If you’re looking for a new side dish to try at your next get-together, this smoked mac and cheese is it. It takes classic comfort food and gives it a BBQ twist with just enough smoke to make it feel like it belongs right next to ribs, pulled pork, or brisket.

Mac and cheese has always been one of my favorite BBQ sides. Creamy, gooey, cheesy… and it plays really well with anything smoky. Plus, it’s ridiculously easy to get creative with once you have the base recipe down.

Why I Love This Recipe

This one is a crowd-pleaser and it’s forgiving. You can run it alongside whatever else you’re smoking, and it doesn’t care if the temp creeps a little higher than 225°F. Want more smoke? Leave it on longer. Need it to come off when the main dish comes off? It’ll hang out and stay happy.

It’s also a “choose your own adventure” recipe. Different cheeses, different rubs, add meat, add heat… once you’ve made it once, you’ll start tweaking it every time.

Cooking Basics

Preheat your smoker to 225°F and use a mild wood (fruit woods work great; hickory is fine too). The prep is simple: cook the pasta, make the cheese sauce, mix it together, add the topping, and let the smoker do its thing.

Make the Pasta + Cheese Sauce

Cook the macaroni, then build a roux (butter + flour). Whisk in the half and half slowly, then melt in the cream cheese, cheddar, and smoked gouda. Add mustard powder and cayenne for a little kick and depth.

Build the Pan + Add the Topping

Stir the cooked pasta into the cheese sauce and pour it into an aluminum pan (or cast iron if you want to get fancy). Melt butter, mix it with panko, parmesan, and your rub, then sprinkle it evenly over the top.

Smoke It

Put the pan on the smoker at 225°F and cook for about 1 hour. That’s enough time for the smoke to kiss the mac and for the flavors to come together.

Final Thoughts

Dynamic recipe: This side is perfect when you already have the smoker running. The temp can be a bit higher if you need it, and you can let it ride longer if you want more smoke or you’re waiting on the main dish.

Easy upgrades: Add meat (lobster, bacon, pulled pork), swap cheeses (gruyere, pepper jack), or add heat (hot sauce, sriracha, sweet-heat rub). If you’ve got leftover smoked queso, using that as the base is a fun move too.

Lighten it up: Use 2% cheddar, light cream cheese, and swap half-and-half for whole milk. It’s slightly less creamy, but the flavor still hits.

🔥 So fire up the pit, and let’s grill and chill.

Smoked Mac & Cheese

Creamy, cheesy mac and cheese with a BBQ twist and just enough smoke to make it feel special. This is an easy crowd-pleasing side dish for ribs, pulled pork, brisket—or honestly anything coming off the pit.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 1

Total Time 1 20

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 8

Calories 520 kcal

Ingredients

1 lb elbow macaroni
1/2 cup butter
4 tbsp flour
2 cups half and half
4 oz cream cheese
3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cups smoked gouda
1 tbsp mustard powder
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

Topping

1 cup panko bread crumbs
1/4 cup butter
2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese
2 tbsp Honey Hog BBQ Rub or yrou own favorite

Instructions

Preheat smoker to 225°F using a mild wood (fruit woods recommended).
Cook macaroni as directed on package.
1 lb elbow macaroni
Over medium heat, whisk together butter and flour in a saucepan until combined into a roux.
1/2 cup butter, 4 tbsp flour
Add cayenne pepper and mustard powder.
1 tbsp mustard powder, 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
Whisk in half and half slowly to combine.
2 cups half and half
Stir in cream cheese, cheddar, and smoked gouda until melted and combined.
3 cups shredded cheddar cheese, 1 1/2 cups smoked gouda, 4 oz cream cheese
Add prepared pasta.
Melt butter for topping.
1/4 cup butter
Combine topping ingredients with melted butter.
1 cup panko bread crumbs, 2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese, 2 tbsp Honey Hog BBQ Rub
Add pasta and sauce mix to aluminum pan.
Top with crumb topping mix.
Put pan on smoker to cook for 1 hour.
Serve and enjoy!

Keyword bbq sides, cheddar cheese, comfort food, cookout recipes, easy side dish, holiday sides, mac and cheese, panko topping, potluck, smoked gouda, smoked mac and cheese, smoker side dish