I’m a big fan of making mini appetizers for parties, whether I’m hosting or trying to be nice and contribute a dish to a generous host.

I brought these Baked White Cheddar Mac n Cheese Bites to a Super Bowl party and they were gone in the blink of an eye! (The surest sign of success).

You’ll need:

• 1 pound small elbow pasta
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 small onion, minced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 cups whole milk
• Salt and black pepper
• 2 cups grated white cheddar cheese
• 2 cups grated mild cheddar cheese, divided

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease two mini muffin pans with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.

2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook elbow pasta until all dente. Drain and set aside.

3. In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until translucent, about 4 minutes. Add garlic and sauté one more minute.

4. Sprinkle the flour into the pot and stir to combine. Cook the mixture for 1 minute, stirring constantly to not let the flour burn.

5. Add the milk and whisk well to combine. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally.

6. Season sauce with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and stir in white cheddar and 1 1/2 cups yellow cheddar. Stir until mixture is melted.

7. Stir in the cooked pasta and mix until it is evenly coated with the sauce.

8. Scoop 2 tablespoons of Mac n Cheese into each muffin hole.

9. Sprinkle a few pieces of yellow cheddar onto tops. Bake for 17 -20 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the bites are golden.

10. Let the bites cool for 15 minutes before removing from the muffin tin. Serve hot or at room temperature.

Source: Adapted from a recipe by PureWow.