Smoked Mac and Cheese Bacon (Print-Friendly Version)

Cheesy pasta filling baked in smoky bacon cups with a crisp breadcrumb topping.

# Ingredients You'll Need:

→ Main Components

01 - 12 slices bacon
02 - 450 grams small pasta shells or elbow macaroni

→ Bread Crumb Topping

03 - 90 grams bread crumbs
04 - 28 grams unsalted butter, melted
05 - 1 tablespoon SuckleBusters SPG BBQ Rub

→ Cheese Sauce

06 - 85 grams unsalted butter
07 - 65 grams all-purpose flour
08 - 1.3 liters milk
09 - 200 grams smoked gouda cheese, grated
10 - 200 grams smoked cheddar cheese, grated
11 - 100 grams parmesan cheese, grated
12 - 100 grams mozzarella cheese, grated
13 - 1 tablespoon SuckleBusters Sugar Daddy BBQ Rub

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat the grill or smoker to 175°C for indirect cooking.
02 - Invert the muffin tin so the bottoms face upward. For each cup, cut one bacon strip in half and lay it as an 'X' over the cup. Wrap a whole bacon slice around the side, overlapping the ends. Repeat for all cups.
03 - Sprinkle SuckleBusters Sugar Daddy BBQ Rub over the bacon cups. Place the muffin tin on the grill and cook for 45-55 minutes until bacon is thoroughly cooked but still flexible. Remove from heat, cool, and gently release the bacon cups.
04 - In a small bowl, mix melted butter, bread crumbs, and SuckleBusters SPG BBQ Rub until evenly combined.
05 - Melt 85 grams butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add flour, whisking constantly for 1 minute. Gradually pour in milk while whisking, and continue to cook until thickened and bubbling. Remove from heat and stir in smoked gouda, smoked cheddar, parmesan, mozzarella, and SuckleBusters Sugar Daddy BBQ Rub until smooth.
06 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook one minute less than package instructions indicate. Drain well and return pasta to the pot.
07 - Pour the cheese sauce over the drained pasta and stir until evenly coated and the cheese is melted.
08 - Carefully fill each bacon cup with the macaroni mixture. Sprinkle with the prepared bread crumb topping.
09 - Arrange filled bacon cups in a foil pan. Place the pan uncovered on the grill or smoker and bake for approximately 30 minutes, or until the tops are golden and crisp.

# Extra Information:

01 - Allow bacon cups to cool slightly before removing for best structural integrity.
02 - Use smoked cheeses for enhanced flavor depth.
03 - Avoid overcooking bacon at the first stage to prevent crumbling during assembly.

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