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I have a long standing tradition of making ‘themed’ food for sports watching. I remember when my favorite Dallas basketball team went to the playoffs a few years ago. I made a pizza with blue crust. And inadvertently used too much food coloring and we all had blue mouths/tongues. Oops.
For our current basketball watching activities I decided to try some deluxe mac and cheese ‘basketball’ Cheez-It Poppers. I started with some original Cheez-It’s, a box of the new Cheez-It Grooves (sharp white cheddar), and a couple of boxes of mac and cheese all from Target. And right now Cheez-Its are on sale for 3/$8 at Target. You can use Target’s Cartwheel app to save an additional 35% off of this sale price when they buy 3 varieties of Cheez-Its.
Start by making the mac and cheese according to the directions on the box. Then you’ll want to refrigerate the mac and cheese for 10 hours or overnight.
After refrigerating the macaroni and cheese it’s time to scoop it into round basketball shapes using a cookie dough scoop. I placed mine on a sheet of parchment paper on a cookie sheet. Then they go in the freezer for 2 hours until they are firm. While they are in the freezer you can crush your Cheez-It Grooves, I did mine in the food processor.
Once the mac and cheese balls are ready coat them in the Cheez-It Grooves crumbs and then drop them into a pan of hot oil to fry them up. Cook them until they are a nice golden brown. Remove them to a plate with paper towels to cool enough to eat.
Then it’s time to enjoy your Cheez-It Poppers! I served mine on a plate alongside some original Cheez-Its and Cheez-It Crunch’d for extra munching. But you can serve them with your favorite Cheez-It! In fact, through April you vote on their favorite flavors/varieties from six popular Cheez-It flavors in the Most Valuable Cheese contest, as well as play games for a chance to win $10,000!
What is your favorite Cheez-It flavor? Have you ever used Cheez-Its in a recipe?
What a clever idea. I am totally trying those!! Yum!
Thanks, Robin! The kids were waiting anxiously while I was cooking π
I bet that would make a nice coating for chicken as well. I may just buy some and try it–I do love cheez-its!
I bet they would taste good with chicken! Let me know when you try it π
That looks so good! I think my nephew would enjoy eating those.
I bet he would! Thanks, Michelle!
These look amazing! So good!
Thanks, Debra! My kids ate them all up π
I am seriously missing out! How have I not tried Cheez-It’s in my recipes yet?
Right?! They add a really great flavor. Thanks, Crystal!
Oh my word, this is going to be happening within days at my house. YUM!
Thanks, Liz! Hope you love them!
Deep fried cheese balls! Yum!
Thanks, Heather!
How creative. I never thought about using cheeze-its in a recipe
They make such a great addition! Hope you have a chance to use them π
I think I might be the only person in the world that doesn’t re-heat mac and cheese – but this recipe sure makes me want too! Love using cheese its for the crust! Looks delish!
Oh, no! Well, the Cheez-Its would be great as a coating for chicken or other dishes, too π
This is GENIUS for a Cheez-it addict like me. I found your recipe over at the Two Cup Tuesday link party. I host Tickle My Tastebuds Tuesday and would love it if you would come over and share this recipe. Iβm sure our party goers would love it! Here is the link http://bit.ly/1EylfPQ. Have a wonderful day!
Thanks for coming over from the link party! I’m off to check out yours π
OMG, this looks amazing!! I’d love to pop one in my mouth right now.
Thanks! They disappeared pretty fast around here π
Did I see that correctly? Fried mac and cheese balls coated with crumbled Cheez-Its? That sounds amazing! It’s the perfect college basketball snack food for sure!
Right?! It made watching the teams I picked lose a little easier π
i would never have thought of this on my own. this looks amazing. i need to try these.
I hope you give it a try!