Smoked Mac-N-Cheese Bacon Cups
These are cheesy and loaded with bacon, take your Mac-n-Cheese game to a whole 'nuther level!
Yield: 6 people
Cost: $10
Equipment
- BBQ Grill
- Foil Pan
- Muffin tin
Materials
- 12 each strips of bacon
- 16 oz small pasta shells or elbow macaroni
- 3/4 cup bread crumbs
- 8 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 5 1/2 cups milk
- 2 cups smoked gouda cheese
- 2 cups smoked cheddar cheese
- 1 cup parmesan cheese
- 1 cup mozzarela cheese
- 1 tbsp SuckleBusters SPG BBQ Rub
- 1 tbsp SuckleBusters Sugar Daddy BBQ Rub
Instructions
Make the Bacon Cups
- Set the grill/smoker to 350 degrees cooking temperature
- Place muffin tin face down on the counter (bottom side up), use 2 pieces of bacon per cup. Cut one strip in half and place it like an “X” over the cup. Wrap the second whole slice around the side of the cup, overlapping the ends. Repeat with remaining bacon strips until finished.
- Sprinkle on SuckleBuster’s Sugar Daddy BBQ Rub
- Place in the grill/smoker and cook for 45-55 minutes or until bacon is cooked thoroughly but not crisp
- Remove from grill, let cool, and then carefully remove bacon cups from the pan
Make the Bread Crumb Topping
- In a small mixing bowl stir 2 Tbsp melted butter, bread crumbs, and 1 tbsp SuckleBusters SPG All-Purpose Seasoning
Make the Cheese Sauce
- In a saucepan, melt 6 tablespoons butter over medium heat. When butter melts, add flour. Whisk constantly for 1 minute
- After one minute, slowly pour the milk into the flour/butter mixture while whisking. Continue cooking, whisking frequently, until the mixture bubbles and becomes thick
- Remove the pan from heat and stir in all the cheeses. Set cheese sauce aside
Make the Macaroni
- Fill a large saucepan with water and bring to a boil. Add pasta; cook a minute less than the manufacturer's directions. Remove from the heat, drain the water, and return to the pan.
- Stir in the reserved cheese sauce until melted.
Assemble and bake the Mac Cups
- Scoop the macaroni mixture into the bacon cups
- Sprinkle bread crumb mixture on top
- Place the loaded bacon cups in a foil pan
- Bake uncovered in the grill/smoker until browned on top, about 30 minutes.
I am going to try this recipe. It looks delicious.
It look delicious 😋
Only thing better than bacon is more bacon!(or some good hog jawl) but I have to believe that a cup of bacon full of Mac and cheese would be about as close to heaven as one could get here on earth…
Can you make this in the oven as well??
Yes, that will work as well (without the smoke flavor).
Great post!
Trying this today to go with a 2 bone roast. Thank You for a great Idea