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A spoonful of mac and cheese.
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5 from 2 votes

BBQ Mac and Cheese

This bbq mac and cheese is so much better than the boxed version. Made with 3 kinds of cheese, lots of pulled pork, BBQ sauce and then topped with crumbled cornbread. Baked in the oven till bubbly, then served with your favorite salad.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Bake Time10 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Servings: 8 Servings
Calories: 769kcal
Author: Karin and Ken

Ingredients

  • 1 pound pasta such as elbow, rotini, penne
  • 5 tablespoons salted butter
  • 5 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 4 cups milk
  • 3 cups smoked cheddar cheese shredded
  • 2 cups Monterey Jack cheese shredded
  • 1 cup pepper jack cheese shredded
  • ¼ cup BBQ sauce plus extra for the top
  • 1 ½ cups crumbled cornbread
  • 1 green onion thinly sliced, optional
  • 2 cups pulled pork or shredded chicken, if desired

Instructions

  • Get out and measure your ingredients.
    Overhead photo of all the ingredients.
  • Make the pasta according to package directions.
  • Preheat the oven to 375° and spray a 9x13 inch pan with nonstick cooking spray. While the pasta is cooking, melt the butter in a large pot. Add the flour and cook for one minute. Whisk in the milk and pepper and continue to whisk till slightly thickened. This may take a few minutes.
  • Add the cheddar, Monterey Jack, and pepper jack cheese and stir till melted. Stir in the shredded chicken or pulled pork, if using, and BBQ sauce.
    Adding meat to melted cheese inside a pot.
  • Add the pasta to the cheese sauce and stir till well combined.
    Pasta and cheese cooking inside a pot.
  • Pour the Mac and cheese into the prepared pan
    Mac and cheese poured inside a prepared pan.
  • Sprinkle the crumbled cornbread over the top.
    Mac and cheese covered in crumbled cornbread.
  • Place in the oven and bake for 10 minutes until the top is lightly browned and the Mac and cheese is bubbly.
    Baked mac and cheese cooling on a counter top.
  • Remove from the oven and sprinkle with green onion slices, if desired.
    Baked mac and cheese garnished with chopped green onions.
  • Serve immediately.
    Closeup photo of a large spoon digging into the mac and cheese.
  • Enjoy.
    Closeup photo of a spoonful of BBQ mac and cheese.
  • Every bite!
    Mac and cheese served in three white bowls.

Notes

  • I make this with Lloyds or Jack Daniels BBQ Pulled Pork for a quick version.
  • Make a pan of cornbread early so it has time to cool before trying to crumble.
  • This is a great meal to use up leftover BBQ meat. Use more or less meat according to your family's tastes.
  • Shred your cheese for best results.
 
The best thing to serve your mac and cheese with can be found in this list of things that pair well with it. Take a peek, try out a few and I'm sure that you'll discover your favorite meal soon enough!
Check out our 54 Cheesy Fall Recipes That Will Make Your Taste Buds Swoon.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Serving | Calories: 769kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 47g | Saturated Fat: 27g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 164mg | Sodium: 1613mg | Potassium: 517mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 1610IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 863mg | Iron: 3mg