Smoked Mac and Cheese

Course: BBQ, Entree, pasta

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 45

Servings: servings

Calories: 976kcal

Smoked Macaroni and cheese takes the classic family favorite to a new level and makes a perfect BBQ side dish! Smoker Mac and Cheese takes macaroni and cheese to the next level!

Print Recipe

Ingredients

1 pound elbow or cavatelli pasta cooked to al dente
3 TBS butter
3 TBS flour
2 cups heavy cream
½ TBS smoked paprika
8 oz sour cream or room temp cream cheese
16 oz cheddar cheese They better the cheese the better the dish
12 oz Monterrey jack, pepper jack or gruyere cheese
1 cup pasta water (or more) ***set 2 cups pasta water aside before you strain the pasta
a few shakes of Tabasco
Salt & pepper
1-2 jalapenos seeded and chopped (sautéed in a small bit of oil for a few minutes)
1 cup panko season with salt and pepper
½ pound cooked bacon (or more if you like) chopped fine in food processor or by hand
3 TBS melted butter

Instructions

Cook pasta to al dente and reserve 2 cups of the pasta water before straining.
In a large pot over medium heat make the roux by first melting the butter, then whisking in the flour. Whisk for 1-2 minutes.
Slowly add the heavy cream, whisking vigorously as you do.
Add in the sour cream/cream cheese
Add in your cheeses and stir until melted and smooth. Turn off the heat.
Add in paprika
add in cooked pasta and stir well.
Season with S&P
Add in 1 cup of pasta water
Add in Tabasco
At this point, allow it to sit as you assemble the topping.
Combine panko, butter and bacon season with black pepper and toss until combined
Take a look at your pasta, you want it more on the wet side, not thick and tight since it will go into the smoker. If its thick, add in additional pasta water.
Add sautéed jalapenos and ½ of the bacon. Stir well and scrape mixture into a foil pan or large cast iron skillet.
Spread topping evenly overtop, patting it down just a bit.
Smoke at 250 for 1 hour. We like using either Hickory or Cherry for this or a combo of the two. You can use whichever you enjoy.
This is best enjoyed as soon as you pull it from the smoker in my opinion.

Notes

Add more jalapenos or green chilies if you like.

If you want it spicy, add in red pepper flakes.

Reheat leftovers gently as to not "break" the cheese and cause the oil to separate.

This is also delicious without a smoker and baked in the oven.

Play around with the flavors of wood chips you use for different flavors.

Nutrition