Smoked Baked Mac + Cheese Rigatoni
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Smoked Baked Mac + Cheese Rigatoni
Ultra creamy, cheesy + bursting with flavor, our Smoked Baked Mac + Cheese Rigatoni is an instant crowd-pleaser. This irresistible dish features tender rigatoni pasta enveloped in a velvety, smoky cheese sauce, baked to golden perfection. It makes the perfect side dish or main meal that everyone will go crazy for! Gluten-free + Vegan Option.
What Makes This Smoked Baked Mac + Cheese Rigatoni SO Special?
Creamy, cheesy, and just all-around cozy goodness. Y'all know I'm a Southern girl at heart, and mac n cheese holds a special place in my heart hence the abundance of mac + cheese recipes on my site. Haha. This Smoked Baked Mac + Cheese Rigatoni recipe is irresistibly gooey, golden + loaded with smoky flavor it's a match made in heaven SERIOUSLY!
It’s a winner whether you serve it as a side dish or the main event. It’s that kind of soulful, feel-good food that brings everyone together. Super easy, takes just 40 minutes, and oozes Southern charm with its cheesy, gooey inside and that irresistible crispy outside. Guaranteed to be a hit with any crowd! Plus there is a gluten-free + vegan option so everyone can enjoy!
If you're on the hunt for everything mac and cheese, I've got you covered! From the Easy Vegan Pumpkin Mac + Cheese and Baked Vegan Buffalo Mac + Cheese to the Easy KFC Mac + Cheese Bowl [Copycat] and, of course, my newest addition Southern Baked Gnocchi Mac + Cheese definitely give them a try next!
Jump to:
- What Makes This Smoked Baked Mac + Cheese Rigatoni SO Special?
- Why Should You Make Smoked Baked Mac + Cheese Rigatoni?
- How To Make Smoked Baked Mac + Cheese
- Ingredients
- Tips + Tricks For Ultra Delicious Mac + Cheese!
- Best Types of Cheese for this Baked White Mac + Cheese with Bacon
- What Can I Add to This Smoked Baked Mac + Cheese Rigatoni?
- Adding More Protein
- Choosing Your Perfect Pasta
- What To Eat + Serve Baked Smoky Mac + Cheese With?
- What Gives This Mac + Cheese It's Smoky Flavor?
- Common Q + A's For Smoked Baked Mac + Cheese Rigatoni
- More Deliciously Cheesy Recipes to Try
- MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
- Smoked Baked Mac + Cheese Rigatoni
Why Should You Make Smoked Baked Mac + Cheese Rigatoni?
- It’s absolutely deliciously smoky while being creamy + velvety!
- The perfect side or main meal
- Cheesy & crispy
- Bold Southern flavors that will tantalize your taste buds.
- Easy weeknight meal--Simple preparation + minimal ingredients
- A crowd-pleasing combination that will have everyone coming back for seconds.
- Family-friendly (Well, everyone in my family seems to love it, Haha.)
How To Make Smoked Baked Mac + Cheese
Preparing mac and cheese involves 3 essential steps--- Boil the pasta until it's 'al dente---then make the creamy cheese sauce; next, craft a crispy breadcrumb topping and bake to golden perfection.
Ingredients
Here is everything you need to make this Smoked Baked Mac + Cheese:
MAC + CHEESE:
- Rigatoni pasta. You can also use ANY other pasta shape as desired
- Unsalted butter. Adds richness and flavor to the cheese sauce.
- Organic all-purpose flour. Helps thicken the sauce, providing a creamy consistency.
- Sea salt + black pepper. Enhances the overall flavor.
- Garlic. Adds a nice strong garlicky taste.
- Mustard powder. Adds a hint of tanginess.
- Onion powder. Offers a gentle oniony flavor without the texture of fresh onions.
- Garlic powder. For an extra subtle garlic flavor.
- Cajun seasoning. Homemade or store-bought. See my super easy cajun seasoning recipe here.
- Cayenne pepper. Adds a pop of heat.
- Almond milk. You can use whole milk or your fave plant-based milk.
- Cheese. I use freshly shredded or grated Gouda cheese and sharp cheddar cheese (You can also use mild Cheddar).
TOPPING:
- Breadcrumbs. Contribute a crispy texture and a delicate, toasty flavor to the dish. You can use homemade or store-bought breadcrumbs!
- Smoked paprika. This adds a nice subtle smoky flavor.
