About
If it's not Bubba's Pulled Pork Bake, then we don't want it! This thing is hearty with a capital "H," you guys, and it is Southern comfort at its finest. Tons of bouncy elbow pasta is mixed together with a rich, creamy cheese sauce, some perfectly tender pulled pork, and crunchy breadcrumbs to create an amazing texture adventure. Then, it's melded together in the oven to become the gooey-est, most decadent dish you'll ever taste. No barbeque joint could ever compete with Bubba's Pulled Pork Bake! It's just that good!
Ingredients
- 1 (16-ounce) box large elbow pasta
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, divided
- 1 1/2 cups sweet onion, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 1/2 cups whole milk
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 (8-ounce) package extra-sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 (8-ounce) package Colby-Jack cheese, shredded
- 2 1/2 cups smoked pork, leftover or store-bought, shredded (without sauce)
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- barbeque sauce, to taste, for serving
- 1/4 cup scallions, sliced, for garnish
Directions
Step 1 -Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2 -Coat a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and place it on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil.
Step 3 -In a large pot of salted, boiling water, cook the pasta to al dente, according to the package directions. Drain the water.
Step 4 -In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt 6 tablespoons of the butter.
Step 5 -Add the onions to the melted butter and cook, stirring often, until they are just tender, about 5 minutes.
Step 6 -Add the flour to the onions and cook, stirring constantly, until the onions are coated, about 1 minute.
Step 7 -Gradually whisk the milk, the Dijon mustard, the garlic powder, and the black pepper into the onion mixture and cook, stirring constantly, until it thickens slightly, about 10 minutes.
Step 8 -Transfer the saucepan from the heat. Gradually stir the cheddar and the Colby-Jack, in 3/4-cup increments, into the sauce until it has melted and is smooth, about 2 minutes.
Step 9 -Add the pork and the pasta to the cheese sauce and stir to combine.
Step 10 -Spoon the pork mixture into the prepared baking dish.
Step 11 -In a small, microwave-safe bowl, add the remaining butter and microwave on high heat until it has melted, about 30 seconds.
Step 12 -Stir the panko into the melted butter until it is combined.
Step 13 -Evenly sprinkle the panko mixture over the pork mixture.
Step 14 -Bake the pulled pork bake until it is browned and bubbly, about 30 minutes.
Step 15 -Transfer the baking dish from the oven and let the pulled pork bake stand, about 10 minutes.
Step 16 -Serve the pulled pork bake drizzled with the barbeque sauce and garnished with the scallions.
