally want to try it.

If this recipe looks good, check out my Basic Creamy Macaroni and Cheese recipe as the essential guide for all things Mac and Cheese.

Fried Salsa Verde Macaroni and Cheese Balls #MakeGameTimeSaucy #ad

Fried Salsa Verde Macaroni and Cheese Balls

Macaroni and cheese with a bold flavor boost from salsa verde, fried into crunchy awesome, game-day party food.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: entertaining, football food, party food, vegetarian
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Authur: Erica
Servings: 12

Ingredients

For the Salsa Verde Macaroni and Cheese

  • 8 oz elbow macaroni, uncooked
  • 3 Tbs unsalted butter
  • 3 Tbs all-purpose flour
  • 1-1/2 cups milk
  • 1 cup Pace® Salsa Verde
  • 1 8 oz bag colby-jack shredded cheese mix
  • ½ tsp kosher salt
  • couple pinches fresh cracked pepper

For the Balls

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 350F.
  • Bring a pot of water to a boil and put the pasta to cook to al dente.
  • Meanwhile, whisk the butter and flour together in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat until bubbly. Add the milk and Pace® Salsa Verde, whisking constantly, until smooth and heated through. Remove from the heat and add the cheese, salt, and pepper.
  • Once pasta is done, drain and add to the cheese sauce. Transfer to a 13×9 bake dish. Bake 20 minutes. Cool, cover with foil, and put in the refrigerator overnight.
  • Use a scoop or spoon to scoop out macaroni and cheese, and shape into balls. Put balls to freeze for at least 2 hours.
  • Set up a breading station with flour, egg wash, and crumb mixture (the crackers and panko breadcrumbs combined). Season each with salt and pepper.
  • One by one, coat a mac and cheese ball with flour, then egg wash, then crumb mixture.
  • Bring oil to 350F. This can be done in a fryer, or, alternatively, I used a medium cast iron skillet and put the oil to ~1-inch depth.
  • Working in batches, add 4-5 balls and let them fry (turning if using a skillet) until nicely browned all over. If balls were completely frozen, this will take a couple minutes to ensure center doesn’t stay frozen.
  • Once done, transfer balls to a plate lined with paper towels. Season with salt. Serve with more Pace® Salsa Verde for dipping. Yields ~24 balls.

Notes

When I add the cheese to the milk-roux mixture, I don’t stir too much because I wanted a bit of the separate white and orange cheeses to show in the finished balls.
As written, this recipe is kid-friendly in that it is not spicy. If making for adults-only, I highly recommend kicking up the heat by adding either 2 tsp hot pepper sauce to the mac and cheese.
Lastly, if making this recipe simply to enjoy a big plate of this Salsa Verde Macaroni and Cheese without making the balls, then reduce the butter and flour each to 2 Tbs.

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