Ingredients:

2-3 pounds pork shoulder, cut into 3 pieces

1 (18-ounce) bottle BBQ sauce

Kosher salt

12 ounces macaroni or other small pasta

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 red onion, finely chopped

3/4 cup half and half

1 1/2 cups shredded Fontina cheese or white cheddar

Black pepper

 

Directions:

Place pork shoulder and sauce into slow cooker. Cover and place on low heat for 8 hours. Using two forks, shred pork while still in slow cooker. Once shredded, let rest in slow cooker with remaining sauce. Bring large pot of heavily salted water to boil over high heat. Add pasta and cook according to package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of cooking water and drain pasta. Return pot to stove over low heat and add olive oil. Once oil is warm, add onion, season with salt and cook until golden brown, about 5-7 minutes. Stir in half and half. When mixture just begins to simmer, add cheese and whisk until smooth.  Once cheese has melted, add pasta and stir to coat. If macaroni and cheese seems thick, add few tablespoons of reserved pasta water and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

 

Evenly distribute pasta in 6 serving bowls and add serving of pork on top of pasta and serve. Reserve extra pork for leftovers.

 

Serving suggestion: An arugula or spinach salad is a fresh accompaniment to savory macaroni and cheese.  

 

Note: You can also use your favorite pre-packaged pulled pork in lieu of making it in the slow cooker. Prepare pork according to package directions and place on top of macaroni and cheese once cooked.

 

Yield: 6 servings, plus extra pulled pork as leftovers

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 8 hours and 10 minutes (8 hours in slow cooker) 

 

(Family Features)

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Source: National Pork Board