Easy Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese
It’s difficult to imagine that good ol’ baked mac and cheese could be any more amazing, but let me introduce you to Easy Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese. Using leftover pork and a simple homemade cheese sauce will get this hearty meal on the table in no time! Add a drizzle of BBQ sauce, and enjoy your new favorite mac and cheese.
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What’s To Love About This Recipe
- Let’s start with the fact that this recipe combines two of the tastiest comfort foods in one dish. Just wait, there’s more! You’ll also top it with a layer of crispy bread crumbs and a drizzle of BBQ sauce – yum!
- When you make a big batch of pulled pork, there are usually a fair amount of leftovers. This recipe helps you utilize every bit of the delicious meat and create an entire meal that serves plenty.
- Since you’re utilizing leftovers from my famous pulled pork, this mac and cheese dish really doesn’t take long at all to assemble and bake! It’s easy enough for a weeknight, and it’s the perfect comfort food to gather everyone around the table.
- The ingredients in this recipe are flexible. Need gluten-free pasta or want to combine a few varieties of cheese? Go for it!
Ingredients Needed
- Leftover pulled pork – Use 2 cups of pre-cooked pulled pork. I always use my recipe for the BEST slow cooker pulled pork since it has versatile flavors that can work with lots of different ingredients. It’s so easy to make a big batch and portion out for leftovers!
- Pasta – Use elbow pasta for a classic mac and cheese texture, or feel free to pick another hearty noodle that won’t fall apart with the added ingredients.
- Shredded cheese – I used a cheddar blend. You can also choose your own combination of cheeses that would complement the flavors of your BBQ sauce.
- Butter – You’ll need a total of 6 tablespoons of butter, but separate it into halves for different stages of the recipe. Prepare the sauce with one half and add a luxurious topping to the pasta with the other half.
- Flour – Use regular or gluten-free flour to thicken the cheesy sauce.
- Milk – Add whole or 2% milk to create the sauce base.
- Salt – You just need a bit of salt to add to the cheese sauce mixture.
- Bread crumbs – You can buy prepared bread crumbs that are easy to sprinkle across the top of the mac and cheese dish or make your own. Toast some bread until crispy and finely chop or crumble in a baggie until you have the right texture.
- BBQ sauce– As a final step, add BBQ sauce to top the baked mac and cheese. Choose your favorite style of sauce! I used a sweet onion flavor that works well with the cheesy pasta.
How To Make Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese
- Preheat the oven to 350 ℉.
- Cook pasta according to package directions and drain.
- Toss the cooked pasta with leftover pulled pork.
- In a saucepan over medium-high heat, melt 3 tablespoons of butter.
- Whisk in the flour and salt until smooth.
- Next, whisk in the milk and let it simmer until the sauce is thickened enough to stick to the spoon.
- Remove the sauce from heat and stir in the cheese until melted and smooth.
- Add the sauce to the pork and pasta and toss until smooth.
- Add to a 2-quart casserole dish and top with bread crumbs.
- Melt the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter and drizzle over the top.
- Place the dish in the oven for approximately 20 minutes until the top is lightly browned.
- Remove from the oven and drizzle with BBQ sauce before serving.
pro Tips
- The cheese will melt smoother if you shred it yourself from the block. Avoid the anti-caking additives in pre-shredded cheese if you can.
- Cook the pasta to just slightly undercooked so it doesn’t get mushy when baked in the oven.
- If you have the time, it’s best to let the dish cool for a few minutes to set up before serving.
Recipe Substitutions and Variations
- If you have other types of leftover shredded meat, those can work too! Slow Cooker Shredded Beef or Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken would also be great options.
- You can really jazz up the mac and cheese with your selection of BBQ sauce – or even other types of sauce! Try honey BBQ sauce, hickory-smoked, or even spicy BBQ sauces. Other options could be your favorite hot sauce or a bit of sriracha sauce.
- Use different varieties of hearty noodles that will hold up to the weight of the meat and cheese. Some good options are elbow, rotini, cavatappi, etc.
