You’ll get yourself invited to the cookout with this one, guaranteed. Smoky, savory, cheesy what’s not to love? If you’ve not tried smoked mac and cheese, you’re truly missing out on the finer things in life. Enjoy this smoked macaroni and cheese recipe using your wood pellet smoker grill.

spoon holding smoked Mac and cheese in front of a pan of yellow and orange Mac and cheese

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Do you know MAC and cheese’s meaning?

I recently learned that MAC and cheese literally means macaroni and cheese... MAC.

Kind of like how a cookie sheet may actually be called a cooking sheet, my life feeling like a whole sham.

Probably could have gone my whole life without knowing these two things and been just fine. But in the event these are new and life changing learnings for you, too… welcome! We can commiserate together.

What makes smoked mac and cheese so good?

The schmelty-ness (yes that’s a made up word that fits perfectly) of the cheeses and creams paired with a hint of smoke flavor is hard to put into words. If I could give you a sampling right now through this screen, you’d thank me if you too could find the right words.

Since I can’t offer that sampling, you’ll have to go with me here and trust this delicious southern-style Mac and cheese recipe.

Ingredients List

elbow macaroni noodles
cheddar cheese, shredded
Colby jack or pepper jack for an extra zing to your palate, shredded
cream cheese
butter
milk
heavy whipping cream
paprika
cumin
red pepper flakes or cayenne, optional for extra razzle AKA spice
salt and pepper

one pile of white shredded cheese in the forefront with a glass dish of yellow and white cheese in the background for smoked Mac and cheese

Let’s leave the bagged cheeses with powder of wood chips (look up what “cellulose” really is) out of this. If you’re going to make homemade mac and cheese to impress your family and friends at Thanksgiving or the bbq, let’s go all out and really put our back into this recipe.

Shred your own cheeses and I promise you’ll be glad you did!

To be fair (and human), I sometimes use bagged cheese when life is lifein’ and I need a little convenience. BUT, this Christmas I was gifted a Kitchen Aid attachment that shredded cheeses and I thank my mother-in-law and the genius who decided this needed to be an attachment! SO EASY and bonus: my son wanted to do it so I let him grate a pound of cheese to store in the fridge for such a time as this.

one pile of white shredded cheese in the forefront with a glass dish of yellow and white cheese in the background accompanied by butter, cream cheese, and two jars of milk on a dark wooden cutting board

How to smoke Mac and cheese

First, get the smoker grill preheating to 250 degrees and then melt butter in a sauce pan on the stove (or microwave).

Next, grab a 9×13 casserole pan that is grill safe. I use a glass Pyrex casserole pan with no issues. Begin by pouring dry macaroni noodles in the pan and evenly spread out.

pan of dry macaroni noodles sitting on a white marble countertop

Then pour melted butter all over the noodles as best you can and then use a knife to cut small slices or chunks out of the cream cheese to spread around the casserole pan in different spots.

Now sprinkle on the cheeses in any manner you prefer.

Next, pour in the milk and the heavy whipping cream.

Then sprinkle on your spices including the salt and pepper and use a wooden spoon to give the concoction a mixing.

mix of uncooked mac and cheese with milk, butter, cheeses, and spices on top

mix of uncooked Mac and cheese with milk, butter, and cheeses

Put the casserole pan of Mac and cheese on the smoker grill and close the lid.

Set a timer for 30 minutes. After half an hour of smoking, use wooden spoon to carefully give the Mac and cheese another stir to help incorporate the cream cheese.

Set the timer for 1 hour and 20 minutes more to finish cooking. Then remove the smoked Mac and cheese from the grill and allow it to cool slightly before devouring it!

glass casserole dish of yellow and orange mac and cheese on a smoker grill

Optional: save half the cheddar cheese from this recipe to add after smoking. Sprinkle the cheese over the Mac and cheese and put the pan in the oven on broil for 2 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly like you like it.

This recipe will feed about 12 people, IF they can resist not getting seconds! Ha! Best wishes with that.

Total cook time: 1 hour 50 minutes on the smoker grill.

A note on the hot spices

A little spice is nice but if your palate can handle it, add a little more than suggested in this recipe.

Something about that extra kick is unexpected but pleasant at the same time. Especially if you are serving up this southern side dish with a smoked or grilled meat.

Since you’re already using the smoker

Pair this smoked mac and cheese with a smoked brisket or Boston Butt using this all meat seasoning.

My son’s favorite combination is piling pulled brisket or pork on top of smoked mac and cheese drizzled with this easy no cook BBQ sauce.

metal container holding 3 bbq sauces that says "a cow, a pig, and a chicken walk into a barbecue, the end."

Our favorite wood pellet grill for smoking

Truth be told, we’ve only ever owned the Pit Boss.

It’s great for smoking all kinds of meats and even grilling steaks and burgers.

We recommend the Pit Boss and the Competition Blend wood pellets.

Here is a cheaper competition blend by another brand.

We smoke pizza regularly on this smoker too.

close shot view of sliced into squares smoked sourdough pizza

If you don’t have a wood pellet smoker grill

If you don’t, save them pennies and get one! Seriously, the best flavor for meats, pizza, and now Mac and cheese!

But in the event you do not own a smoker grill, this Mac and cheese can be made in the oven.

Let me say this: there will be no smoke flavor. If you are a fan of liquid smoke, you can add some of that at your own discretion to the recipe and stir it in well.

To bake this Mac and cheese in the oven, do so at 350 degrees for 35 minutes then finish off with the cheese topping and 2 more minutes under the broiler for a golden brown and bubbly finish.

Cook Out invite for life

Seriously, this Mac and cheese smoked on the wood pellet grill is incredible. I’ve not taken it to a cook out (barbecue, if you’re from up north) yet that didn’t receive many compliments and take home plates.

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