Description
Smoky Maple Bourbon Pulled Pork Mac Cheese Casserole brings together rich, hearty comfort flavors that will make your dinner table absolutely sing with satisfaction. Creamy pasta and tender pulled pork get drizzled with a bourbon-maple sauce that delivers pure Southern-style deliciousness right to your plate.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 lb pork shoulder
Dairy and Cheese:
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 cups milk
- 2 tablespoons butter
Pasta and Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 lb macaroni noodles
- 1 cup maple bourbon BBQ sauce
- 2 tablespoons flour
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- Salt
- Pepper
Instructions
- Nestle your pork shoulder into the slow cooker and drench with 1 cup maple bourbon BBQ sauce. Cook at 200°F for 8 hours until meat pulls apart effortlessly.
- Separate cooked pork into tender strands using two forks. Fold in ¼ cup of remaining cooking liquid to maintain moisture.
- Boil 1 lb macaroni for 7-8 minutes in salted water. Drain pasta, reserving ¼ cup pasta water for potential sauce adjustment.
- Melt 2 tbsp butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk 2 tbsp flour into melted butter, creating a golden roux for 2 minutes.
- Gradually stream 2 cups milk into roux, whisking continuously until sauce thickens to coat a spoon’s back, approximately 4-5 minutes.
- Incorporate 1 cup shredded cheddar and 1 cup mozzarella into sauce, stirring until cheese melts completely and sauce becomes silky.
- Fold shredded pork and cooked macaroni into cheese sauce, ensuring everything gets evenly coated.
- Transfer mixture to a greased 9×13 inch baking dish, spreading contents smoothly and uniformly.
- Sprinkle ½ cup breadcrumbs across casserole surface for a crispy topping.
- Bake at 375°F for 25 minutes until breadcrumbs turn golden and edges bubble enthusiastically.
- Allow casserole to rest 10 minutes before serving to help flavors settle and sauce thicken.
Notes
- Slow cooking transforms tough pork shoulder into meltingly tender meat, so don’t rush the process.
- Reducing pasta cooking time ensures noodles stay perfectly al dente after baking in the cheesy sauce.
- Whisking milk gradually prevents lumps and creates a silky smooth cheese sauce that coats every noodle.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular flour with cornstarch and use gluten-free breadcrumbs on top.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours 30 minutes
- Category: Pork
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 628 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 670 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 54 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg