Skip to content
Creamy Bacon Ranch Mac & Cheese
Rated 5.0 stars by 103 users
Category
Side Dish, Comfort Food
Cuisine
American
Servings
20-25
Prep Time
30 minutes
Cook Time
50 minutes
Get ready to take your mac & cheese game to the next level! Our Creamy Bacon Ranch Mac & Cheese is the ultimate comfort dish, packed with rich, velvety cheese, savory bacon bites, and a zesty kick from our Spicy Ranch seasoning. Every bite is bursting with mouth-watering flavor that’ll have you coming back for more!
Recipe by: Tracy M. Lingle (@mychowline)
Ingredients
-
1 lb. bacon, cut into bits and cooked
-
2.5 lbs. macaroni noodles, cooked “al dente” or slightly firm
-
32 oz. cream cheese
- 2 sticks of butter
-
Platoon Sergeant Salt Pepper Garlic Seasoning, to taste
-
24 - 32 oz. half ‘n’ half OR heavy whipping cream
-
1.5 lbs. extra sharp cheddar cheese, shredded, separated
-
*Optional - 3 packs of Velveeta cheese
-
*Optional - Claymore Cajun Seasoning, to taste
-
2 packets - Spicy Ranch Dip (regular or spicy - it’s up to you!)
-
16 oz. sour cream
-
4 - 8 oz. gouda cheese (extra smoked, dried), shredded
-
1 sleeve - Ritz crackers,crushed
Directions
Preheat your smoker!
- Cut up the bacon into bits, and cook them. Once cooked, set the bits aside on a plate or in a pan lined with paper towels to soak up the extra grease.
- Cook the noodles until “al dente” or slightly firmer. (Don’t worry - they’ll get cooked more in the smoker!) Drain, rinse, and set aside.
- Place the cream cheese in a pan, and begin smoking it.
- As the cream cheese begins to soften, add the 2 sticks of butter to it and continue smoking it.
- When the cream cheese and butter are both softened, pull off the smoker. Add a generous amount of the Platoon Sergeant Salt Pepper Garlic Seasoning. (It is to taste, but remember that the noodles and dairy will offset and dull the flavor, so be sure to adjust accordingly!)
- Add about 12 - 16 oz. half ‘n’ half to the pan.
- Add the macaroni noodles on top of the cream cheese/butter/seasoning/half ‘n’ half. Mix well.
Add the full 16 oz. of sour cream and 2 packets of Spicy Ranch Dip. Mix well! (Make sure all the noodles are coated.)
- If needed, add more half ‘n’ half (about another 12 - 16 oz.)
- Add the bacon to the pan. Mix until everything is coated well.
- Add 1 lb. of shredded extra sharp cheddar.
- *Optional: 3 packs of Velveeta cheese for an extra creamy texture. Mix well!
- Add the remaining extra sharp cheddar and mix.
- *Optional: Add Claymore Cajun Seasoning, to taste. Mix well!
- Set the mac & cheese mixture in the smoker to let the food heat up and the flavors meld together about 15 minutes.
- Remove from the smoker. Mix well to make sure there are no cheese “chunks” and to make sure everything is coated well.
- Add the shredded Gouda cheese on top - just enough to cover the top, about 4 -6 oz.
- Crush 1 regular-sized sleeve of Ritz crackers and distribute evenly over the top of the mac & cheese. Place the mac & cheese back into the smoker and smoke until it is warmed through and the crackers begin to brown about 15-20 minutes.
- Pull from the smoker, let it cool, and ENJOY!
Recipe Video
Recipe Note
Don’t let the number of steps intimidate you! It’s mostly “add and mix!” This delectable dish is great for parties, tailgating, or just as a side for a family dinner (just make a smaller amount)!
Don’t forget to give us a rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Let us know what you think of this recipe and comment below on what you want to see next.
Find Similar Recipes
- Protein(s): Pork Recipes
- Preparation: Smoke Dishes
- Products: Bacon Claymore cajun Ranch dip Smoke Spicy ranch dip
- Category: Side dish
- Cuisine: American
American,Bacon,Claymore Cajun,Comfort Food,pasta,Pork,Ranch Dip,Side Dish,Smoke,Spicy Ranch Dip, - Alder Wood Smoked Sea Salt,Atomic Dongs,Bacon Bourbon BBQ Sauce,BBQ Sauce,Beef Jerky,Black Cherry Smoked Sea Salt,Cannibal,Claymore Cajun,Crispy's Mango Habanero,Donkey Balls,Donkey Dongs,Fire Chief,Gunpowder,Honey Habanero BBQ Sauce,Infidel,Lime Beer Salt,Ma Deuce,Platoon Sergeant,Pop Smoke,Ranch Dip,RPG Rib Glaze,Smoked Salt,Spicy Ranch Dip,Standard Issue Salt & Pepper,Whiskey Smoked Sea Salt,Willie Pete
