If you're looking for country comfort food you can't go wrong with this delicious recipe!
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❤️ Why you'll love it
- This dish is packed with flavor, and it's easy to make!
- Using prepared pulled pork from the store saves time.
- This is a great way to use leftover pulled pork.
Let me introduce you to your new favorite recipe. This casserole has layers of succulent pulled pork, gooey mac and cheese, a crunchy Panko topping, and a drizzle of bbq sauce for even more luscious flavor.
🧾 Ingredients
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
🔪 Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Make the mac and cheese, and stir together until combined.
- Spread the pulled pork on the bottom of the pan.
- Spoon the mac and cheese over the pulled pork in the prepared baking dish.
- Sprinkle the top of the mac and cheese with the reserved cheese, then add the bread crumb topping. Then bake for 20 - 25 minutes.
🥫 Storage
The mac and cheese can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Reheat in a 350 degree F oven for about 15 minutes, or until heated through.
Due to the pasta and cheese sauce, I don't recommend freezing this casserole.
📖 Variations
- Try using different meats, such as ham or chicken.
- This is great with leftover BBQ beef, too!
- Top with crispy French fried onions.
- I think sharp cheddar cheese is the best cheese to use in this recipe, but you can use Monterey jack, white cheddar, American cheese or colby jack for your homemade cheese sauce.
- Add additional flavor to your favorite bbq sauces by mixing in a dash of onion powder, apple cider vinegar and additional brown sugar.
💭 Things to know
Expert Tip: Keep a batch of prepared pulled pork in the freezer so that you can make this easy, family friendly dish anytime!
- I like to use shells or cavatappi pasta for this recipe, but you can really use any type of pasta you like.
- If you are in a huge hurry there's no shame in using boxed mac & cheese or macaroni and cheese from the deli.
- Al dente pasta works best here because it will continue to cook in the oven.
- You can use store bought tangy barbecue sauce or use homemade.
- If you want a creamier mac and cheese, try using evaporated milk instead of regular milk.
- For best flavor be sure to cook your pasta in a large pot of salted water.
- Save time when making this recipe, by picking up some pulled pork from your favorite bbq joint.
- For an extra creamy mac you can add a small pat of cream cheese to the sauce.
👩🍳 FAQs
You can use any type of cheese you like in this recipe. I prefer to use gouda, sharp cheddar, or Monterey jack cheese.
Yes. You can make it up to 3 days ahead of time, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate. When ready to bake allow 15 extra minutes.
Bake the dish at 350F for 15 to 20 minutes, or until warmed through and bubbling.
📚 Related recipes
- This southern mac and cheese with beer is one of my favorite comfort foods to make for a tasty meal.
- Salsa verde chicken mac and cheese is a family favorite recipe that is full of Tex Mex flavor.
- If you love a classic side dish look no further than this old fashioned baked mac and cheese.
- This southern crockpot mac and cheese has almost no prep time at all.
- One pot Philly cheesesteak pasta is a hearty 30 minute meal.
- One pot taco spaghetti is the best ever way to get great taco flavor in an easy weeknight meal.
And you can't ever go wrong with a slow cooker meal!
🍽️ Serve with...
- If you ask me, nothing pairs better with pulled pork than Creamy Coleslaw.
- Southern Style Green Beans is a healthy but flavorful side dish that pairs well with this dish and makes for a complete meal.
- This Homemade Baguette is perfect for dipping in the cheesy sauce.
- Banana Pudding is a bowlful of comfort food that is the best way to end this hearty meal.
Restless Chipotle recommends
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- large cast iron skillet
- whisk
- casserole dish
- pulled pork
- pasta
- BBQ sauce
- butter
- panko breadcrumbs
- Parmesan Romano cheese
- garlic powder
- flour
- ground mustard
- heavy cream
- milk
- smoked gouda
- sharp cheddar
- nutmeg
📞 The last word
This is ultimate Mac and Cheese using leftover slow cooker pulled pork or or commercially prepared pulled pork to make it even easier!
Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese is just as mind blowing as it sounds. It's got all the goodness you expect of homemade mac and cheese with loads of extra flavor from incredible pulled pork.
Lasagna soup is another one of our favorite pasta based comfort foods. Quick, easy, and done in 20 minutes.
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pulled Pork Mac & Cheese
Print Pin Recipe SaveEquipment Needed
Ingredients
- 1 pound bbq pork, prepared
- 1 pound macaroni, cooked
- ½ cup BBQ sauce
Topping
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ⅔ cup panko breadcrumbs
- ⅓ cup grated Parmesan Romano cheese
- ¼ teaspoon granulated garlic
- salt and pepper, to taste
Macaroni and Cheese
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons flour
- ½ teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup milk
- 8 ounces gouda
- 8 ounces sharp cheddar
- pinch Nutmeg
- Salt and pepper, to tast
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Instructions
To Make the Crumb Topping:
- Melt butter in a heavy skillet over medium heat.
- Add the Panko bread crumbs and season with salt, pepper, and granulated garlic.
- Stir in the parmesan.
- Use a spatula to keep the mixture moving around the pan until it all gets toasted.
- Remove from the heat and set aside.
To Make the Cheese Sauce:
- Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.
- Whisk in the flour and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Slowly pour in milk, whisking constantly.
- Whisk in the cream.
- Add the nutmeg, garlic, and ground mustard.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Reserve about 2 ounces of cheese for the topping.
- When the cream mixture begins to thicken add in the cheese about ¼ cup at a time, whisking well after each addition.
- When the cheese is all melted into the sauce adjust seasoning.
- Fold the pasta into the cheese sauce.
To Assemble the Dish:
- Preheat a oven 325° F.
- Spray a 9×12 baking dish with nonstick spray.
- Put the prepared pulled pork in an even layer on the bottom.
- Spoon the hot macaroni and cheese over the pulled pork.
- Sprinkle the top with the reserved cheese. Cover with the bread crumb topping.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes.
- Remove the baking dish from the oven and let it sit 5 to 10 to settle.
- Drizzle with bbq sauce and serve.
Notes
- I like to use shells or cavatappi pasta for this recipe, but you can really use any type of pasta you like.
- Al dente pasta works best here because it will continue to cook in the oven.
- You can use store bought tangy barbecue sauce or make your own.
- If you want a creamier mac and cheese, try using evaporated milk instead of regular milk.
- For best flavor be sure to cook your pasta in a large pot of salted water.
- Save time when making this recipe, by picking up some pulled pork from your favorite bbq joint.
- For an extra creamy mac you can add a small pat of cream cheese to the sauce.
Nutrition Facts
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Originally published September 17, 2018. Last updated January 24, 2023 for readability, and more tips and information.
Angela Paris
This is SUCH an awesome recipe to make for family.
Thanks for having me!
Marye Audet
Thank you so much for guest posting!