Jul 14 2026
RestaurantsDatz - St. PeteMac Bites Recipe

Mac Bites Recipe

Inspired by Datz - St. Pete
Time1h
Serves4

Fried bite-sized pieces of our famous crispy bacon-jalapeño mac n' cheese. Served with a side of Firecracker sauce.

Was this page helpful?

Help improve this recipe for others.

Send this recipe to your inbox.

We'll email it straight to you - plus weekly cooking inspiration.

Ingredients

Some product links may be affiliates. If you buy through them, you're supporting the site and Pekin may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Mac and Cheese

Firecracker Sauce

Method

Mac and Cheese Preparation

  1. 1

    Cook Macaroni

    In a large pot, boil salted water and cook elbow macaroni according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.

  2. 2

    Make Cheese Sauce

    In the same pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add flour and whisk until smooth, cooking for about 1 minute. Gradually add milk, whisking continuously until the mixture thickens.

  3. 3

    Add Cheeses and Mix

    Remove from heat and add sharp cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, salt, and black pepper. Stir until cheese is melted and smooth.

  4. 4

    Combine with Macaroni

    Add the cooked macaroni, crumbled bacon, and diced jalapeños to the cheese sauce. Stir until well combined.

  5. 5

    Cool and Set

    Transfer the mixture to a baking dish and spread evenly. Allow it to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours until firm.

Breading and Frying

  1. 6

    Prepare Breading Station

    Set up a breading station with three shallow bowls: one with flour, one with beaten eggs, and one with breadcrumbs mixed with garlic powder and paprika.

  2. 7

    Form Bites

    Once the mac and cheese has firmed up, cut it into bite-sized squares or shapes.

  3. 8

    Bread the Mac Bites

    Coat each mac bite in flour, then dip in beaten eggs, and finally coat with breadcrumbs. Ensure each bite is well covered.

  4. 9

    Heat Oil

    In a deep skillet, heat oil to 350°F (175°C) over medium heat.

  5. 10

    Fry Mac Bites

    Fry the breaded mac bites in batches for about 3-4 minutes or until golden brown. Remove and drain on paper towels.

Firecracker Sauce Preparation

  1. 11

    Combine Sauce Ingredients

    In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Sriracha sauce, lime juice, honey, and salt until smooth.

  2. 12

    Serve

    Serve the mac bites hot with a side of firecracker sauce for dipping.

More from Datz - St. Pete