Hello, Seafoodies!
Remember when everyone suddenly had a bread maker? Or, that summer when spiralizers were all the rage? The kitchen gadget world is like fashion—trends come and go faster than you can say “avocado toast.” But every once in a while, a true star emerges. Enter the air fryer—the mealtime helper that’s proven it’s here to stay.
Much like our beloved mac and cheese, which has also stood the test of time (from your childhood table to current day), the air fryer has cemented its place as a culinary essential. And when you combine these two kitchen go-tos, a culinary favorite is born!
This recipe takes creamy mac and cheese, elevates it with protein-packed tuna, rolls it into bite-sized morsels and then crisps everything up to golden perfection in the air fryer! Imagine your favorite tuna casserole, but in a fun, finger-food version. It’s the best of both worlds—the nostalgia of a classic dish with the quick, healthier cooking method of today’s kitchens.
And to make things even easier—you probably have most of these ingredients already hanging out in your pantry and fridge. We’ve kept all the comfort food essentials, like our top Seafoodie take on mac-and-cheese, but swapped in 2% milk to keep things on the lighter side.
And the shelf-stable tuna is not just along for the ride—it’s delivering protein and omega-3s that’ll keep you satisfied long after the last bite! Coat all of that goodness into panko breadcrumbs, then air fry until golden brown and in about 30 minutes you’ve got bite-sized, crunchy bites—that boost the gobble-up factor exponentially.
While everyone from toddlers to grandparents will love this recipe, these bites are an especially clever way to sneak more healthy seafood into kids’ diets.
Fair warning: you might want to make a double batch. We like to keep some in the refrigerator for an after-school snack or a quick little-one lunch when time is of the essence, but we still want to serve something wholesome and homemade.
Ready to give it a try? Fire up that air fryer!
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Air Fryer Crispy Mac-and-Cheese Tuna Bites
Mac plus cheese always equals awesome! Add tuna to the equation, and you’ve got a dish greater than the sum of its parts. And when you put all of this in a bite-sized, crunchy package, it ups the gobble factor exponentially.
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 2 cups uncooked whole grain elbow macaroni
- 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 cup 2% milk, divided
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric
- 5 ounces canned or pouched tuna, drained and flaked
- 1 egg
- 1½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Nonstick cooking spray
- Favorite prepared tartar or marinara sauce for dipping
Instructions
- Cook macaroni according to directions; drain. Add macaroni back to pot, and add cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, ½ cup milk and turmeric; mix well. Add tuna; stir to mix well. Let sit until cool enough to handle with hands.
- While mac-and-cheese is cooling, spray air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray and preheat it to 400 degrees F for 5 minutes.
- Place remaining ½ cup milk and egg in a small mixing bowl; whisk until well combined. In another small mixing bowl, place panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, paprika and garlic powder; mix to combine.
- Using a spoon, scoop about 2 tablespoons of mac-and-cheese and roll tightly into a ball (should make about 12 smaller or 16 bigger balls). Roll each ball in the milk and egg mixture until well-coated, then roll in panko mixture until all sides are coated. Reshape into a firm ball (you may need to squeeze some liquid out to reshape).
- Place balls in air fryer basket and spray each mac-and-cheese ball with nonstick cooking spray. Be sure not to overlap balls (cook in batches, if necessary). Cook for 5 minutes or until golden brown on top; then turn each ball, spray other side with cooking spray and cook for another 4 minutes, or until bites are crispy and golden. Enjoy warm with your choice of sauce.
Notes
Recommended Utensils; Air fryer, pot, spatula, two small mixing bowls, spoon
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 10
- Category: Tuna
Keywords: Tuna, Tuna Recipes, Air Fryer Crispy Mac-and-Cheese Tuna Bites
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