How to - Smoked Mac and Cheese
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.พ. 2025
- Smoked Mac and Cheese is comfort food in a cast iron skillet. Creamy and rich macaroni and cheese with a crisp panko topping and the perfect kiss of smoke flavor.
Snag the printable version of this recipe here: heygrillhey.co...
Ingredients
1 pound elbow macaroni noodles cooked according to package instructions
1/2 cup butter
4 Tablespoons flour
1 Tablespoon mustard powder
2 cups half and half
4 oz cream cheese
3 cups cheddar
1.5 cups gouda
Bread crumb topping
1 cup panko bread crumbs
1/4 cup butter
2 Tablespoons Signature Sweet Rub, purchase at patio-provisions.com
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook macaroni noodles until they are al dente, meaning they still have a bit of chew and texture (not too soft).
Preheat your smoker to 225 degrees F using a mild hardwood. My favorite is cherry or apple.
Heat a 12 inch cast iron skillet over medium heat. Melt 1/2 cup of butter and whisk in the flour until a smooth, thin paste forms. Then whisk in the mustard powder.
Carefully pour in the half and half and bring up to a boil while whisking. Reduce the heat and whisk in the cream cheese until smooth.
Whisk in the cheddar cheese and gouda cheese and stir until melted. Turn off the heat and pour in the cooked macaroni noodles. Stir gently until the noodles are coated by the cheese sauce.
Combine the melted butter, sweet rub, and panko bread crumbs in a small bowl. Sprinkle over the top of the mac and cheese.
Place the skillet in the smoker, close the lid, and smoke for 1 hour. You can smoke for up to 2 hours if you want a stronger smoker flavor, but the noodles will take on quite a bit of smoke fairly quickly.
Serve your mac and cheese while it is still warm and the cheese is nice and melty!
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I have to try this. I tried the burnt ends with brisket and chuck. Amazing!
I’d like to try her
This is an absolute go-to recipe for me now. I've made it at least a half-dozen times in the last two years or so. Making it tomorrow to go with a 4 bone short rib. I think my friends will be pretty pleased. Great recipe! Thanks!
This recipe is very good. Like many others, I added bacon, except I cooked mine with sliced onions in another skillet first. Once it was cooked well I added lemon juice and put it in the sauce. Was super!
There are a lot of smoked Mac and cheese videos. I think you got the recipe right. Some other videos show them covering the Mac and cheese in foil before putting it on the smoker. What’s the point in that? Might as well bake it in the oven. Other videos have the smoker temp at 350 or 400. My pellet smoker doesn’t generate appreciable smoke at temps above 250. Your video is the fist one I’ve found that has a low and slow smoking temp and traditional ingredients. Definitely going to try it this Thanksgiving. Thanks!
I had some left over bacon and decided to add the panko crumbs in bacon grease and fundt then added the bacon into the mac n cheese - family said best mac n cheese ever - thanks for making me look good chef!
I'm making this now. Ive air fried some bacon and chopped fine. I'll add that to my panko, and the other bacon I fried not too crispy, and that will go into the noodles. I'm going to throw it in after my pork butt comes out, using hickory, so probably less than an hour. This recipe is pretty darn great!
Just popped mine in the smoker and taking it to a family 4th get together as soon as it's done. They're going to love it! This is the 3rd time I've made this... It's Fantastic!
Great recipe. I add birchberry hot dogs in small slices and I add bacon to the crunchy panko topping.
You are my go to smoker recipe channel. Keep up the great work!
Trying this today! My old man bought a smoker for a retirement toy, so might as well use it on Father’s Day! It’s a combo smoker/bbq, I’m doing strip steaks on the bbq side as well.
