This Smoked Mac and Cheese recipe is the perfect side dish for any barbecue! Easy to make, this creamy macaroni is smoked over hickory wood and full of flavor that will both satisfy and impress many!
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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
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.
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.
Step 3: Turn the stovetop burner to medium heat and continuously stir until the cheese completely melts.
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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Step 5: Place the aluminum pan into the smoker uncovered and smoke on 225 °F for 1.5 hours.
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
Either a disposable aluminum pan or a cast iron skillet or dish works best.
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.
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.
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.
🥘 Here's What To Pair With It
If you tried this easy smoked mac and cheese or any other recipes on my website, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below ✍🏼. I love hearing from you! And, please leave a 🌟 rating while you're there!
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Smoked Macaroni and Cheese
Equipment
- Smoker
- 1 aluminum dish or cast iron skillet
- 1 large pot
- 1 colander
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
Instructions
- Cook the elbow macaroni according to package directions (al dente) and then drain.
- In a large pot, add the cooked elbow macaroni noodles, cubed Velveeta Cheese, 1 cup of milk, and 6 Tablespoons of butter.
- Turn the stovetop burner to medium heat and continue to stir until the cheese has melted and all ingredients are well combined. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Pour the mixture into a disposable aluminum pan or cast iron skillet and place in the smoker uncovered.
- Smoke on 225°F for 1.5 hours, or until the top starts to get golden brown.
- Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
- Type of Wood To Use: Hickory wood is my favorite, but you can also use apple and pecan wood.
- 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!
- 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!
- When smoking macaroni and cheese, use either a disposable aluminum pan or a cast iron skillet.
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Karyl Henry
I don't trust anyone who doesn't like macaroni & cheese! 🙂 I've never made it with Velveeta, but I can definitely see it playing well with the smoker to add some fabulous flavors
Amanda Mason
Let's me know how it turns out!
Rebecca Blackwell
Adding smoke flavor to Mac and cheese is brilliant and as it so happens, I'm making a huge batch of Mac and cheese for a graduation party next weekend. I totally want to try this... but don't have a smoker. 🙁 BUT - I'm going to try adding smoked mozzarella to see if that adds some smoky flavor. I never would have thought to do that before seeing this recipe. So, thank you so much!!!
Amanda Mason
Yes! You can make this on the stovetop and pop it in the oven! I bet it will taste amazing with Smoked Mozzarella! You're going to have to let me know how it turns out!! Can't wait to hear!
Lori | The Kitchen Whisperer
I seriously have an huge love for cheese! Like I literally have an entire drawer in my fridge dedicated to it!
This recipe is over the top cheesy goodness AND the fact that it’s SMOKED!!! Brilliant! I need this cheesy goodness in my life!
Amanda Mason
Hi Lori! Yes - super cheesy and AMAZING!! You're going to love it!!
Kelly Anthony
I can only imagine this Smoked Macaroni and Cheese would wow the crowd at ANY BBQ! What a fun recipe!
Amanda Mason
Yes- it's absolutely a crowd pleaser!!!
Sharon
I bet this smoked macaroni and cheese is a hit at cookouts! I will be making this for one coming up soon. Thanks for this recipe.
Amanda Mason
Thanks Sharon!! I cant wait to hear how everyone liked it!
Jenni LeBaron
I love the idea to smoke the mac and cheese. I bet this imparts such a fantastic flavor to the noodles and it looks so creamy!
Amanda Mason
Hi Jenni! Yes - it's just delish!! You're going to love the taste!!
Veena Azmanov
Pasta is my family favorite and i am a cheese lover too. This is surely my best dinner for the family.
Amanda Mason
Veena - they are going to love this dish! Let me know what they think!
Heather
My brother owns a smoker and tries to smoke everything! I can't wait to share this recipe with him and tell him he has to make it for me haha :). I love the flavor the smoke gives, so I can just imagine how delicious this is.
Amanda Mason
It's beyond delicious!! You'll have to let me know how it turns out!!
Debbie
So, I have thrown all kinds of stuff on the smoker..I have never thought about Mac N Cheese on there. I mean smoky goodness infused mac n cheese..GENIUS!! I will be trying this one !!
Amanda Mason
Let me know how you love it!!
Deseree
This is going down today. I have everything to make it and will surprise the kiddos with a meal I know they will surely enjoy.
Amanda Mason
Yeah!! let me know how you like it!!