BBQ Mac and Cheese

BBQ Mac and Cheese

Pulled pork... cheese... and a whole bunch of alligators that we caught trying to eat up our dinner. That’s what makes the backbone of our porky Macaroni and Cheese. The smokey goodness of pulled pork matched with two tangy cheeses envelop our Dagostino alligator pasta in this meal.

Depending on how much time you have, go grab your favorite pulled pork from your local bbq shop or we’ve included one of our favorite Instant Pot pulled pork recipes.

We can’t classify this one as healthy, but it makes cheat day ohh so worth it.

40 minutes | Serves 8

 BBQ Mac and Cheese


Instant Pot Pulled Pork Recipe

Ingredients for Instant Pot Pulled Pork

1 tbsp packed brown sugar

2 tsp paprika

2 tsp garlic powder

2 tsp onion powder

1 tsp salt

1 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp cumin

1/4 tsp cayenne, Optional

3 lbs boneless pork roast, cut into 3-4 inch cubes

2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1/3 cup apple cider vinegar

1 cup barbecue sauce

1 1/4 cup chicken or beef broth


Directions for Instant Pot Pulled Pork

  1. Mix brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, cumin, and cayenne together in a small bowl.
  2. Season the cubed pork with the spice mixture and set aside.
  3. Whisk the apple cider vinegar, barbecue sauce, and one cup of broth together in a medium bowl.
  4. Put Instant Pot on sauté setting. Add the olive oil and heat.
  5. Add half of the cubed pork to the hot oil and sauté for 5 minutes, browning on all sides. Set aside the browned pork on a plate and repeat the process with the other half of the cubed pork.
  6. Turn the Instant Pot off. Use the remaining 1/4 cup of broth and a wooden spoon to scrape the brown bits from the bottom of the pot.
  7. Add all of the meat along with the barbecue sauce mixture to the Instant Pot. Close the lid and set to sealing.
  8. Cook on manual high pressure for 40 minutes. When the timer goes off, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then start quick release.
  9. Remove the meat and shred.

Ingredients for BBQ Mac and Cheese

1 lb Dagostino Alligator Shaped Pasta

5 strips bacon, chopped

2 tbsp unsalted butter

2 tbsp all purpose flour

1 ½ cups of milk

½ cup lager beer

1 tbsp dijon mustard

1 tsp kosher salt

1 cup shredded muenster cheese

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese or smoked cheddar cheese

2 cups pulled pork (no fat) - make in Instant Pot or buy from your favorite local bbq shop

¼ cup pickled jalapeño slices, chopped

⅓ cup panko

½ tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp green onions, chopped

2 tbsp parsley, chopped

¼ cup barbecue sauce

 Dagostino Alligator Pasta for BBQ Mac and Cheese


Directions for BBQ Mac and Cheese

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.  When the water is boiling, salt well — like the sea.

  2. In a large dutch oven on medium heat add the bacon pieces and cook until browned.  Remove bacon from the dutch oven and place to the side on a double layer of paper towels.

  3. In the heated dutch oven add the butter and flour, whisk, and simmer for 3 minutes or until it cooks to a blonde roux.

  4. Turn the heat to low and whisk in the milk and lager beer, heat stirring occasionally.  When sauce begins to simmer, remove from heat.

  5. Add the dijon mustard, salt, pepper, and both cheeses.  Keep stirring until the cheese sauce is melted and combined then add the pulled pork.

  6. Meanwhile, cook pasta in the boiling water, stirring occasionally and for 5 minutes or until al dente.  Drain pasta immediately and then add to the cheese sauce.

  7. In a small bowl combine the bacon, panko, olive oil, green onions, jalapeños, and parsley.

  8. Pour mac and cheese sauce into a baking dish and top with the panko mixture.

  9. Pipe the BBQ sauce onto the pan and bake for 20 minutes.

Buon Appetito! Enjoy your homemade BBQ Mac and Cheese with Dagostino Alligator Shaped Pasta

 Finished BBQ Mac and Cheese


About Dagostino Handmade Pasta

From Lemons to Premium Pasta...

Our founders, the Fresina Family, were some of the original lemon farmers in Sicily during the early 19th century. During that time, Sicilians created settlements in New Orleans as citrus traders and brought pasta with them on their voyage. The Fresina Family felt right at home in Louisiana which led to The Fresina Macaroni Manufacturing Company being born in 1926. This began the foundation of 3 generations of hard-work and implementing traditional Italian methods to create handmade pasta that is now Dagostino Pasta. 

We continue to stick to our Italian roots by producing our pasta the old-fashioned way right here in New Orleans. Our centuries-old delicate method consists of small quantities of pure semolina pasta cut through bronze, carefully looped over wooden rods, straightened and the air-dried in wooden cellars. We are dedicated to preserving our family traditions and Italian customs for many more generations to come.

Every pure artisan pasta deserves to be paired with a delicious sauce. Dagostino has some of the most authentic sauces available outside of Italy. Our fresh herb and spice blend is unique, preservative free, and all handmade in small batches. We pride ourselves for our ingredients being all-natural and preservative free, providing you with premium artisan pasta and tasty sauces to enjoy.

You will experience our time-honored family treasure in every meal.