Four Cheese Smoked Mac N Cheese Recipes

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.

SMOKY MAC AND CHEESE

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.)

FOUR CHEESE SMOKED MAC 'N' CHEESE

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.

SMOKED FOUR CHEESE MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Load the wood tray with one small handful of wood chips (Hickory and apple taste great together) and preheat the smoker to 225 degrees F.
• Cook pasta according to package directions. In a medium saucepan, melt butter, and whisk flour into the butter. Cook over medium heat for 2 minutes until sauce is bubbly and thick. Whisk in milk and bring to a boil. Cook 5 minutes until thickened. Stir in cream cheese until mixture is smooth. Add salt and pepper to the mixture.
• In a large bowl, combine 1 cup Cheddar, 1 cup Gouda cheese, Parmesan cheese, pasta, and cream sauce. Place macaroni into a 11 x 9-1/2-inch aluminum roasting pan coated with nonstick cooking spray. Pour in the cheese mixture and mix into the macaroni. Sprinkle top with remaining Cheddar cheese and Gouda cheese.
• Place in smoker and cook 1 hours at 225 degrees F, until brown, bubbly, and delicious

FOUR CHEESE SMOKED MAC & CHEESE

Steps:

• 1. Load the wood tray with one small handful of wood chips and preheat the smoker to 225° F. 2. Cook pasta according to package instructions. In a medium saucepan, melt butter, and whisk flour into the butter. Cook over medium heat for 2 minutes, until sauce is bubbly and thick. Whisk in milk and bring to a boil. Cook 5 minutes until thickened. Stir in cream cheese until mixture is smooth. Add salt and pepper. 3. In a large bowl, combine 1 cup Cheddar, 1 cup Gouda cheese, Parmesan cheese, pasta, and cream sauce. Spoon mixture into an 11 by 9 ½-inch aluminum roasting pan coated with nonstick cooking spray. Sprinkle top with remaining Cheddar cheese and Gouda cheese. 4. Place in smoker and cook 2 hours at 225° F, until brown, bubbly and delicious.

DEE'S SMOKED MAC N CHEESE

Steps:

• 1. Boil macaroni in salted water until very al dente (about 5-7 min). It will cook the rest of the way in the smoker. Drain and set aside. Spray aluminum (disposable) casserole or lasagna pan with non-stick spray.
• 2. In a large heavy pot on medium heat, melt butter or bacon grease. Sauté chopped onion and garlic till opaque. Stir in flour and cook for a minute. Stir in wine and cook until evaporated.
• 3. Whisk in both kinds of milk, mustards, and cheeses. Cook until sauce is smooth and bubbly. Stir constantly to avoid burning. Season to taste.
• 4. Mix cheese sauce with macaroni and pour into prepared pan. Top with extra cheese.
• 5. Smoke in smoker for 2-4 hours (depending on the type of smoker you use) and smoke until light golden brown. Enjoy!
• 6. **Sauce should not be too thick. So if you want it creamy when it's done, thin it with a little more milk. If you like it drier, keep the sauce thicker. The longer cooking time in the smoker as opposed to baking in the oven, makes the cheese sauce soak into the macaroni. If you just want to make it in the oven, bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes or until light golden brown.