Bar-B-Q Pulled Pork Fried Mac & Cheese Bites

INSTRUCTIONS

• 1 To the bottom of a slow cooker (I use a 6 qt size), add onions and garlic.  Top with chicken stock.
• 2 Combine brown sugar, chili powder, salt, cumin and black pepper and rub all over pork shoulder.  Place pork on top of the onion mixture in slow cooker.  Cover and cook on HIGH for 6-7 hours, or LOW for 8-10, until pork is fork tender.
• 3 Remove pork from slow cooker and place in large mixing bowl.  Shred using two forks, discarding any pure fat pieces.  Stir in Stubb's Original Bar-B-Q Sauce and set aside.
• 4 Add pulled pork to prepared mac and cheese, stirring to thoroughly combine.  Cover and refrigerate for several hours until firm, or overnight.
• 5

  MAC AND CHEESE BITES:

• 6

• 7 1.Scoop large golfball sized balls of the cold mac and cheese (an ice cream scoop works perfectly!), and use hands to form into complete ball shape.  Place onto wax paper lined plate or baking sheet.  Repeat with remaining mac and cheese.  Place plate or baking sheet in freezer for 30 minutes.
• 8
  2. Add oil to dutch oven or large heavy bottomed bot.  Heat over MED heat until oil temperature measures 360 F degrees.
• 9
  3. While oil is heating up, add flour, egg mixture and panko to three shallow bowls.  To panko bowl, add parsley, cayenne and a pinch of salt and pepper, stirring to combine.  Line a baking sheet with paper towels and place a wire cooling rack on top; set aside.
• 10
  4. Remove Mac and cheese balls from freezer and roll, one at a time, in flour (shaking off the excess), then dipping in egg mixture, then rolling (and pressing lightly to coat) in the panko mixture.  Repeat with remaining balls.
• 11
  5. Place half the balls on a clean wax paper lined plate and refrigerate (or freeze), while frying the other half.  You don't want to let the balls get too warm, or they could start to fall apart during the frying process.
• 12
  6. Add Mac and cheese balls, 4-5 at a time to the hot oil, gently nudging the balls as they fry, so all sides are fried equally.  Fry for approximately 3 minutes, or until golden brown.
• 13
  7. Gently remove fried balls and place onto prepared wire rack to cool.  Repeat with any remaining balls.
• 14
  8. Serve hot, drizzled with a bit of Stubb's Original Bar-B-Q Sauce, sprinkled with parsley, and with extra BBQ sauce for dipping.
• 15 This recipe is brought to you by The Chunky Chef.