BBQ Pulled Mushroom Mac and Cheese
It’s the taste of summer all in one lil dish.
Prep Time: 10ish min
Cook Time: 20ish min
Yield: 6-8 servings
Ingredients
For the mushrooms:
1 lb king oyster mushrooms
3/4 cup your favorite BBQ sauce
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
2 tbsp oil
For the mac and cheese:
1lb short pasta (I used shells, but use whatever you want!)
1 pint half and half
2 cups shredded white cheddar
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp flour
1/2 tsp white pepper (black pepper is fine too, I used white so you can’t see the flecks of pepper in the sauce)
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
salt to taste
Optional fried onion topping:
Premade from the store is fine, if you want to make it yourself, I recommend this recipe!
Instructions
Prep! Clean the mushrooms and use a fork to shred them into small pieces. Hold the top of the mushroom down with one hand and drag the fork along the stem to “pull” it until it vaguely resembles shredded chicken. Repeat until all the mushrooms are pulled. I have a handy lil reel on my instagram page if you need a visual guide.
Heat oil in a large pan over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add all the shredded shrooms and give it a stir. Cook until the mushrooms begin to shrink and brown, about 5-10 min.
Once the mushrooms have cooked down, add the spices. Stir and cook for a few more mins, then add the BBQ sauce. Give it another stir, taste, and adjust seasoning as necessary. Remove from heat and set aside.
Prepare pasta according to the package. Make sure to reserve about 2 cups of pasta water.
In a large saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Once butter is melted, add the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, and white pepper. Cook for 1-2 min, stirring occasionally.
Add half and half. Stir with a fork or whisk until it’s smooth and begins to thicken.
Gradually add in the cheese and stir until melted. If the sauce is too thick, add 1/2 cup of pasta water at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
Add in the cooked pasta. Stir until each noodle is coated in sauce. Taste, add salt as needed.
Serve! Spoon mac and cheese into a bowl, top with a spoonful of bbq mushrooms, and sprinkle on some fried onions for a little extra crunch.