Servings:
6
Cooking Time:
1 hour.
Great For:
Lunch, Parties, Picnics.
About this Recipe
By: Leon
Mac & Cheese is a great side dish with any BBQ meal. This recipe calls for sharp cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses but you can use other cheeses like Gouda, white cheddar, or Gruyère. It’s best to use two or even three cheese types so your sauce so you get a combination of flavors but also it adds to the creaminess (particularly if you include cheddar which is a drier cheese and can become grainy). You can back this in your grill and even in a cast-iron skillet. Paired with your favorite adult beverage and your friends might forget you have BBQ in the smoker.
Ingredients
Sauce
- 1/4 C flour
- 1/4 C butter
- 3 C milk
- 1 1/2 C sharp cheddar cheese
- 2 C Monterey Jack cheese
- 1/2 t sea salt
- 1 t dry mustard
Pasta
- 8 oz. elbow macaroni
How To Make It
Step 1
Macaroni
In a large pot, heat some water per macaroni package directions. You can work on the sauce while the macaroni is cooking. When the macaroni is done drain it thoroughly and set it aside. Add a little butter just to keep the macaroni from sticking together.
Step 2
Sauce
In a large sauce pan heat the butter on medium heat until melted. Slowly add the flour, stirring with a whisk so that it stays smooth and doesn’t burn. once you have added all the flour allow the mixture (it’s called a roux) to cook. Let it cook for about 5 minutes, continually stirring (just stop every now and then to check on it’s color). when it starts to take on a slightly tannish color begin adding the milk. Add about 1/2 cup at a time while continually stirring while it thickens into a sauce. This takes about 5 minutes or so and you know it’s ready when it sticks to the whisk and the sides of the pan.
Step 3
Remove the sauce from the heat and slowly add the cheeses. Do not cook the cheese sauce; just allow it to melt. Add 1/2 t of salt and 1 t of dry mustard.
Step 4
Mix and Bake
Mix the sauce and macaroni into a baking disk or cast-iron skillet. Place it in an oven or your grill (pre-heated to around 350˚. Bake for around 20 minutes or so until it has a golden color on top. Some people like adding bread crumbs but that’s a personal preference; it’s not my choice. It’s ready to serve!