BBQ mac & cheese
Short answer: Make a béchamel sauce, melt smoked cheddar and regular cheddar into it, mix with cooked macaroni and a pinch of BBQ rub. Bake for 20 minutes in the oven or on the BBQ until the crust is golden brown and crispy.
BBQ mac & cheese is the ultimate comfort food side dish. The combination of creamy cheese sauce, smoked cheddar, and a crispy crust makes it irresistible — especially when baked in a cast-iron skillet on the BBQ, picking up a subtle smoky flavor.
The most popular side dish with spareribs and pulled pork — and rightly so.
What do you need?
For 4–6 servings:
- 400g macaroni or elbow pasta
- 50g butter
- 50g flour
- 600ml whole milk
- 200g smoked cheddar, grated
- 150g regular cheddar, grated
- 1 tsp Memphis BBQ rub
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- Salt, pepper, and nutmeg
- For the crust: 50g breadcrumbs + 30g grated Parmesan + 1 tbsp butter
Smoked cheddar gives mac & cheese its BBQ character. Always combine with regular cheddar for meltability — smoked cheddar alone doesn't melt as well. Gouda or Gruyère also work well as an addition.
Preparation
- Cook the macaroni 2 minutes less than the package instructions (al dente). Drain and set aside.
- Melt the butter in a pan over medium heat. Add the flour and stir for 2 minutes to form a smooth roux.
- Add the milk little by little, stirring continuously. Let thicken on low heat for 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and melt the cheese into it. Add BBQ rub, mustard, salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
- Mix the macaroni with the cheese sauce. Spoon into a greased baking dish or cast-iron skillet.
- Mix breadcrumbs, Parmesan, and melted butter. Sprinkle over the mac & cheese.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes at 200°C (or on the BBQ indirectly at 180°C) until the crust is golden brown.
Place the cast-iron skillet on the indirect part of the BBQ at 180°C with the lid closed. After 20 minutes, the mac & cheese will have a subtle smoky flavor that you'd never get from the oven. Ideal if the BBQ is already lit.
Variations
- Pulled pork mac & cheese: mix 200g pulled pork into the mac for a complete meal
- Bacon mac & cheese: add crispy fried bacon bits
- Spicy: add jalapeño and an extra pinch of cayenne pepper to the sauce
- Lighter version: replace half of the milk with crème fraîche
More BBQ side dishes
The rub makes all the difference
Freshly blended to order. No fillers. Free delivery via DHL.
View all rubs Starter Pack · 3 flavors