Mac and cheese is one of everyone’s favorite comfort foods. Add a bit of smoke to your mac and cheese recipe; it will be the most popular dish at your next cookout!
That creamy, smooth flavor, combined with rich, sharp cheddar cheese sauce…works so well with that smoky flavor! It’s one of our favorite dishes to make on our Pit Boss Smoker.
Here are a few tips to ensure your mac and cheese comes out perfectly!
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Table of contents
What You’ll Need for Smoked Macaroni and Cheese
- Macaroni
- Butter
- Flour– An all-purpose white flour is good, or gluten-free flour works just as well.
- Milk– Whole milk is the best as the high fat makes a creamier sauce.
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese – a couple of different cheeses enhance the dish.
- Mozzarella
- Cream Cheese
- Salt
- Pepper
- Cayenne
- Mustard Powder
- Breadcrumb mixture or panko crumbs
Add in Some Extras (& Amp UP The Flavor!)
Your favorite mac & cheese recipe can be taken to the NEXT LEVEL by selecting a few add-ins. Some of our favorites include ham, bacon, smoked brisket, pulled chicken, green onions, crispy onions, pulled pork, and chorizo.
Don’t be afraid to experiment!
6 Simple Steps to EPIC Mac and Cheese!
Step 1: Boil The Pasta
In a pot boil pasta in salted water per package directions. Any pasta, such as elbow macaroni noodles or shells, can be used. Drain and mix through a tablespoon of olive oil to prevent the cooked pasta from sticking. Set aside.
Step 2: Add In The Cheese
Freshly grate the cheese mixture. Freshly grated cheese is preferable to store-bought shredded cheese, as it tends to clump and be flavorless. For depth of flavor, use different cheeses such as cheddar, gouda, Colby jack, and mozzarella.
Step 3: Preheat The Smoker
Preheat the smoker to 225°F, using your wood chip of choice. Preheating gives a more consistent cook and starts the smoky flavor of wood pellets.
Step 4: Make The Mac and Cheese
Add the cup of butter in a medium saucepan or cast-iron pot and melt over medium heat. Combine the flour with the butter and cook for a couple of minutes to form a smooth, thin paste.
Slowly add a cup of milk, a bit at a time, until all is added, taking care not to burn. Mix in the dry mustard powder, cayenne (optional for a kick), pepper, salt, and black pepper to taste until a smooth paste forms.
Lower the heat and simmer for 4 minutes or until the sauce thickens.
Step 5: Remove From The Heat
Remove the pot from direct heat and add the cubed cream cheese, stirring until it melts. Repeat for the shredded cheese blend until the sauce is creamy and smooth.
Add the cooked macaroni noodles and gently mix until the cream cheese sauce coats the pasta.
Step 6: Add Breadcrumbs and Smoke
Top with panko bread crumb mixture, cornflake crumbs, or bread crumbs, and top with an extra cup of shredded cheddar cheese. Place the cast iron pan to the smoker and close it.
You can use theapp to monitor the temperature. Cook for 45 minutes at 220° or until the top is browning, then remove from the smoker and serve.
Cooking Time for Smoked Mac and Cheese
The cooking time for smoked mac and cheese is 40-45 minutes, or until the crispy panko breadcrumb topping and cheese is browned. Make sure the pit boss smoker is set to 220°F.
What Temperature Should Your Smoker Be For Mac and Cheese?
Set your smoker to 220°F for mac and cheese. Anything over 225°F will overcook the pasta, resulting in dry mac and cheese.
What Should You Cook It In?
Use a cast-iron skillet or casserole dish coated with a cooking spray rather than disposable aluminum. Not only does it enhance the flavor, but it’s also much more convenient to transfer between the stovetop and the pellet smoker. Plus, it makes the perfect serving dish.
Choosing the Wood Pellets
Choosing the wood pellet flavor affects the result. Flavors like oak or hickory are great complements to cheese recipes, as they offer a strong, rich, bacon flavor. If you are after something a little more subtle and sweet, the delicate flavor of apple, cherry, or maple wood chips is a great choice.
