Smoked Bacon and Jalapeno Mac and Cheese

Total Time Prep: 25 min. Cook: 30 min.
Yield 6 servings
Test Kitchen Approved
Smoked bacon and jalapeno mac and cheese isn't like anything from a box. The tangy, cheesy sauce is studded with fiery peppers and bacon, then the whole thing is grilled until hot and smoky.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup uncooked elbow macaroni
  • 2 jalapeno peppers
  • 1/2 pound bacon strips, chopped
  • 1/2 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 2-1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 teaspoon ground mustard
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

  1. Preheat grill or smoker to 300°. Cook pasta according to package directions for al dente. Drain and transfer to a large bowl.
  2. Meanwhile, place jalapenos on a broiler pan. Broil 4 in. from heat until skins blister, about 3 minutes. With tongs, rotate peppers a quarter turn. Broil and rotate until all sides are blistered and blackened. Remove to a cutting board. Remove stems, and if desired, seeds. Roughly chop; set aside.
  3. In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove to paper towels to drain. Add onions to drippings; cook and stir over medium-high heat or until very soft. Add garlic, cook one minute longer.
  4. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add cream cheese, cheddar, heavy cream, mustard, salt and pepper to taste. Stir until smooth. Add elbow noodles, chopped jalapenos, bacon and onion mixture; stir to combine.
  5. Transfer to a greased 10-in. cast-iron skillet or baking dish. Place on grill or smoker rack. Grill or smoke, uncovered for 20 minutes. Cover and rotate pan; continue cooking until a thermometer reads at least 160°, 10-15 minutes longer. Do not overcook. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts

1 serving: 686 calories, 58g fat (31g saturated fat), 153mg cholesterol, 777mg sodium, 20g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 2g fiber), 22g protein.

This smoked mac and cheese recipe combines two of my favorite ingredients: bacon and jalapenos! If your jalapenos aren't particularly spicy, go ahead and add more. Sometimes I even double the amount, depending on the peppers I end up with. —Joshua Allen, lowville, New York
Recipe Creator

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