Macaroni and cheese has long been a favorite comfort food, enjoyed by people of all ages. But what if you could take this classic dish to the next level, infusing it with a smoky flavor that adds an extra layer of depth and complexity? Smoky mac n cheese is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed as a main course, a side dish, or even a snack. With its rich, creamy texture and smoky aroma, it's sure to be a hit with everyone who tries it. So whether you're a seasoned chef or just starting out in the kitchen, read on to discover the secrets of making the best smoky mac n cheese.
Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!
SMOKED MAC AND CHEESE
This smoked mac and cheese is slow cooked in a smoker.
Provided by Taste Bud
Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Pork
Time 4h
Yield 10
Number Of Ingredients 9
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.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 847.1 calories, Carbohydrate 30.2 g, Cholesterol 170.8 mg, Fat 69.5 g, Fiber 1.1 g, Protein 26.7 g, SaturatedFat 34.2 g, Sodium 1434.5 mg, Sugar 1.5 g
SHANNON'S SMOKY MACARONI AND CHEESE
This recipe is the best Mac & Cheese you'll ever have. It is literally one of 3 meals everyone in my family will eat. The smoked gouda gives this dish its smoky rich flavor. It's a gourmet grown-up version of the kiddie classic. Take any leftovers and cut into bite-sized squares, bread, and deep fry for a yummy snack.
Provided by S.Michael
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta Macaroni and Cheese Recipes Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipes
Time 1h15m
Yield 10
Number Of Ingredients 12
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.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 651.3 calories, Carbohydrate 50.7 g, Cholesterol 106.5 mg, Fat 35.1 g, Fiber 1.9 g, Protein 32.4 g, SaturatedFat 20.5 g, Sodium 712.1 mg, Sugar 8.9 g
SMOKY MACARONI
Our two grandsons are big fans of macaroni and cheese. When they're hungry, I can have this tasty variation with little smoked sausages and peas on the table in about 20 minutes. -Perlene Hoekema, Lynden, Washington
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 25m
Yield 8 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- In a nonstick skillet, saute red pepper and onion until tender. Combine soup and milk; stir into skillet. Add sausage, cheese and peas. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until cheese is melted, 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add macaroni; cook until heated through, 5-10 minutes longer.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 407 calories, Fat 26g fat (11g saturated fat), Cholesterol 63mg cholesterol, Sodium 1244mg sodium, Carbohydrate 27g carbohydrate (7g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 19g protein.
SMOKY MAC 'N CHEESE
My mother used to make mac n' cheese with tomatoes, so when I tried this recipe which I adapted from a canned tomato ad we loved it, even though it was quite different from Mom's. It is very different from our usual mac 'n cheese (which I already posted)and very good! Note 1: When I made this recipe I wanted to use up some evaporated milk that I had in the refrigerator - which was 1/2 can - this can easily be changed to using all cream or all evaporated milk to equal 1 1/2 cups total cream/evaporated milk. Note 2: cheese--I had about 1/2 pound of smoked and about 1/2 pound of regular Cheddar--although you should use some smoked Cheddar, I think his recipe is very adaptable to use whatever cheese is on hand and my amounts of cheese may be a little off by more or less than the amount listed in the ingredients as I did not measure the cheese but used what I had on hand. Note 3: I didn't use the hot dogs or little smokies but thought they would be great in this casserole.
Provided by ellie_
Categories Cheese
Time 1h
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 13
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.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1311.7, Fat 70.6, SaturatedFat 41.7, Cholesterol 217.1, Sodium 1605.9, Carbohydrate 110.8, Fiber 6, Sugar 8.4, Protein 58
SMOKEY MAC N CHEESE
The key is in the smoked gouda! Its what really takes this mac n cheese to a WHOLE NEW LEVEL of comfort food
Provided by Chef Lillard
Categories Cheese
Time 45m
Yield 6-10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Bring a stock pot of salted water to a boil, and add macaroni.
- Cook until al dente.
- Add mushroom soup, whipping cream, sour cream, and 75 % percent of your finely grated gouda, vermont cheddar, and regular cheddar mixture [reserve the rest to sprinkle on top of the dish] to a medium saucepan on low heat.