The flavor selection is extensive; you can blend your favorite flavors or choose pre-mixed blends to enhance your cooking.
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What to Serve With Mac and Cheese:
You can serve this mac and cheese alongside other appetizers or as a hearty side. I have included some of our favorite appetizers and mains to serve it below
Smoked Macaroni And Cheese on a Pit Boss
Ingredients
- 8 oz Dry Macaroni
Sauce
- 1/2 cup Butter
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups Milk
- 8 oz Sharp Cheddar Cheese grated
- 1 1/2 Cup shredded smoked mozzarella
- 1 tbsp mustard powder
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1/2 tbsp pepper
- 1 tbsp cayanne (optional)
- 7 Ounce cream cheese cut in cubes
Topping (optional)
- 1 cup Panko Bread Crumbs
- ½ cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- Green onions
Instructions
- In a pot boil pasta in salted water per package directions. Any type of pasta, such as elbow macaroni noodles or shells, can be used. Drain and mix through a tablespoon of olive oil to prevent the cooked pasta from sticking. Set aside.
- Fresh grate the cheese mixture. Freshly grated cheese is preferable to store-bought shredded cheeses, as that tends to clump and be flavorless. Use different cheeses such as cheddar, gouda, Colby jack, mozzarella cheeses for depth of flavor experience.
- Preheat the smoker to 225°F, using your wood chip of choice. Preheating gives a more consistent cook and starts the smoky flavor of wood pellets.
- In a medium saucepan or cast-iron pot, add the cup of butter and melt over medium heat. Combine the flour into butter and cook for a couple of minutes to blend to a smooth thin paste. Slowly add a cup milk, a bit at a time until all added, taking care not to burn.
- Mix in the dry mustard powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper to taste, until completely smooth paste forms. Lower the heat and simmer for 4 minutes, or until the sauce thickens.
- Remove the pot from the direct heat and add in the cubed cream cheese, stirring until it melts. Repeat for the shredded cheese blend, until the sauce is a creamy and smooth cheese sauce mixture.Add the cooked macaroni noodles and mix gently, until the pasta is covered in cream cheese sauce mixture.
- Top with panko bread crumb mixture, cornflake crumbs, or bread crumbs, and top with an extra cup of shredded cheddar cheese. Place the cast iron pan to the smoker and close it. Cook for 45 minutes at 220° or until the top is browning.
What’s your favorite add-in for mac and cheese? My kids love green onions and pulled pork!
Smoke On!
Charlie
Author: Charlie Reeves
Hi, I’m Charlie, I have been meat-smoking and grilling for the past 15 years. I have an array of different smokers, thermometers, and have a love for finding the right wood and charcoal combo My favourite recipes are my EXTRA CRISPY smoked pork belly, juicy pulled pork, smoked brisket, duck poppers, and ANY SEAFOOD I grill).
I loves sharing his tips with beginners, helping them navigate the world of smoking. I find it’s not just about cooking; it’s a quest for that perfect smoky flavor.
You will usually find me playing with the kids, perfecting my brisket bark, or sipping beers with boys around the fire. Can’t wait to share all my delicious smoking and grilling recipes with you!
You can read more about me on our About Us page.
Hungry For More?
How much dry mustard powder?
Hiya Clint,
Sorry about that, I use 1.5 tablespoons of mustard powder, Ill update the recipe now 🙂
The recipe for smoked mac and cheese was a delight! Highly recommend trying it out as a quick dinner recipe!
thanks Wardah I hope you enjoyed the recipe!!
Your pulled pork with mac and cheese looks delicious! Is it ok to use monterey jack instead of cheddar?
thanks Raquel!! It defiantly is yummy!! You sure can use monterey jack, provolone can work well too!
my family looooved this mac and cheese we are going to make it again next weekend!!
Loved this recipe!! We also added some blue cheese to the mac and cheese mixture before we smoked and it was soooo yummy!