Smoked Mac and Cheese
Super cheesy and extra creamy with the perfect amount of smokey flavor and a crispy cheese top! This smoked mac and cheese is ridiculously good, and made with a combination of cheeses to create the ultimate cheese sauce. It's super easy to make, and the perfect side dish for summer BBQs or holiday dinners.
Ingredients
- ½ pound elbow pasta
- ½ tablespoon salt
- ¼ cup butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups milk (whole or 2%)
- 1 cup half and half
- 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, freshly grated
- 2 cups cheddar cheese, freshly grated
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Preheat the smoker to 225 degrees F using a mild hardwood, such as cherry, apple or maple.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, add the pasta and salt. Cook for 1 minute less than the package instructions for al dente.
- Meanwhile, make the cheese sauce. Melt the butter in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Whisk in the flour, and let cook for 1 minute. Slowly pour in the milk and half and half while whisking until smooth. Simmer, while continuing to whisk often, until the sauce thickens.
- Remove the sauce from the heat and whisk in the Monterey Jack, 1 cup of cheddar cheese, salt, pepper and nutmeg until combined and smooth.
- Add the cooked pasta to the cast iron skillet with the cheese sauce and mix to combine. Sprinkle the top with remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese.
- Place the skillet on the smoker and close the lid. While keeping the smoker at a steady 225 degrees F, smoke the mac and cheese for 1 hour or up to 2 hours for a stronger smoke flavor.
Baking Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Bake uncovered for 15-20 minutes until bubbly and golden brown on top.
- Note: transfer the mac and cheese to a baking dish if your skillet isn't oven safe.
Notes
If you don't have a cast iron skillet, use any pot to make the cheese sauce, then transfer the cheese sauce and pasta to a disposable aluminum baking dish for smoking.
Nutritional information is automatically calculated by a third party software and is only an estimate, not a guarantee. This information is provided as courtesy, and you are solely responsible for all decisions related to your health.
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