SHOP MY FAVORITE BAKEWARE ITEMS AND ACCESSORIES FOR THIS MAC + CHEESE!
Here, I’ve curated a list of cooking + baking essentials that I use to achieve my favorite baked goods or cooked meals, especially with this Smoked Baked Mac + Cheese. Everything from my fave dutch pot/oven, wooden spoons, immersion hand-blender, mixing bowls, and more. SEE THEM HERE!
Tips + Tricks For Ultra Delicious Mac + Cheese!
- Avoid pre-shredded cheeses---Opt for shredding your own cheese instead of relying on pre-shredded varieties from the store. Pre-shredded cheese often contains preservatives and might not melt as smoothly as freshly shredded cheese.
- Invest in good-quality ingredients--- They can truly elevate the dish! Particularly, opt for high-quality cheese. Using premium ingredients can take your dish from good to gourmet, making a noticeable difference in the final taste.
- Cook your pasta 'al dente' for that ideal texture--- It'll continue cooking a bit in the oven, so avoid overcooking it initially.
Best Types of Cheese for this Baked White Mac + Cheese with Bacon
Even though this Smoked Baked Mac + Cheese is based on using Gouda + sharp cheddar you can also switch things up and add a new flare to its flavor profile by adding any of the following grated cheeses:
- Fontina
- Monterey Jack
- Mozzarella
- American cheese
- Havarti
- Parmesan cheese
What Can I Add to This Smoked Baked Mac + Cheese Rigatoni?
I like to add some extra texture to creamy dishes like this Smoked Baked Mac + Cheese Rigatoni recipe. While the ingredients in this creamy dish are perfect as is, I wanted to share a few more ideas of ingredients that you can add in case you make this recipe more than once and want to switch things up!
Other ingredient ideas include:
- Kale or spinach
- Candied bacon
- Broccolini or broccoli
- Crispy sage leaves
- Mushrooms
- Herb roasted tomatoes
- Roasted chickpeas
- Beans (White beans, etc.)
- Top with homemade croutons for a nice crunch
- Seafood (like shrimp, salmon, lobster, etc.)
- Sausage or beef
- Shredded chicken
- Panko breadcrumbs
Adding More Protein
If you'd like to add protein to this smoky mac + cheese, it's easy to do, regardless of your diet!
PLANT-BASED PROTEIN OPTIONS:
- Crispy seared or baked tofu cubes
- Roasted chickpeas
- Crumbled stir-fried seitan
- Crumble vegan bacon on top
- Sautéed cauliflower florets or broccoli
- Sautéed asparagus, Brussels sprouts, etc.
MEAT-BASED PROTEIN OPTIONS:
If you're a seafood lover, feel free to swap out the chicken for these delightful options!
- Shredded chicken or baked chicken
- Salmon
- Shrimp
- Bacon
- Lobster
- Steak
- Fish (fried, grilled, baked, etc.)
Choosing Your Perfect Pasta
You can use any type of pasta that you like in this Smoked Baked Mac + Cheese recipe. That is what makes this recipe so adaptable!
I love using rigatoni because it does a beautiful job of embracing and holding onto the cheesy sauce. But any of these pasta varieties would work for this dish -
- Macaroni --For a more traditional feel.
- Shells
- Pappardelle
- Tagliatelle
- Fettuccine
- Penne
- Spirals
- Ravioli or gnocchi would also go wonderfully with this sauce combo!
I would recommend tossing with tongs to ensure that longer varieties of pasta are fully manageable and fully coated. You can also use gluten-free pasta, whole-wheat pasta, or even zoodles for a low-carb option!
What To Eat + Serve Baked Smoky Mac + Cheese With?
When it comes to most pasta dishes (including this Smoked Baked Mac + Cheese dish), I often enjoy them with a side of bread of some sort. Most times, I make my own homemade Garlic Bread, however, you can choose to spruce things up with many other options such as:
- A delicious salad-- Try Fall Harvest Apple Kale Salad or Best Buffalo Chickpea Kale Salad
- A steak or lamb dinner.
- Alongside a classic tomato soup
- Grilled veggies
- Crispy chicken
- Texas Toast Garlic Bread
- Serve as part of a table spread!
Here's the thing. This Smoky Mac + Cheese recipe is so delicious and flavorful that you can honestly enjoy it all by itself. Seriously, the tender rigatoni + cheesy creamy sauce with the crispy golden topping is everything! So, feel free to dig in and savor every single bite. It's a dish that stands tall on its own!
What Gives This Mac + Cheese It's Smoky Flavor?
