Easy Creamy Traeger Mac & Cheese

Making Creamy Smoked Mac & Cheese on the Traeger has never been easier! This Traeger Mac & Cheese really soaks up all that smoky deliciousness. Loaded with four different kinds of cheese, this will be the creamiest mac & cheese you’ve ever had.

What You Will Love About Smoked Mac & Cheese

I tweaked my creamy stove-top macaroni & cheese by adding more “real” cheese and putting it on the Traeger Smoker to make a delicious smoked macaroni & cheese. If you like that smoky flavor – you’ll love this! Sometimes, the flavor doesn’t soak in but that is not the case here – the smoke flavor is definitely there – but it’s not overwhelming! It’s a perfect side dish to any summer grill out!

Creamy Mac & Cheese Ingredients

Baked Macaroni & Cheese usually isn’t creamy – but this recipe is the creamiest you’ll ever have! And it’s loaded with four kinds of cheese! Here’s what you’ll need:

• 7 cups water – be sure to MEASURE your water – you don’t drain the pasta here so it’s important to measure so you don’t have too much or not enough
• pasta – I’ve made this with elbow macaroni noodles but this time I used a fancier pasta shape that I found at Aldi – just be sure to use something that will capture and hold some of the deliciously creamy sauce
• Velveeta – so every CREAMY mac & cheese has Velveeta – it just does!
• American cheese – I had some slices of American in the fridge and diced them up and threw them in!
• sharp cheddar cheese – I also wanted to add in “real” cheese – it’s a great combination!
• butter – I used salted butter but you can use unsalted butter if you like – you may just need to add salt
• cream cheese – this adds a little extra creamy right at the end

How to Make Smoked Mac & Cheese on the Traeger

This recipe is really easy too! You start on the stove – just for about 10 minutes – then TO THE SMOKER! Don’t smoke this too long – 90 minutes was plenty. You don’t want to overcook the noodles as they will continue to soak up the liquid.

• Set Traeger to 225ºF 
• On the stove, bring 7 cups water to boil in large pot – BE SURE TO MEASURE THE WATER!!!
  • You can use a Dutch Oven for the entire process – I just like transferring to a disposable aluminum pan for ease of cleanup
• When boiling, add in pasta and boil 1/2 way (approx 5 min) 
• After pasta boils for five min, add cheese mixture and butter to pot (no draining) and stir
• Spray disposable aluminum pan with nonstick spray
• Transfer macaroni mixture (with all of the water) to aluminum pan 
• Carefully place pan onto Traeger – do not cover 
• Smoke for 60 minutes – stirring every 30 min
• Add cream cheese and stir. Smoke 30 minutes more
• Remove Mac & Cheese from Traeger and let rest for at least 15 minutes. Sauce will thicken up after it stands – or is even better the next day!

Tips, Tricks & FAQs

Variations

• Cheeses – I would always say to keep the Velveeta in – it just adds that creamy texture. But swap out the cheddar or add other cheeses like gouda cheese or Parmesan cheese.
• Bacon – You could definitely par-cook bacon about half way and then dice and add to the top of the mac & cheese for an extra flavor bomb
• Smoked Sausage – Want to make this an all-in-one meal? Slice up kielbasa or smoked sausage and stir into the mac and cheese when you put on the Traeger
• Vegetables – This would be great with green pepper and onion as well. Dice them and put them in raw when you put onto the Traeger. They’ll cook up nicely and add a little texture to the dish.

More Traeger Side Dish Recipes

• Traeger Smoked Asparagus
• Baked Potatoes on the Traeger
• Smoked Green Beans with Bacon

What to serve with Traeger Mac & Cheese

• Smoked Chicken Wings
• Traeger Smoked Pork Chops
• Smoked Brisket
• Smoked Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf
• Smoked Stuffed Burgers

More Mac & Cheese Recipes

• Oven Baked Macaroni & Cheese
• Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheddar Mac & Cheese
• Creamiest Stove Top Mac & Cheese