Change things up a bit with this savory and cheesy Traeger Smoked Mac and Cheese recipe. My easy one-pot sauce takes your favorite noodles and turns it into a no-drain, smooth, velvety, mac that has more cheese than anyone knows what to do with. Topped off with more cheese, panko, and corn flakes, and then smoked on your pellet grill until it is bubbly and delicious.
This recipe was updated in September 2021 with new photos and an updated recipe.
Traeger Smoked Mac and Cheese
If you are looking for a doctored-up boxed mac and cheese, you’re in the wrong place. This recipe is from scratch but doesn’t involve a bunch of flour OR any complicated processes.
For this recipe, I took my Homemade Mac and Cheese Recipe and topped it with crunchy panko bread crumbs along with crumbled corn flakes and even more cheese. It gets tossed in the pellet grill for about 45 minutes next and you’ll have the creamiest, cheesiest bowl of mac and cheese, maybe ever.
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Can you really make pasta without draining it?
Yes! One-pot pastas are incredible, and because the starch from the pasta gets incorporated into the sauce, it creates a smooth, velvety sauce that is perfect for melting copious amounts of cheese.
If you are opposed to that, you can also sub in your favorite mac and cheese recipe. Just use the same kind of toppings and smoke it in the Traeger for about 45 minutes at 220°.
That’s part of the reason why I love the Traeger so much. You can really go nuts and do a full smoke, like in our Smoked Salmon and the Beef Jerky. But you can also just basically use it like a giant big wood-fired oven.
You can even cover your casseroles and they won’t get any smoke at all, or you can bake them at a higher temperature and you’ll probably be able to tell there was a fire nearby somewhere. Is it the neighbors having a bonfire?
I maxed out the smoke flavor a little bit in this by using some smoked cheese too. DO THAT.
What else can you serve with Smoked Mac and Cheese?
This smoked mac and cheese is the side dish you didn’t know you needed, but now will want every chance you get.
This also reheats really well, even in the microwave (add a little milk if it isn’t as wet as you’d like), and a recipe that the whole family will love. Great for all your family barbeques, weeknight meals, and even pack it up and take to a potluck.
Stir-in options for smoked mac n cheese
- Diced Chicken
- Diced Ham
- Broccoli
- Steamed Chopped Asparagus
- Spinach
- Buffalo Sauce
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More great recipes to try!
- Pork Belly Burnt Ends
- Smoked Brisket
- Spatchcock Chicken
- Pancit Bihon
- Smoked Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
- Beer Can Chicken
- Smoked Hamburgers
- Smoked Chicken Thighs
- Traeger Salmon
- Traeger Pulled Pork
- Smoked Tri-Tip
- Poor Man’s Burnt Ends
- Traeger Pulled Pork
- Smoked Beef Ribs
Traeger Smoked Mac and Cheese
This smoked macaroni and cheese has smoked cheese in it, and is finished off on your wood-fired grill! Just enough smoke to make it interesting.
Ingredients
- 1 pound penne or similar noodles
- 6 cups water
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup salted butter
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder
- 1 cup whole milk or half and half
- 1 pinch cayenne (optional)
- 3 cups shredded cheese like cheddar or colby jack
Topping
- 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1/2 cup crushed corn flakes
- 1 cup shredded cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the pellet grill or smoker to 225°.
- Place the noodles, water, salt, butter, and mustard powder in a medim to large pot. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently. Let simmer until the pasta is tender. Reduce the heat to low.
- Stir in the milk, cayenne, and 3 cups shredded cheese. Stir until the cheese is melted and combined.
- Grease a grill-safe baking dish and place the mac and cheese inside. Top with the bread crumbs, cornflake crumbs, and the additional cup of cheese.
- Place the dish into the smoker and smoke for 30-45 minutes, or until the cheese is melty on top and it is starting to get brown on top.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 351Total Fat: 23gSaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 65mgSodium: 481mgCarbohydrates: 21gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 14g
Nutrition data provided here is only an estimate.
Nicole Johnson
Nicole Johnson, a self-taught expert in grilling and outdoor cooking, launched Or Whatever You Do in 2010. Her blog, renowned for its comprehensive and creative outdoor cooking recipes, has garnered a vast audience of millions. Nicole's hands-on experience and passion for grilling shine through her work. Her husband, Jeremiah Johnson, also plays a pivotal role in recipe development, adding his culinary flair to the mix. Together, they form a dynamic duo, offering a rich and varied outdoor cooking experience to their followers.
Karen Carr
Sunday 3rd of April 2022
Hi, do you think it would be ok to halve the recipe to serve 4?
Nicole Johnson
Sunday 3rd of April 2022
I've never tried that myself, but it should be okay I think!
Kevin
Friday 25th of March 2022
Am I missing the amounts for butter and water?
Levi C.
Sunday 19th of June 2022
@Nicole Johnson, no the amount for salt and water and butter are missing
Nicole Johnson
Friday 25th of March 2022
They are in the recipe card. Can you see them in the ingredients list?
Carlie Dickson
Sunday 20th of March 2022
How much water? I can’t imagine it would be up to our do Discretion if we don’t drain it? Thanks!
Nicole Johnson
Sunday 20th of March 2022
The recipe calls for 6 cups of water.
Serena Bliss
Sunday 27th of February 2022
I am assuming you drain the water from the pasta once it is cooked? Or do you stir the milk amd stuff into the pasta water?
Nicole Johnson
Sunday 27th of February 2022
No draining required! This is a "one pot" pasta recipe, and the pasta water cooks down and is incorporated into the sauce.
M
Friday 24th of September 2021
The recipe instructions make no mention of smoking the Mac and cheese, but near the top of the page it talks about smoking it for about 45 minutes. What are the full instructions for this recipe?
Nicole Johnson
Friday 24th of September 2021
Whoops! My new changes didn't quite make it all the way through to the published post. So sorry about that! It is corrected now. Thanks for pointing this out!