Barbecue Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese
Barbecue Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese is a simple comfort food recipe with creamy macaroni and cheese and tender barbecue pork.
Read this post all the way through-I make a three pound pork loin and use it for two dinner recipes.
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Ingredients Needed for Barbecue Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese:
Pork Loin
Sweet Baby Ray’s Original Barbecue Sauce
Elbow macaroni
Butter
Flour
Dry mustard
Salt
White pepper (black pepper works to-I just didn’t want the black pepper specks in this recipe)
Smoked paprika
Milk
Cheddar cheese
Panko Crumbs, optional
Instructions for Barbecue Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese:
Cook the 1 3/4 pound pork loin in a slow cooker for 6-7 hours (spray the slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray and pour about 1/3 cup of water in the bottom of the slow cooker). When pork is ready, remove from the slow cooker and shred. Add 1 3/4 cups Sweet Baby Ray’s Original Barbecue Sauce to the shredded pork-add a little more barbecue sauce, if desired.
Cook’s Note:
To make my life easier, I like to cook a three pound pork loin in a Crockpot for eight hours on low. When pork loin has cooked through, remove it from the slow cooker and shred it. Coat it with three cups of Sweet Baby Ray’s Original Barbecue Sauce. I use three cups of the shredded pork loin for this recipe and two cups for Barbecue Pulled Pork Nachos, which is also delicious. Just remove two cups and place it in an airtight container in the refrigerator to use for another recipe within a couple days or you can freeze it for later use. I like cooking a bigger pork loin rather than one that is under three pounds-cook the roast and get at least two meals out of it-that makes me happy! 😊
Make the Mac & Cheese:
About 30 minutes before the pork loin is ready, make the Mac & Cheese.
Boil the elbow macaroni as directed on the package. Drain and set aside.
While the macaroni is cooking, make the cheese sauce.
Melt butter in a sauce pan over medium to medium low heat. Then, whisk in the flour to make a roux. Cook this mixture for 2-3 minutes, stirring continually.
Next, add the spices and whisk them into the roux.
Then, whisk in the milk and allow to heat through and to thicken-about 7-9 minutes, do not boil. Stir continually.
When sauce has thickened, add 1 cup of the grated cheese. Stir as it melts.
Combine the cheese sauce with the drained macaroni.
Put it all together:
Make sure to keep the ingredients that should be hot-kept hot before putting it together.
In a 9 x 13 baking dish (lightly sprayed with cooking spray), spread the tender juicy barbecue pulled pork into the bottom of the pan.
Then, using a spoon, place the mac and cheese onto the top of the pulled pork.
Next, sprinkle at least one cup of cheddar cheese on top-more if you would like. If desired, sprinkle desired amount of Panko crumbs on top of the cheese. I love the way the Panko crumbs give this dish a bit of a crunch.
Place the baking dish back in the oven on high broil to melt the cheese and toast the Panko crumbs. Watch closely so it doesn’t burn, it just takes a few minutes. I do not move the rack up-just leave it in the middle of the oven. When cheese has melted and the Panko crumbs are lightly browned, remove baking dish from the oven and serve with a garden salad or fresh vegetables.
Other Recipe You Will Love:
Cranberry Orange Glazed Pork Loin-is a perfect fall recipe-we think it is perfect for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The sweet orange with the tart cranberry is delicious!
Copycat Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Burrito-this recipe is a fun Cafe Rio copycat that tastes amazing. The shredded sweet pork, the rice and beans and the green sauce covered with cheese-what could be better!
Slow Cooker Pork Loin and Vegetables-this traditional dinner made in a Crockpot is a perfect family meal. The meat and vegetables right in one pot. The tender pork and veggies is a family favorite.
Barbecue Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese
A yummy comfort food recipe with creamy macaroni and cheese and tender pulled pork.
Ingredients
Barbecued Pulled Pork
- 1 3/4 pounds pork loin see Cook's Note in post to make 2 dinners with one 3 pound pork loin.
- 1 3/4 cups Sweet Baby Ray's Original BBQ Sauce or more if needed
Macaroni and Cheese
- 12 ounces elbow macaroni
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1/2 tsp dry mustard
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp white pepper
- 1/8 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 cups milk
- 2 cup sharp cheddar cheese freshly grated-divided
- Panko crumbs optional
Instructions
Barbecue Pulled Pork
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Pour 1/3 cup water into the bottom of a slow cooker and place pork loin into the bottom. Cook on low for 6-7 hours-to desired tenderness.
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After the 6-7 hours (when pork has cooked through), remove pork loin from the slow cooker and shred.
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Cover shredded pork loin in the barbecue sauce. Mix well. Keep warm.
Macaroni and Cheese
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About 30 minutes before the pork loin is ready, make the macaroni and cheese.
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Boil pasta according to package directions. Then, drain and set aside.
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While the pasta cooks, make the cheese sauce.
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In a medium sauce pan over medium to medium low heat, melt the butter.
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Add the flour and whisk for about two minutes.
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Add the dry mustard, salt, white pepper and smoked paprika. Whisk to blend.
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Add the milk and whisk to blend and thicken for 7-9 minutes-without boiling.
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When sauce has thickened, add one cup freshly grated cheese and stir to combine and melt the cheese.
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Combine drained pasta and cheese sauce.
Put it all together:
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Place the barbecue pulled pork into a greased 9 x 13 baking dish. Spread out.
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Top with the macaroni and cheese.
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Sprinkle the other cup of grated cheese on top. Then, sprinkle Panko crumbs on the top of the cheese, if desired.
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Place in the oven under the broiler-on high. Watch closely.
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Remove from the oven when the cheese is melted and the Panko crumbs are very lightly toasted. Serve.
Other Pork Recipes:
Grilled Asian Pork Chops: these pork chops are simple to make-we love to grill because it makes meat taste even better and it keeps the mess out of my kitchen. The marinade is yummy for these pork chops. A note about pork chops…Costco and Sam’s Club both sell packages of fresh pork chops that are cut very thin and there are a bunch in the package. These are great any way you want to cook them and they cook quickly because they are thin.
Pan Fried Breaded Pork Chops: another recipe we use the thinly cut fresh pork chops. These are delicious and easy to make.
Crispy Honey Pork Chops: we use thicker pork chops but can also be changed a bit to use the thin pork chops. Either way, a great pork recipe.
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