Hack your Mac into a simple and healthy appetizer that is gluten-free, vegan and nut-free. Not only is this recipe loaded with nutrients, but it is also absolutely delicious and approved by all ages. These balls are baked—not fried—but still have a golden crunch that will get those chewing mouths talking. Want to spice it up even more? Try accompanying these bites with a variety of dips ranging from ketchup, to hot sauce, to an elegant aioli like the one featured in this recipe.

This recipe is party- and school-safe but can also be made for a day on the go or as a meal for your office. 

Vegan Mac Bites

• Prep Time:  10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time:  30 minutes
• Course: Appetizer
• Cuisine: American
• Servings:  24 pieces

Ingredients:

• 2 packages Chickapea Vegan Mac
• 4 Tbsp vegan butter
• 1 cup oat milk, unsweetened
• ¼ cup gluten-free bread crumbs
• 1 ½ tsp garlic powder
• 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast 
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning

Coating Ingredients:

• ½ cup gluten-free bread crumbs, scant
• Pinch of onion powder

Lemon Aioli Dipping Sauce Ingredients:

• 3 Tbsp vegan mayo
• 1 small lemon, juice of
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• Pinch of salt
• 1/8 tsp chilli powder

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Prepare Chickapea Vegan Mac (heat 8 cups of water in a large pot over high heat until boiling. Add pasta, decrease heat to maintain a gentle boil.  Stir and cook pasta for 5 minutes).
3. Drain the pasta and add it back to the pot over the lowest heat setting.
4. Mix vegan butter and oat milk into the pasta until combined.
5. Add the two seasoning packages which come in the Chickapea Vegan Mac boxes and stir well.
6. Stir in ¼ cup of gluten-free bread crumbs, garlic powder, nutritional yeast, salt and Italian seasoning.
7. Mix the pasta well and set aside.
8. Prepare the mini muffin tray by brushing vegan butter into each cup.
9. Pour ½ cup gluten-free bread crumbs into a shallow dish.
10. Using clean hands, scoop a bit more than a Tbsp of the pasta mixture into your palm.
11. Work the mixture back and forth between your palms until it forms a tight ball that could stay together on its own.
12. Roll 24 balls from the pasta mixture.
13. One at a time, roll the balls through the bread crumbs and place each in the mini muffin tin.
14. Sprinkle onion powder over each ball.
15. Bake the bites in the oven for 20 minutes.
16. While the Chickapea Mac bites are baking, mix together all aioli ingredients in a small dish until well combined.
17. Once done baking, remove the Chickapea Vegan Mac Bites from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes before removing from the tray.
18. Serve with dipping sauce and enjoy!

Recipe Notes:

• This recipe can be easily duplicated for a larger group or cut in half to make a smaller batch.
• Most standard mini muffin tins have 24 cups, which is the pan used for this recipe.
• Commercially available gluten-free bread crumbs can be too thick and crunchy. If this is the case with yours, before starting the recipe measure out your bread crumbs and crush them with a pestle and mortar into a finer consistency.
• If having difficulty working the pasta mixture into balls, try wetting your hands slightly before rolling the pasta in your palms.
• Oat milk has been used in this recipe because of its thickness.  It is also gluten-free, vegan and nut-free so it makes a great option. Any plant milk may be substituted in this recipe with success, but the thicker the plant milk the better.
• This recipe should be made on the day of serving and not reheated. When reheated the bites will dry out too much and crumble.

Give this recipe a try or create your own Vegan Mac dish. Tag @chickapeapasta on Instagram and #hackyourveganmac so we can re-share!