Elevate your BBQ game with our mouthwatering Big Green Egg smoked mac and cheese recipe. Creamy, cheesy, and irresistibly smoky—get ready to wow your guests!
Course
Side Dish
Prep Time20minutes
Cook Time30minutes
Servings8
Ingredients
1poundelbow macaroni
1/2cupunsalted butter
1/2cupall-purpose flour
4cupswhole milk
4cupssharp cheddar cheeseshredded
2cupssmoked Gouda cheeseshredded
1teaspoonhot sauce
1teaspoonsmoked paprika
1tablespoonbrown sugar
Salt a& black pepper to taste
Instructions
Prepping the Ingredients
Boil the Macaroni: Cook the elbow macaroni according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
Shred the Cheese: Grate the sharp cheddar and smoked Gouda cheese. Pro tip: Grate your cheese from blocks for a creamier texture.
Roux and Cheese Sauce Magic
Roux Creation: In a large pot, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk continuously until it forms a golden brown roux. This should take about 5 minutes.
Milky Smoothness: Slowly pour in the whole milk, whisking constantly to avoid lumps. Keep whisking until the mixture thickens, usually around 8-10 minutes.
Cheesy Symphony: Reduce the heat to low and gradually add the shredded cheddar and smoked Gouda, stirring until the cheese is completely melted and the sauce is velvety smooth.
Flavor Boost: Sprinkle in the hot sauce, smoked paprika, brown sugar, salt, and black pepper. Give it a taste and adjust the seasonings if needed. Your cheese sauce should be a flavor-packed masterpiece by now.
Smokin' Time on the Big Green Egg
Fire Up the Big Green Egg: Get that Egg going and stabilize it at a smokin' 225°F. This is where the magic happens, folks!
Mac and Cheese Fusion: Mix the cooked macaroni with the cheesy sauce, ensuring every noodle is coated in that goodness. Transfer the mixture to a cast-iron skillet – this is your ticket to smoky flavor town!
Onto the Egg: Carefully place the cast-iron skillet on the preheated Big Green Egg. Close the lid and let the mac and cheese smoke away for about 30 minutes. This is the waiting game, my friends, but oh, is it worth it!
Serve and Savor
Golden Perfection: After 30 minutes, your mac and cheese should be kissed by that smoky flavor. Remove it from the Big Green Egg, and marvel at the golden, bubbling perfection.
Serve it Up: Scoop out generous servings of your smoked mac and cheese onto plates. Garnish with an extra sprinkle of smoked paprika if you're feeling fancy.