I have done this recipe several times now. But last night I used Pepper jack it was amazing
Making it for a 4th time this weekend. Every time my kids come over for a gathering they ask that i make this. Great recipe!!
just got me a smoker and I tried your Mac and cheese it was the best Mac and cheese I've ever had it was amazing every one loved it too
I gave this a try today and I want to say Ty the first time it didn’t come out oily what’s so ever, and I’m not a Big Mac N Cheese eater but the wife is and she has a huge smile on her face and that makes me happy.... ps I would love to show the picture but there is no part for the picture
My go to mac and cheese recipe, and everyone loves it! I mix up the rub for the topping to give it a different kick. Depending on my company may also add a jalapeño or 2!
Made this on the 4th of July and "it's off the hook"! Thanks for sharing!
Making this along with your 321 ribs today. Thanks for the great content!
Burnt ends and mac n cheese!! Yesss!
That sounds fantastic!
Burnt ends and Mac and cheese will change your life. My favorite food
Oh my goodness this makes my mouth water
Such a great recipe!!!!! Made it tonight with some tritip and absolutely loved it!!!! Just a little to crusty for me so next time for me maybe 1 cup of panko bread crumbs, 1/8 of butter and 1 tbsp of rub and it will be perfect!!!!
A couple years late getting to this video. But Susie...you are the master. I’m in the process of making this now. Only I’m adding my own homemade bacon.
I know people will freak out at the suggesting but believe me it’s great. Use some velveta as your base. It makes it much more creamy.
Love it! I've done it twice now. I my experience, you have to add more liquid to the rue. Half and Half will run over my skillet, but a milk works a little more reasonably to cut the rue.
I have to say, this is our new comfort food!
Good that it works well with most woods. Can just throw it on on with whatever you're cooking!!!
Tried this tonight and everyone loved it including the 3 year old! Thank you for the great recipe!
Going to make a double batch of this today. Thank you for always bringing great recipes for us to use I love your style ma lady ✌🏼
Going to take a crack at this one this weekend. We were so excited when we saw you on the food network, hope you make it back on!!
Cherry wood rocks,, Might be the best of all fruit hardwoods, Gives a great color and flavor to any smoked meats.
Great video, short and sweet! I will be trying this recipe soon!
This so inspiring!
My sister-in-law is coming this weekend. She just lost her husband to Covid 3mo. ago. My two kids are coming home for the Holidays. Is there any better comfort food?
I might add some bacon. I will be smoking some 3-2-1 spareribs. That's all I need. Well... plus beer. My wife can figure out veggies, if we are going that route! I guess I'm off Keto!
:-)
This is the recipe I like, making a rue and cooking the macaroni al dente.
I actually smoked mac n cheese once and it was really good, and your recipe looks much easier. I am going to try yours for sure!!! Great video
Awesome! Thank you for your support!
Ok im going to try this. All my previous attempts to make mac and cheese have failed. Question... What do i do if it starts to become to thick/turning back into a cheese clump? What do i add?
This will be the next party hit! Thanks for another great recipe.
You guys will love it! Thanks for your support!
Trying it during the Holidays
I was watching your video and malcom reeds video for 2 days trying to decide. You win I’m making this with my pork butt today.
Going to try this on my pit barrel cooker!
Great recipe , and you made it look very simple , i got to try it , wishme luck!
You don't need luck! You've got this!
Yay!! Ur back!!!
Yay! You're here watching my videos! Thank you!
This looks fantastic! Want to try soon. Can I put it on the smoker in an aluminum tray? Also, how long would it have to cook for if I'm making it for more than 8, like 20. Thank you!
I haven't tried this yet, but I will soon. I like the combination of cheeses you have here. I might try slightly less cream cheese. I was wondering if you have tried adding a shredded parmesan. I'm thinking that would go so well with the cheddar and gouda.
Thank you for this recipe! Giving it a shot today.
Would it be better to cook it all at once? So put it straight in the smoker after added the pasta to the cheese sauce? Or would it be ok sitting for a while, like 3-4 hours before going into the smoker? I am making it for thanksgiving today and we are not eating til 5 pm but have to be somewhere else by noon so I can only make it this morning.
It will probably turn out better all at once. If you let it sit like that the noodles might turn to mush.