- Cook just until all cheese has melted, making sure to stir continuously.
- In a medium casserole dish [13x9], add your noodles then pour the sauce over them and mix well.
- Add freshly ground black pepper & seasoning salt to taste.
- Sprinkle the remainder of your cheese mixture on top of your dish, cover with foil and cook on 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes.
- Remove the foil, then place the dish in the broiler for about 2-3 minutes.
- Let sit for about 10-15 minutes.and serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 965.2, Fat 64.4, SaturatedFat 38.9, Cholesterol 209.4, Sodium 863.8, Carbohydrate 63.3, Fiber 2.4, Sugar 4, Protein 33.8
FOUR CHEESE SMOKED MAC 'N' CHEESE
You'll be blown away by the smoky, cheesy flavors in this Four Cheese Smoked Mac 'n' Cheese. If you've never made macaroni and cheese in a smoker, you're in for a real treat! The smoker adds a hearty, summer flavor to this mac and cheese recipe to make it a whole new flavor experience. If you don't have a smoker, that's okay too! We found a way to get the same great flavor, right in your own oven! Simply watch our video to see our secret. Make sure you scroll down for the ingredients and materials needed, along with our step-by-step written instructions and images to help you master this creamy smoked mac and cheese recipe. Serve up this creamy smoked mac and cheese for dinner tonight, or bring a piping hot pan along to your next backyard barbecue or potluck -- it'll be the star of the show!
Provided by Ginsburg Enterprises
Categories Pastas
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain well.
- Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, melt butter; whisk flour into butter and cook over medium heat 2 minutes. Whisk in milk and bring to a boil; remove from heat. Stir in cream cheese, salt, and pepper until mixture is smooth.
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. (See tip on smoking.) Coat a disposable 9-1/2- x 11- x 2-inch aluminum roasting pan with cooking spray. (We like using an aluminum pan here in case you want to put this in your outdoor smoker, otherwise a 9- x13-inch baking dish will be fine.)
- In a large bowl, combine 2 cups cheddar, 2 cups smoked Gouda cheese, the Parmesan cheese, pasta, and sauce.
- Spoon mixture into roasting pan. Cover with aluminum foil and bake (or smoke) 45 minutes. Uncover, sprinkle with remaining cheese, and bake 15 to 20 more minutes or until heated through.
SMOKY MAC AND CHEESE
Provided by Michael Symon : Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 30m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Heat a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions for al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Set up your grill for indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the hot coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only to medium-high heat. Heat a deep 12-inch cast-iron skillet over direct heat.
- Combine the cream, paprika, cayenne and hot sauce if using in the skillet. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and simmer until the cream mixture is reduced by half and thickened, about 5 minutes. Whisk in the cream cheese and Gouda until fully melted. Stir in the ham and cooked pasta and continue to mix until fully combined.
- Stir together the panko, pecorino and scallions if using in a medium bowl. Sprinkle the panko mixture evenly over the mac and cheese. Move the skillet to indirect heat, cover the grill and cook until golden brown and bubbly, about 5 minutes.
- (Alternatively, you can make the mac and cheese in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet on a stovetop over medium-high heat, then top with the panko mixture and bake in a 400 degrees F oven for 10 minutes.)
Tips:
- For a smoky flavor, use a combination of smoked paprika and chipotle powder.
- Add some heat to the mac and cheese by using cayenne pepper or sriracha sauce.
- For a creamy mac and cheese, use a combination of milk and heavy cream.
- If you don't have any evaporated milk, you can use regular milk instead.
- For a cheesy mac and cheese, use a combination of cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, and Parmesan cheese.
- Add some vegetables to the mac and cheese, such as broccoli, cauliflower, or bell peppers.
- Top the mac and cheese with breadcrumbs or crushed crackers before baking.
- For a crispy topping, broil the mac and cheese for a few minutes before serving.
Conclusion:
Smoky mac and cheese is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. With its smoky flavor, creamy texture, and cheesy goodness, it's sure to be a hit at your next gathering. So next time you're looking for a comforting and flavorful dish, give smoky mac and cheese a try. You won't be disappointed!
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