Description
Indulge in the smoky, creamy goodness of this ultimate comfort food with a twist – Smoked Macaroni and Cheese. Perfectly smoked pasta enveloped in a rich, cheesy sauce, topped with crispy breadcrumbs, this dish is a flavor-packed delight for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 1 pound elbow macaroni
Cheese Sauce:
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup gouda cheese, shredded
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Topping:
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Additional paprika for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Smoker: Preheat smoker to 225°F.
- Cook Pasta: Cook macaroni until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Prepare Cheese Sauce: Melt butter in a saucepan, whisk in flour, then gradually add milk and cream. Stir in seasonings and cheeses until smooth.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Mix cooked pasta with cheese sauce, then transfer to a skillet.
- Prepare Topping: Toss panko with olive oil and sprinkle over mac and cheese.
- Smoke: Smoke uncovered for 1-1.5 hours until golden.
- Rest and Serve: Let it rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Enhance smoke flavor with hickory, apple, or pecan wood chips.
- Dish can be prepped ahead; adjust smoking time if cold.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Smoking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 510
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 19g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
