Smoky Mac N Cheese Recipes

SHANNON'S SMOKY MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Fill a pot with lightly-salted water and bring to a boil. Stir the macaroni into the water and return to a boil. Cook and occasionally stir until the pasta has cooked through, but is still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes; drain.
• Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the flour to the melted butter and whisk continually for 1 to 2 minutes to make a roux. Whisk 2 cups of the milk into the roux until smooth and then add the remaining milk. Raise the heat to medium-high and continue cooking and stirring until thickened, but not boiling. Stir the Gouda, Cheddar, Swiss, and 1 cup Parmesan cheese into the mixture; once the cheeses have melted completely, fold the drained macaroni into the mixture to coat. Pour the macaroni mixture into a 9x13-inch baking dish.
• Stir 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, and cayenne pepper together in a small bowl; sprinkle over the macaroni. Drizzle the olive oil over the bread crumbs.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden and bubbly, about 30 minutes. Allow to rest 10 minutes before cutting.

SMOKY MAC 'N CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375-degrees F.
• Cook macaroni according to package directions, drain.
• Spray a 13 x 9 baking pan with Pam (cooking spray) or grease pan and set aside.
• In a large saucepan heat cream and evaporated milk (see note 1 in description), mustard, salt and pepper to boiling.
• Reduce heat and stir in cheese (see note 2 in description)with a whisk or a wooden spoon until melted and smooth.
• REMOVE FROM HEAT.
• Stir in tomatoes, onions and hotdogs or little smokies(if using).
• Put macaroni in baking pan and pour sauce over, mixing in the cheese sauce well so all the macaroni is well covered (this can be done in a separate saucepan or bowl but by mixing in the pan there is one less dish to wash).
• In a small bowl mix together bread crumbs and Parmesan (or if you are making your own bread crumbs in a blender you can add the Parmesan and just whirl the bread crumbs and Parmesan in the blender -- one less dish to wash).
• Sprinkle breadcrumb/Parmesan mixture over the macaroni/cheese in the baking dish.
• Bake for 20-30 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown.

SMOKED MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a pizza pan with aluminum foil; lay bacon strips on top.
• Bake bacon in the preheated oven until browned and crisp, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain.
• Drain bacon slices on paper towels and allow to cool slightly, about 5 minutes. Place in the bowl of a food processor; pulse until crumbly.
• Preheat a smoker to 275 to 300 degrees F (135 to 150 degrees C). Add wood chips according to manufacturer's directions.
• Mix together cream, Cheddar cheese, Colby-Jack cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, butter, and barbeque rub in the warm pasta pot; add drained macaroni. Mix well and let the cheese melt. Pour into a 9x13-inch aluminum pan and sprinkle bacon on top.
• Place the pan on the rack in the preheated smoker. Cook until cheese is bubbly, about 3 1/2 hours.