Could I use lactose free milk instead of half and half?
To kick it up another notch, cook some bacon. You want the bacon done, but not crispy. Put in you food processor and get a coarse grind. Then mix with your bread crumbs and sprinkle over top of mac and cheese. Cook in smoker till top is brown and crispy and the mac and cheese is bubbly. Then let you dish cool for about 20 minutes.
Bacon makes everything better!
How to bbq right does it this way
Looks great....could this be made the day before and smoked the next day??
Hey girl I love this video! I’m new to your videos and just subscribed. It’s nice to see another girl who LOVES to bbq
So excited to try this tomorrow on my camp chef!
I will try it, I only smoke with cherry wood.
Looks amazing!
Great video and recipe, this earned a thumbs up and a subscribe. I am subbed to a lot of other BBQ channels like HowToBBQRight with Malcom Reed. How I haven’t seen your channel yet is surprising to me. This looked amazing!
OMG...that looks so good!
I am considering trying to use some smoked extra sharp cheddar, pepper jack, and mozzarella that I have for some macaroni and cheese, but since the extra sharp cheddar is aged more, it tends to leave a grainy texture in sauces, so I was considering making the sauce with sodium citrate to smooth out the proteins. Also, I don't know if smoking the entire dish, as well as the dish being made with smoked cheeses would be too smokey. Have you ever made smoked mac and cheese with smoked cheese as well as smoking the entire dish? How about smoked mac and cheese with sodium citrate? Have you tried that, and does it smoke well if you have?
I'd try it if you have it on hand! If you were buying cheese for this dish I'd recommend going the un-smoked direction first!
@@Heygrillhey Yeah, I smoked a bunch of cheese. I'm just not sure if it will be too smokey if I use it and smoke the dish as well.
@@Heygrillhey well, I tried it. I used several smoked cheeses, extra sharp white cheddar, pepper jack, gouda, gruyere, and mozzarella. I have a hard time using sharp or extra sharp cheeses without them getting a grainy texture, so mixed the cheeses with some milk and sodium citrate, which made a really creamy sauce that has a very cheesy flavor that you can only get with aged cheeses. It came out perfect, and the concern I had about using smoked cheeses was totally not a problem. It wasn't overly smoky at all. In fact, I think it would have not been smoky enough had I not used smoked cheeses.
Anyway, thanks for the videos, and thanks for being so responsive to questions. That's rare for youtubers these days.
Time to try this in the pit boss 6 quart
I've made this twice now. It came out great the first time, but this time it came out kind of dry and oily. Not sure what I did wrong...
do you think this would do alright 250. I only have one smoker and I need to cook 250
Should work fine!
Sounds dumb, but if I am making two pounds of pasta do I just double everything else? Making this weekend. Thanks!
I have got to try this!
What was the half and hlaf of ??
All this needs is some crumbled bacon on top and it is perfect. Nice job
Does the mustard powder take the place of a couple splashes of hot sauce?
In my experience with his recipe, no. The mustard adds some subtle depth of flavor, but this Mac n cheese, while delicious, was definitely elevated with a few healthy splashes of hot sauce also.
What would you suggest for time and temp if I want to bake in oven instead of smoker?
Same exact time and temps!
Yum!
Excellent recipe and video. Your food looks gorgeous!
Thank you so so SO much!
Instead of cream cheese I use Velveeta cheese and yes I do sprinkle bacon on top
My sauce went oily. Can someone maybe tell me what happened?
super bomb!
I did half cup butter and 4 tbsp flour and it clumped. Definitely wasnt creamy
What kind of smoker is that?
It's a CampChef SGX 36 Pellet Grill!!
@@Heygrillhey thanks!
what is a lb of elbow noodles?
One pound of elbow noodles.
@@Heygrillhey not what I meant, I meant what is that in ozs but I get it.. Thank u
Whats everybody else gonna eat girl that would be all mine
Needs sliced tomatoes ontop
That’s way too much just to make some Mac and cheese no thank you
Yum!