Creamiest Traeger Smoked Mac and Cheese Recipe

Amazing Flavors of Smoky Mac and Cheese

We all know that baked Mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food, but we are taking it to a whole new level by finishing it on the Traeger instead of baking it in the oven. The cheese topping will have beautiful golden brown edges and the creamy cheese mixture is loaded with tons of flavor which makes this the perfect side dish to impress your friends and family. 

Challenges with this Side Dish

There is nothing worse than spending tons of time and energy on a new recipe only to have it turn out flat. Let's look at a few recipe challenges and think about how we can prevent disappointment from happening. 

Problem #1: The macaroni and cheese isn't creamy enough. The solution: we need more sauce. This recipe has a lot of cheese sauce. As our prepared Mac and cheese bakes, moisture evaporates. We want our side dish to be pretty loose before it hits the Traeger. Another reason we want this is that as the dish cools, it tightens up. We want our Mac to be soft and gooey. Not a tight glob.

Problem #2: The pasta is overcooked and doesn't hold up. It's really important that we don't overcook the pasta. We want our pasta to just barely hit the al dente mark so it doesn't come out mushy. 

Smoked Mac and Cheese Ingredients

• 1 pound Elbow Macaroni or Small Pasta Shells
• 2 cups Sharp Cheddar Cheese
• 1 cup Monterey Jack Cheese
• 1 cup Smoked Gouda
• 8 ounce block of Cream Cheese
• 2 cups heavy cream
• ½ cup Half and Half
• 1 teaspoon Dry Mustard Powder
• 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
• Salt to tasto
• Black Pepper to taste

Helpful Cooking Equipment

• a large stock pot to cook the pasta
• medium sauce pot and a rubber spatula for the cheese sauce
• cast iron skillet for baking the mac and cheese on your Traeger Grills or a 9x13 disposable aluminum pan

How to Make Smoked Mac n Cheese

1. The first step is to place a very large pot of salted water over high-heat and preheat your Traeger to 225F if you are not already cooking on it. 
2. Make the cheese sauce while you wait for the water to boil and cook the pasta. Set a medium sauce pot over medium heat. Add the heavy cream and room temperature cream cheese.
3. Whisk the cream mixture until it's smooth. Add two cups of the shredded cheddar, smoked gouda, and monterey jack cheese, or whatever other cheese blend you choose. 
4. Season with salt, pepper, onion powder, dry mustard and stir well.
5. Cook the pasta but reduce cook time by 3 minutes. 
6. Drain the cooked macaroni noodles and combine with the cheese mixture. Fold in half of the remaining cheese. Transfer the macaroni and cheese to a large skillet and top with the last cup of shredded cheese.
7. Place directly on the grill grates of your hot Traeger and cook with the lid closed for 20-30 minutes. 
8. Remove from the grill and serve immediately.

Serving Suggestions

To make this a completely epic meal, you just need a couple main dishes that you can cook outside on your Traeger Grill. Two of my favorites are slow cooked Traeger St Louis style ribs that are dry brined with a sweet rub and finished with Jack Daniels BBQ sauce. The other stand out favorite is a Traeger Pork Shoulder roast because it is perfect for feeding a crowd. Add a couple veggies and some jalapeño cheddar cornbread muffins, you have a menu built for success. 

Saving and Reheating Instructions

Transfer leftover to an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 4 days. When you are ready to enjoy it again, pop it in the microwave on a "reheat setting" for 30-60 seconds. Stir it well and continue to again if needed. 

You may want to add a splash of cream or even whole milk just to add back in some moisture. Stir it well and it will come right back to life for you.

Simple Recipe Modifications

Add crispy bacon diced into small pieces for extra flavor, texture, and smokiness. 

Traditional homemade mac and cheese recipes usually call for hot sauce. If you like it, add a few dashes to your creamy sauce.

More spices you can add if you need to mix up the routine: garlic powder, bbq rub, or smoked paprika. 

Finish with a bread crumb topping. Toasted panko bread crumbs mixed with butter and spread across the top of the Mac and cheese is a great way to present baked macaroni and cheese.