Description
This Smoky Maple Bourbon Pulled Pork Mac & Cheese Casserole combines tender slow-cooked pork infused with sweet and smoky maple bourbon BBQ sauce, folded into creamy homemade mac and cheese, then baked to golden perfection with a crispy breadcrumb topping.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb pork shoulder
- 1 cup maple bourbon BBQ sauce
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 lb macaroni noodles
- 2 cups milk
- 2 tbsp flour
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F. Place pork shoulder in a slow cooker and pour maple bourbon BBQ sauce over it. Cook on low for 8 hours or until tender.
- Shred the cooked pork using two forks, incorporating some of the cooking sauce for moisture.
- Cook macaroni noodles according to package instructions, reducing time by 1-2 minutes for al dente texture. Drain and set aside.
- In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour to create a roux, cooking for 1-2 minutes until slightly nutty.
- Slowly pour in milk while whisking constantly until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Add cheddar and mozzarella cheese, stirring until melted and smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
- In a large bowl, gently combine cooked macaroni, shredded pulled pork, and cheese sauce.
- Transfer mixture to a greased 9×13 inch casserole dish, spreading evenly.
- Sprinkle breadcrumbs over the top of the casserole.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown with bubbling edges.
- Let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For extra flavor, add a teaspoon of smoked paprika to the cheese sauce.
- Caramelized onions make a delicious addition to the pork mixture.
- Leftover pulled pork can be used to speed up preparation time.
- For a crispier topping, mix the breadcrumbs with 1 tablespoon of melted butter before sprinkling over the casserole.
- This dish reheats well with a splash of milk to maintain creaminess.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours 30 minutes (including slow cooker time)
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cook, Bake
- Cuisine: American, Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of casserole
- Calories: 535
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 685mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: Pulled pork mac and cheese, maple bourbon BBQ, pork casserole, comfort food, cheese pasta bake, slow cooker pork, macaroni casserole, BBQ mac and cheese