What gives this smoky mac and cheese its signature flavor is a blend of smoked paprika and Cajun seasoning that brings richness + depth. And for an extra punch of smokiness, you can always add a splash of liquid smoke.
Common Q + A's For Smoked Baked Mac + Cheese Rigatoni
Leftovers can be stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days and reheated when ready to serve. To reheat, simply heat in the oven for the best results or microwave for a minute or two until heated through.
Yes! If you don’t want to use all-purpose flour, feel free to substitute with regular starch like arrowroot starch, or tapioca flour, which all act as a thickening agent.
To ensure that this recipe is GF, be sure to use GF-friendly pasta, breadcrumbs, and flour.
Absolutely! To make this Mac + Cheese vegan, simply substitute cheeses with dairy-free shreds and use vegan butter. Also, check out my Vegan Mac + Cheese recipe.
More Deliciously Cheesy Recipes to Try
If you are a fan of this Smoked Baked Mac + Cheese Rigatoni, then you will also love these cheesy recipes for the entire family:
- Skillet Baked Cheesy Pumpkin Gnocchi
- Southern Baked Mac and Cheese with Breadcrumbs
- Cheesy Asparagus Puff Pastry
- Creamy White Chicken Lasagna Soup
- Southern Honey Mustard Chicken Bacon Sandwich
- Skillet Meatless Enchiladas
- Skillet Tuscan Pumpkin Stuffed Shells
MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
If you tried this Smoked Baked Mac + Cheese Rigatoni recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. And don't forget to tag @orchidsnsweettea_ on Instagram and hashtag it #orchidsandsweettea! I love hearing from you!
Smoked Baked Mac + Cheese Rigatoni
Ingredients
MAC + CHEESE:
- 1 (16 oz.) package rigatoni pasta, organic (You can also use ANY other pasta shape as desired)
- 2 Tbsps unsalted butter
- 4 Tbsps organic all-purpose flour
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon cajun seasoning, homemade or store-bought
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 tsps mustard powder
- 2 cups Almond milk, unsweetened (You can use whole milk or your fave plant-based milk)
- 1 ½ cups Gouda cheese, shredded or grated
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (You can also use mild Cheddar)
TOPPING:
- 1 cup breadcrumbs, homemade or store-bought
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
BOIL THE PASTA:
- Cook pasta according to packaging. NOTE: rigatoni pasta doesn’t take a long time to cook, usually 10-13 minutes. NOTE: I always add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the boiling water to prevent pasta from sticking together. Drain and set aside.
MAKE THE MAC + CHEESE:
- In a large deep skillet (oven-safe) over medium-high heat, add butter and let it melt. Once melted, add flour, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, cajun seasoning, mustard powder, and cayenne, whisking until combined and "paste-like".
- Slowly pour in the milk, whisking frequently until lump-free, about 2-3 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and add in the Gouda and sharp cheddar, stirring (using a wood spoon or spatula) until fully melted and smooth, about 4-5 minutes.
- Add in the cooled rigatoni and stir together until well coated, combined, and creamy!
TO MAKE THE TOPPING:
- In a bowl, add the breadcrumbs and smoked paprika, stirring to combine.
ASSEMBLE + BAKE:
- Evenly spread the breadcrumb topping atop the mac + cheese until covered.
- Bake on the center rack for 15-20 minutes or until the tops are golden brown, the sides are bubbly, and the mac and cheese center has set. Remove from oven and serve immediately.
- Bon Appetit!
Tips & Tricks
- STORAGE: Leftovers can be stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days and reheated when ready to serve. To re-heat, simply heat in the oven for the best results or microwave for a minute or two until heated through.
- FLOUR: If you don’t want to use all-purpose flour, feel free to substitute with regular starch or arrowroot starch, tapioca flour, which all act as a thickening agent.
- VEGAN OPTION: To make this Mac + Cheese vegan, simply substitute cheeses with dairy-free shreds and use vegan butter. Also, check out my Vegan Mac + Cheese recipe.
- GLUTEN-FREE OPTION: To ensure that this recipe is GF, be sure to use GF-friendly pasta, breadcrumbs, and flour.
Nutrition
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LET US KNOW!
I made this yesterday and let me tell you…my coworkers smelt it when I warmed it in the microwave for lunch.. let’s just say you got some new believers!! I served this mac n cheese with some wings and it was crazy!!
Hi James! Wow---that makes me so happy! Thanks so much for giving it a try! 🙂