Smoked Macaroni and Cheese

Name: Smoked Macaroni and Cheese
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 120 min
Ingredients: 1 1lb box elbow macaroni noodles; 1 lb Velveeta Cheese, (cubed); 1 cup milk; 6 Tablespoons butter, (unsalted); salt, (to taste); ground pepper, (to taste)

Better Than The Rest - Here's Why

✅ Flavor Like No Other - LITERALLY: The smoking method is what sets this mac and cheese recipe apart. I use hickory wood when I smoke it which not only makes it extra delicious but also makes it the perfect barbecue side dish. So many other smoked macaroni and cheese recipes use blended cheeses which is fine but the creamy Velveeta cheese paired with the hickory smoke delivers a deeply savory flavor you just won't find in any other recipe.

✅ Make It A Meal: You can easily add other ingredients to this recipe to make it a meal. Chicken, crab, and even lobster mac and cheese are all great choices and add a nice amount of protein to turn this into a great dinner!

Smoked Mac And Cheese: What To Know & Recipe Highlights

Smoke Time: It only takes 1.5 hours to smoke and delivers the best smoky flavor.

Type of Wood To Use: Hickory wood is my favorite, but you can also use apple and pecan wood.

Ingredients: It only takes 6 ingredients to make!

Secret Optional Ingredient: If you really want to intensify the smoke flavor, add a Tablespoon of liquid smoke to the water pan in your smoker while it's cooking. Makes a huge difference!

Prep Work: There is some kitchen prep to do before you smoke the mac and cheese. You'll need to make the sauce and cook the noodles before putting in on the smoker.

How To Intensify The Flavor Even More: I always smoke this when I'm smoking meat and I always place the pan of macaroni and cheese directly under the meat. The drippings from the smoked meat, like this smoked brisket or this smoked pork shoulder, drips on top of the macaroni mixture and totally intensifies the flavor. It's an absolutely wonderful flavor add.

Make It Even Creamier and Cheesier: I use a cup of whole milk when making this mac n cheese, but feel free to add a little bit more if you want even more of a creamy texture! And, if you want to make it super cheesy, then just add more of the Velveeta sauce!

🛒 Ingredients You'll Need

Velveeta Cheese - I use Velveeta cheese in this recipe because it's the creamiest. Like literally. If you're not a fan of Velveeta cheese, try using it to make smoked mac and cheese. It's absolutely amazing in this recipe. You can also use Velveeta Cheese Sauce Packets if that's easier for you.

Milk - using whole milk is best because it makes the mac and cheese so much creamier.

Butter - I always recommend using a good quality butter like Kerrygold because again, it makes this dish so much creamier. I like to use unsalted butter so I have full control over the saltiness of this dish.

Noodles - I like to use elbow noodles, but you can use any shape of short pasta you want, like corkscrew or penne.

Salt & Pepper - used as a flavor enhancer.

👩🏼‍🍳 Scroll down to the recipe card below for all the details you’ll need to make this recipe!

🥣 Here's How You Make It

Pot of boiling water cooking elbow macaroni noodles.

Step 1: Start by cooking the elbow macaroni according to package directions. Get the water boiling and then add in the elbow macaroni noodles and cook until done. Drain the noodles and rinse them well in a colander.

Pot of cooked elbow macaroni noodles, Velveeta Cheese, milk and butter.

Step 2: From there, you'll return the cooked elbow noodles back to the large pot and add in the milk, butter, and Velveeta cheese. Sprinkle in some salt and pepper to enhance the flavor.

Pot of macaroni and cheese cooking on a stove top.

Step 3: Turn the stovetop burner to medium heat and continuously stir until the cheese completely melts.

Cooked Macaroni and Cheese in an aluminum pan topped with pepper.

Step 4: Once the cheese has melted and all the ingredients are well combined, pour the mixture into a disposable aluminum pan or cast iron skillet. Sprinkle on additional ground black pepper.

👩🏼‍🍳 Keep in mind - the macaroni and cheese is done after you cook it on the stovetop so you could eat it right away if you want. But if you want that wonderful smoked flavor, put it on the smoker!

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Aluminum pan of macaroni and cheese being placed in a smoker.

Step 5: Place the aluminum pan into the smoker uncovered and smoke on 225 °F for 1.5 hours.

Aluminum pan containing macaroni and cheese that has been smoked in a smoker.

Step 6: Once done, pull it out of the smoker and serve immediately.

This easy mac and cheese is homemade and comfort food at its finest! If you like baked mac and cheese, then try my smoked version is about to become your favorite!

🙋🏼 Top Questions I Get Asked About This Recipe

What kind of dish works best for smoking macaroni and cheese?

Either a disposable aluminum pan or a cast iron skillet or dish works best.

Should I cook the pasta all the way before smoking?

Cook the pasta just until al dente—it will finish softening in the smoker as it soaks up all that smoky flavor and creamy sauce.

What's the best way to reheat smoked mac and cheese?

Reheating it on the stove top or in the oven is best. I like to make extra cheese sauce so I can stir some into the leftovers when reheating them on the stovetop.

Can I prep it ahead of time?

You can, yes. Personally, I like it best made fresh but if you are in a time crunch, you can assemble everything without smoking, refrigerate it, and then smoke it when you are ready to serve. You may need to add a splash of milk before smoking it to keep it super creamy.

Comments

5 from 21 votes (8 ratings without comment)