Macaroni and cheese is a classic dish which features that gooey goodness we all crave at 9 pm. We know we shouldn't... but it's just too good to resist. It's hard to beat a dish like that... and if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. So, here's an innovative Doritos Smoked Mac and Cheese that'll get your taste buds jumping for joy.
Ingredients:
- 2 Tbsp Butter
- 2 Tbsp Flour
- 2 Cups Heavy Cream
- 1 3/4 Cups (226 g) Shredded Extra Sharp Cheddar
- 1 3/4 Cups (226 g) Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese
- 1 3/4 Cups (226 g) Shredded Smoked Gouda
- 1.5 Tbsp Hot Sauce
- 1 Tsp Salt
- 2 Tsp Pepper
- 1.5 Tbsp House of Q All-Purpose Seasoning
- 1/2 Cup Mayo (Light or Regular both work)
- 1 Cup Light Sour Cream (5% M.F.)
- 340 g (a little over 2 cups) Elbow Macaroni Noodles
- 2-3 Cups Crushed Doritos Chips
INSTRUCTIONS:
STEP 1: Get that smoker up to 300°F.
STEP 2: Prepare pasta al dente style, strain, and then set that baby aside for later.
STEP 3: In saucepan over medium heat, melt butter and mix in flour and create a roux. Cook until it starts smelling a little nutty!
STEP 4: Add ½ cup of that heavy cream and stir until the sauce begins to thicken. Do that one more time with another ½ cup. And when it's nice and thick again, add the last 1 cup of heavy cream and stir until it's smooth and thick again. Be patient because this step shouldn't be rushed - we promise it's worth the wait.
STEP 5: Now add the shredded cheese to the sauce and slowly stir until the cheese is blended. The sauce should get even smoother and creamier.
STEP 6: Add 1.5 tablespoons of your favorite hot sauce. We prefer the "Slap Ya Mama" Cajun spice hot sauce because it compliments the smokiness we're going for with this dish.
STEP 7: Add salt, pepper, and the House of Q All-Purpose seasoning.
STEP 8: In the saucepan or a large bowl, mix the macaroni, sauce, mayo, and sour cream. Then pour that beautiful concoction into a barbecue safe skillet, tin, or dish.
STEP 9: Now for the best part: top the mac and cheese with about half to a third of your favorite Doritos. Be sure to save some for after we're done cooking, we'll need them later.
STEP 10: Time to throw it in the smoker. Let it cook for about one to two hours, or until the cheese is nice and bubbly.
- Make sure you check halfway to see your progress because different smokers will cause the cooking time to vary.
- If the mac and cheese is getting too dark on the top before it's thoroughly cooked, you can cover the dish with tin foil and continue cooking.
STEP 11: After the mac and cheese is cooked, feel free to throw the rest of those Doritos you saved on the top to add an extra crunch. Unless you already ate them as a snack while your mac and cheese was smoking - it's okay if you did, this is a no-judgement zone (we may or may not have done the same thing too).
Recommendations
Mac and Cheese is often eaten as a side dish when you're getting your feast on.
That being said, check out our Smoked Italian Meatloaf recipe if you want to put another innovative spin on a another classic dish.
Recipe written by barbecue enthusiast Andrew Plaza. Follow him on Instagram for more barbecue goodness by clicking here.
