When it comes to an amazing dish, look no further than this incredible Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese. One bite, and you'll be in love!
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Making mac and cheese from scratch can be time-consuming, so I did mine in stages. I'm in the habit of planning meals ahead of time so I am not scrambling at the end of the day to figure out what's for dinner.
Using the slow cooker saves me lots of time so I prepared my slow cooker pulled pork recipe and toss it with my favorite BBQ sauce!
Pro Tip: Make a double batch of pulled pork. It's simple and means you have part of another meal ready to go!
Ingredients
This is meant to be a brief overview of how to make pulled pork mac and cheese. For step-by-step instructions and a full printable recipe card with ingredients, please scroll down to the teal box below.
Here is what you'll need to make the mac and cheese part of the recipe.
- Butter, Heavy Cream and Milk
- Gouda, Parmesan Romano, and Sharp Cheddar Cheeses
From the Panty:
- Panko Breadcrumbs
- Granulated Garlic
- Ground mustard
- All-Purpose Flour
- Pasta (I used Cavatappi)
Instructions
- Boil the pasta until al dente and drain.
- Toss the shredded pork with BBQ sauce if it doesn't have it already.
- Make the cheese sauce.
- Assemble the casserole with leftover pulled pork on the bottom, then the mac and cheese, and top with breadcrumb topping.
- Bake until heated through and bubbly.
🥄Equipment
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Here is what you will need to make easy mac and cheese with pulled pork:
- Large stock pot
- Casserole Dish
- Sauce Pan
- Whisk
- Measuring Spoons
- Liquid Measuring Cup
- Dry Measuring Cups
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Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions and answers that readers often ask us about our pulled pork mac and cheese casserole.
You need to have cheeses that melt well and have great flavor. The base of this cheese sauce is a white sauce so using strong cheeses like Gouda, Cheddar, Monterrey Jack, or Gruyere are best. Gouda is my personal favorite, paired with Sharp White Cheddar because that's what my mom always uses.
Cheese sauces are tricky but once you master the technique, you'll be making it all the time. To save yourself some time, make this cheese sauce ahead of time. Place it in an airtight container and refrigerate for 3 to 4 days.
Garlic, nutmeg and ground mustard all compliment the cheeses in this pulled pork mac and cheese recipe. If you like it a little spicy, add a pinch or two of Cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce.
Many baked mac and cheese recipes take 30-40 minutes. but this recipe just needs 20-25 minutes.
If you enjoyed this creamy mac recipe, you'll love our Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese. Every bite is packed with tender chicken and a smooth and creamy buffalo cheese sauce. Yum! You'll also love our cheesy chicken ranch mac. And if you like a little heat, try my Jalapeño Bacon Mac and Cheese recipe, too.
Recipe Variations
The first time you try any new recipe we recommend that you make it just as it is written on the recipe card since that is how BBQ pork mac and cheese recipe has been tested. However, the next time you make our recipe, you might want to try one of these ideas:
- I used cavatappi pasta, but my mom always makes this with elbow macaroni noodles. You can use any type of short pasta shapes you like.
- Add a sprinkle of chopped green onion or fresh chives on top.
- This casserole can be made using leftover BBQ chicken or shredded beef also.
Delicious Weeknight Dinner Recipes
- For a super fast weeknight dinner, I made Chicken Tortilla Soup. It's full of big flavor and tastes amazing! This is another one that is lovely to make a double batch, and give to a friend that might be sick or needing a hand.
- Mini Shepherd's Pie is a reader favorite and super easy to make ahead. It freezes well also so it's a great meal to make for a new mom or elderly loved one.
- Chorizo Sheet Pan Dinner is delicious and has the least amount of clean up - just one pan, and it's lined with foil! Prep the veggies a couple days ahead of time and then just grab them from the fridge when it's time to pop it in the oven!
- When you don't have a lot of time to prep a meal, plan ahead and make Slow Cooker Honey Chicken instead. The house will smell amazing and the kids will gobble it up!
- If you like a little spice, this Cajun Mac and Cheese with andouille sausage and pepper jack cheese is for you! It's great for weeknights because it only takes 35 minutes to make.
If your family loves pulled pork, add our Asian pulled pork sliders or zucchini boats with pulled pork to your meal plan this week.
Not ready to make your own homemade Mac and Cheese Pulled Pork yet?
Pin this recipe for later! If you loved it, please be sure to give it a five-star review!
Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese
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Ingredients
- 1 pound pulled pork prepared
- 1 lb pasta such as cavatappi or shells cooked
- BBQ sauce to drizzle on top
- Parsley for garnish optional
Topping
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ⅔ cup panko breadcrumbs
- ⅓ cup grated Parmesan Romano cheese
- ¼ teaspoon granulated garlic
- salt and black pepper to taste
Macaroni and Cheese
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 8 ounces gouda cheese shredded
- 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- nutmeg to taste
- salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
To Make the Topping:
- In a skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the Panko bread crumbs and season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle on the granulated garlic then add the Parmesan Romano grated cheese. Use a spatula to move the mixture around the pan so that it all gets toasted. Remove from the heat and set aside.
To Make the Cheese Sauce:
- In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour and cook for 2 minutes, stirring often.
- Slowly drizzle in the milk, whisking constantly. Then add the cream and continue to whisk.
- Use a microplane to grate the nutmeg. I use about a ½ teaspoon.
- Add the granulated garlic, and ground mustard. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Reserve about 2 ounces of cheese for the topping
- When the cream mixture is very warm, begin adding the cheese about ¼ cup at a time. Whisk well after each addition and make sure the cheese is melted before adding the next batch.
- After the cheese is all incorporated, taste for seasoning and add additional salt and pepper as needed. You can also add a pinch of cayenne pepper if you would like to give your cheese sauce a little kick.
- Use spatula or wooden spoon to fold the pasta into the cheese sauce.
- A spoonful of mac and cheese scooped from a full stock potwith a dish of pulled pork in the background next to a turqoise towel.
To Assemble the Dish:
- Preheat a your oven 325 degrees F. Butter a 9×12 baking dish. Put the pulled pork on the bottom.
- Spoon the mac and cheese over the pulled pork in the prepared baking dish.
- Sprinkle the top of the mac and cheese with the reserved cheese, then add the bread crumb topping.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes. Remove the baking dish from the oven and let it sit 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
- Drizzle on a little barbecue sauce just before serving.
Equipment
- Large stock pot
- Sauce Pan
Nutrition
Meal Planning
This recipe is included in Meal Plan 47 along with:
- chicken and dumplings
- Italian wedding soup
- slow cooker honey garlic chicken
- pulled pork sliders
- chicken hashbrown casserole
... and more!
Marianne says
Whoa....that is insane!!
Ang Paris says
Hope you get to enjoy it soon!
Danielle says
I have never heard of putting mac and cheese with pulled pork, but this looks kind of awesome!
Pinning!
Ang Paris says
It is pretty different, but so good! Hope you get the chance to try it soon 🙂
Kim says
This mac and cheese with pulled pork is SO good. I love this casserole! I used some fried onions on top instead of breadcrumbs.