Smoked Mac and Cheese is a great side dish for just about every meal on the grill. Homestyle recipe with loads of creamy cheese and bacon gets smoky and delicious on the grill.
Creamy and delicious mac and cheese is always a family favorite. With the addition of bacon it is hearty enough to enjoy as a main dish and we love it served alongside Dr Pepper Jalapeno BBQ Ribs.
Ingredients for Smoked Mac and Cheese:
- Elbow Macaroni
- Butter
- All Purpose Flour
- Granulated Garlic
- Kosher Salt
- Black Pepper
- Milk
- Cream Cheese
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese - I used sharp white cheddar and medium cheddar
- Bacon
How to Make Smoked Mac and Cheese:
- Add macaroni to boiling water and cook about 5 to 6 minutes. Macaroni will finish cooking on the grill.
- Slice bacon and cook in a skillet until crisp. Remove from pan, drain and chop or crumble.
- Drain macaroni and set aside.
- Add butter and flour to a pan and cook over medium heat for about 2 minutes.
- Season with garlic, salt and pepper.
- Whisk in milk.
- Add cream cheese and whisk until combined, cooking until sauce thickens.
- Remove from heat and mix in shredded cheese.
- Stir until smooth.
- Stir in drained macaroni.
- Pour into a cast iron skillet or foil pan.
- Top with crumbled bacon.
- Cook over indirect fire on a 350° grill with hickory or pecan for smoke flavor with the grill lid closed for about 15- 20 minutes.
- When mac and cheese is heated through, remove from grill and serve immediately.
How to Store and Reheat:
Store leftover mac and cheese in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 5 days.
Reheat in a pan on the stovetop with a tablespoon or two of milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring until heated through.
Mac and cheese is the perfect side dish for ribs, grilled chicken, burgers or pork chops. It's quick and easy to put together while your main dish is cooking and then add it to the grill to add that delicious smoke flavor.
More Grilled Side Dishes to Try:
Grilled Zucchini is one of our favorites for a quick side dish when we are grilling. I never expected our kids to love it as much as they do.
Grilled Corn on the Cob is always a hit with the crowd. So simple to cook on the grill and turns out every time.
Garlic Rosemary Potatoes are easy to make, so flavorful and delicious. Made in a foil packet for easy cleanup!
This Smoked Mac and Cheese Recipe is a comforting and delicious side dish to add to the menu this week. A snap to prepare and finishing it on the grill adds smoky flavor to everyone's favorite side dish.
Smoked Mac and Cheese
Smoked Mac and Cheese is a great side dish for just about every meal on the grill. Homestyle recipe with loads of creamy cheese and bacon gets smoky and delicious on the grill.
Ingredients
- 16 ounces macaroni
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon granulated garlic
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 ¼ cups milk
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese ( I used medium and sharp white)
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
Instructions
- Cook macaroni for about 6 minutes in boiling water, drain and set aside.
- Melt butter in a pan and whisk in flour. Cook for 2 minutes.
- Add garlic, salt and pepper and whisk to combine.
- Whisk in milk.
- Cut cream cheese into chunks and add to the pan. Continue whisking until cream cheese is smooth and sauce is thickened.
- Remove from heat and mix in shredded cheese.
- Add macaroni and stir until well combined.
- Pour into a cast iron skillet or foil pan.
- Top with bacon.
- Cook over indirect fire at 350° with hickory or pecan for smoke flavor. Keep the grill closed, cooking for 15- 20 minutes or until macaroni is heated through.
- Remove from grill and serve immediately.
Notes
Store leftover mac and cheese in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Reheat mac and cheese in a pan with a tablespoon or two of milk over medium heat. Stir often until heated through.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 462Total Fat: 29gSaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 82mgSodium: 733mgCarbohydrates: 31gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 20g
Nutritional information is estimated and may not be accurate.
Teresa F
This is beyond amazing! Smoked is the way to go from now on!
Toni
This is so good and amazing!! Totally irresistible!
Fred
I cannot tell you how amazing this was. I mean, just wow!!!