Air Fryer Cheesy Creamy Bake (Mac & Cheese Style)
🥣 Ingredients:
- 2 cups cooked pasta (elbow macaroni or penne)
- 1 cup cooked chicken (optional, shredded or diced)
- 1 cup broccoli (lightly steamed) or mixed veggies
- 1½ cups shredded cheese (cheddar + mozzarella mix works best)
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp flour
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp black pepper
- Salt to taste
- ¼ cup grated parmesan (for topping)
👩🍳 Instructions:
1. Make the creamy sauce
- In a pan, melt butter on medium heat
- Add flour and cook for 1 minute (don’t brown it)
- Slowly add milk while stirring to avoid lumps
- Cook until thick and creamy
- Add garlic powder, salt, pepper
- Stir in half of the shredded cheese until melted
2. Combine everything
- In a bowl, mix:
- Cooked pasta
- Chicken (if using)
- Veggies
- Cheese sauce
3. Assemble
- Transfer mixture into air fryer baking trays (like in your image)
- Top with remaining cheese + parmesan
4. Air fry
- Preheat air fryer to 180°C (350°F)
- Cook for 8–12 minutes until:
- Top is golden
- Cheese is bubbly
🔥 Optional Add-Ons:
- Chili flakes (for spice 🌶️)
- Mushrooms or bell peppers
- Breadcrumbs on top for extra crunch
💡 Tips:
- Don’t overfill trays → helps even cooking
- If top browns too fast, cover loosely with foil
- Works great in a Ninja air fryer or any dual basket model.
