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BBQ Mac and Cheese

Everyone’s favorite, mac and cheese has had one delicious makeover! This BBQ mac and cheese recipe is made with shredded BBQ and seasoned with BBQ sauce before being baked to perfection. It’s rich, cheesy, creamy, and tangy. It’s the perfect comfort food!

Two bowls of mac and cheese topped with BBQ sauce.


 

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Just when you thought mac and cheese couldn’t get any better, along comes BBQ mac and cheese! Stop what you are doing and make this immediately!

This recipe is the most perfect comfort food, rich and hearty, cheesy and tangy, every bite is a real treat!

The oven-baked macaroni cheese is loaded with BBQ pork, or chicken, a lot of cheese, and of course your favorite BBQ sauce. This is one hearty, indulgent and comforting dish that the whole family will love!

Be sure to try my Seafood Mac and Cheese and Creamy Air Fryer Mac and Cheese too!

A wooden spoon serving the BBQ mac and cheese.

How to make BBQ Mac and Cheese

  • Gather your ingredients.
Ingredients to make the recipe.
  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9×13 pan and set aside.
  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add macaroni and cook until al dente, according to the directions on the macaroni box. This should be about 8-9 minutes. Drain and set aside in a large bowl.
  • Combine milk and heavy cream in a large measuring cup or glass. Set aside.
  • In a separate medium-sized pot, melt butter over medium heat. Sprinkle flour in the pot and whisk for 1-2 minutes, until the flour smells toasty. Slowly whisk in milk/cream mixture. Allow to simmer until thickened, whisking often. This should take about 5 minutes.
  • Remove from heat and stir in 2 cups of shredded cheese and the ½ cup bbq sauce. Taste the sauce and add salt and pepper if desired.
  • Pour sauce over drained macaroni and stir until the macaroni is covered. Add 1 cup of cooked BBQ and stir until combined.
  • Pour mixture into the 9×13 baking pan and top with remaining cooked BBQ, bbq sauce, and cheese. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, until the cheese is bubbly.
The mac and cheese topped with more cheese and BBQ pork.
  • To brown the cheese on top, place the oven on broil for 3-4 minutes until the cheese on top has browned. Remove from the oven and top with remaining bbq sauce and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Serve and enjoy.
The BBQ mac and cheese after being baked.

Can you make it ahead of time?

This BBQ mac and cheese is so delicious served straight out of the oven, but the leftovers are just as tasty! Once baked, let the dish cool and then cover or transfer to an airtight container. It will keep well for around four days and you can reheat it at 360F with the top covered with foil for around 15 minutes to warm it through.

What’s the best protein to use?

This mac and cheese recipe is great with either BBQ shredded pork or BBQ chicken. You can buy store bought for ease or make your own favorite recipe. For a meat-free version, you can simply omit the meat, it will still have all of that delicious BBQ flavor.

What do you serve it with?

A big bowl of this mac and cheese is perfect served by itself in a big bowl, and it’s delicious paired with your favorite sides. try it with:

Close up of BBQ mac and cheese.

Recipe Notes and Tips

  • Elbow macaroni is perfect for this recipe, but any short pasta like bow tie or penne will work well.
  • Sharp cheddar cheese adds a wonderful flavor, though other shredded cheese like Jack or mozzarella will work well.
  • The pasta should be cooked al dente. If it’s overcooked, the final dish can become quite soggy.
  • Cook the pasta in heavily salted water to add flavor to the dish right from the beginning.

More Pasta Recipes

Two bowls of mac and cheese topped with BBQ sauce.
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5 from 3 votes

BBQ Mac and Cheese

Everyone's favorite, mac and cheese has had one delicious makeover! This BBQ mac and cheese recipe is made with BBQ shredded meat and seasoned with BBQ sauce before being baked to perfection.
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword baked bbq mac and cheese, bbq pork mac and cheese, mac and cheese with bbq sauce
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 791kcal
Author Tanya

Ingredients

  • 16 oz dried elbow macaroni
  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese separated
  • ½ cup bbq sauce plus more for garnish
  • 2 cups cooked BBQ pork or chicken
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9×13 pan and set aside.
  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add macaroni and cook until al dente, according to the directions on the macaroni box. This should be about 8-9 minutes. Drain and set aside in a large bowl.
  • Combine milk and heavy cream in a large measuring cup or glass. Set aside.
  • In a separate medium-sized pot, melt butter over medium heat. Sprinkle flour in the pot and whisk for 1-2 minutes, until the flour smells toasty. Slowly whisk in milk/cream mixture. Allow to simmer until thickened, whisking often. This should take about 5 minutes.
  • Remove from heat and stir in 2 cups of shredded cheese and the ½ cup bbq sauce. Taste the sauce and add salt and pepper if desired.
  • Pour sauce over drained macaroni and stir until the macaroni is covered. Add 1 cup of cooked BBQ and stir until combined.
  • Pour mixture into the 9×13 baking pan and top with remaining cooked BBQ, bbq sauce, and cheese. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, until the cheese is bubbly.
  • To brown the cheese on top, place the oven on broil for 3-4 minutes until the cheese on top has browned. Remove from the oven and top with remaining bbq sauce and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Serve and enjoy.

Notes

  • Elbow macaroni is perfect for this recipe, but any short pasta like bow tie or penne will work well.
  • Sharp cheddar cheese adds a wonderful flavor, though other shredded cheese like Jack or mozzarella will work well.
  • The pasta should be cooked al dente. If it’s overcooked, the final dish can become quite soggy.
  • Cook the pasta in heavily salted water to add flavor to the dish right from the beginning.

Nutrition

Calories: 791kcal | Carbohydrates: 70g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 44g | Saturated Fat: 26g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 147mg | Sodium: 846mg | Potassium: 324mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 1444IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 446mg | Iron: 2mg
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5 from 3 votes
Recipe Rating




Robert

Monday 19th of June 2023

Thank you!!!Great recipe!! I added some liquid smoke and that made it over the top. Whole pan gone!!! I didn’t use any meat in it.

Tanya

Monday 19th of June 2023

Thanks Robert! So glad you liked the recipe. Adding liquid smoke is genius!

Claire

Monday 3rd of April 2023

Fantastic recipe! I was looking for an easy but tasty weeknight dinner and this was perfect! I used store-bought bbq sauce, so I figured it didn't need to be "cooked" before adding. The family gives it 6/5 stars so I will definitely be making this again!

Tanya

Tuesday 4th of April 2023

Thanks Claire! So happy you all liked the recipe :)

Hugo

Monday 12th of December 2022

This recipe is just what I am looking for our Church pot luck, looks great will be making for the taste test.

Tanya

Saturday 17th of December 2022

Thanks Hugo, hope you enjoy it :)