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.

bowl of pulled pork, measuring cup of milk, bowl of shredded cheese, bowl of dried elbow noodles, bowl of breadcrumbs, bowl of bbq sauce, ramekin of flour and cut pats of butter

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.

cheese sauce, elbow noodle and pulled pork in a sauce pan ready to mix

oval white casserole dish with Mac and cheese topped with breadcrumbs ready to bake

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.

white serving dish of pulled pork Mac and cheese drizzled with bbq sauce

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:

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!

bowls of pulled pork Mac and cheese next to white serving dish

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!)