- If you need a gluten-free version of this recipe, swap gluten-free pasta for regular. Make sure to shorten the boiling time by a couple of minutes and drain well. Use gluten-free all-purpose flour for the sauce as well as gluten-free bread crumbs.
- You can use either regular bread crumbs or seasoned bread crumbs for extra flavor.
- Use a mild cheese like a mild cheddar or a Colby Jack blend for a pickier palette. If you want a bolder flavor, go with sharp cheddar or add a bit of gouda for a hint of smokiness.
How To Serve Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese
I won’t blame you if you eat a bowl of this easy mac and cheese and skip the veggies! However, if you want to add some sides to balance the meal with color and extra nutrition, I have some options for you:
- Spicy Brussels Sprouts
- Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
- Slow Cooker Carrots with Herbed Honey Butter Sauce
- Tomato Corn Salsa
A fresh garden salad would also be a great addition to the meal. If you want to keep it simple, just add some raw veggies and sliced fruit. The kids (and the rest of the fam) will love it!
Storing and Reheating
Store leftover mac and cheese in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days. I recommend reheating it in the microwave or popping it back in the oven for a few minutes.
Cheesy pasta dishes don’t tend to freeze too well, so it’s best to enjoy this one soon after making it! (Plus, I doubt you’ll have much left to save – it’s bound to be devoured!)
Easy Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese
It’s difficult to imagine that good ol’ baked mac and cheese could be any more amazing, but let me introduce you to Easy Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese. Using leftover pork and a simple homemade cheese sauce will get this hearty meal on the table in no time! Add a drizzle of BBQ sauce, and enjoy your new favorite mac and cheese.
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Equipment
- oven-safe casserole dish
- saucepan
- whisk
Ingredients
- 2 cups leftover pulled pork
- 8 oz elbow pasta
- 2 cups shredded cheese I used a cheddar blend
- 6 tablespoons butter separate into 2 portions of 3 tablespoons each
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 2 1/2 cups milk
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup bread crumbs
- 1/4 cup BBQ sauce I used sweet onion flavor
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 ℉
- Cook pasta according to package directions and drain
- Toss cooked pasta with leftover pulled pork
- In saucepan over medium-high heat, melt 3 tablespoons of butter
- Whisk in flour and salt until smooth
- Next, whisk in milk and let it simmer until sauce is thickened enough to stick to spoon
- Remove sauce from heat and stir in cheese until melted and smooth
- Add sauce to pork and pasta and toss until smooth
- Add to 2-quart casserole dish and top with bread crumbs
- Melt remaining 3 tablespoons of butter and drizzle over top
- Place dish in oven for approximately 20 minutes until top is lightly browned
- Remove from oven and drizzle with BBQ sauce before serving
Notes
- Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat in the microwave or oven.
- Use a hearty noodle like elbow, rotini, etc. that will hold up to the meat and cheese.
- Cook the pasta to just slightly undercooked so it doesn’t get mushy when baked in the oven.
Nutrition
Calories: 449kcalCarbohydrates: 44gProtein: 18gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 14gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 67mgSodium: 625mgPotassium: 293mgFiber: 2gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 729IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 330mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @slowcookergourmet or tag #slowcookergourmet!
Important nutritional disclaimerPulled Pork Mac and Cheese FAQs
- How do you keep the Mac and Cheese from getting too dry? Make sure there is plenty of cheese sauce to thoroughly coat the noodles before baking. Add a bit more milk to the sauce if needed. You can also lightly cover the casserole dish with a sheet of foil to trap some of the moisture.
- What cheese goes best with pulled pork? Cheddar cheese or a smokier cheese like gouda will both complement the flavors of pulled pork. For a milder flavor, use a Colby Jack blend.
- Can store-bought pulled pork be used in this recipe? Yes, you can use any pre-cooked pulled pork for this recipe.
Should I spray the casserole dish?
Yes you can to help with easier cleanup later!
Delicious! Recipe called for salt, however, no directions when to add. Did not add.