Beer Mac and Cheese
Easy and addictive Beer Mac and Cheese! A Mac and Cheese Recipe so simple, yet so complex in flavor, you’ll find every possible occasion to make it.
I live in Beer City USA, Asheville North Carolina… for those of you who didn’t know.
Asheville is serious about its beer. So much so, that as much as I know about food, I often feel like a beer-reject.
Friends who home-brew (or at least consider themselves beer connoisseurs) talk about hops and barley, yet I just sip and smile.
Mmmm.
However, I can tell you about cooking with beer. Beer in food provides a rich malty quality that complements many savory ingredients like grains, cheeses, meats and vegetables.
Today we’re making a simple (and I do mean simple) mac and cheese recipe with a beer-based cheese sauce.
This lovely little 5 ingredient dish starts with a 3 ingredient cheese sauce using:
- Beer for Flavor.
- Cheddar Cheese for Flavor.
- Cream Cheese for Creamy Smoothness.
It’s important to pick a light crisp beer that you love to drink. If you don’t like beer, that’s ok… you’ll still love this dish. Just chose a light crisp beer that people you know love to drink.
Using a dark heavy beer will oversaturate the flavor and you’ll loose the cheesy goodness. I like to pair the beer with cheddar, but if you have another strong-flavored easy-melting favorite, feel free to substitute cheeses. The cream cheese, however, is a must. It provides the rich sauciness that coats the pasta evenly.
Whisk the beer, cheddar, and cream cheese over heat until smooth and melty. Then toss in cooked macaroni and stir to coat.
The only thing that could make this simple beer mac and cheese recipe one step better, is to add a little bacon.
Ahhhh! There you go.
Enjoy beer mac and cheese as a main dish, a side dish, and definitely with a friend and a couple pints.
…Or enjoy it alone at midnight when no one is looking. I won’t tell.
Beer Mac and Cheese Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound DeLallo macaroni noodles
- 12 ounces bottled beer I used an IPA
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 1 pound shredded cheddar off the block (not pre-shredded)
- 1 cup crumbled bacon
Instructions
- Place a large pot of salted water on the stove to boil. Once boiling, cook the macaroni according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Meanwhile, pour a bottle of beer in a second large pot. (Choose a light crisp beer that you like to drink.) Place the pot over high heat, and add the cream cheese. As the beer starts to simmer, break the cream cheese into pieces with a whisk and whisk into the beer. Add the shredded cheddar. Warm and whisk until completely smooth.
- Once the pasta is cooked and drained, pour it into the cheese sauce. Reduce the heat to low, then stir and cook another 3 minutes to thicken. Salt and pepper to taste.
- To serve, scoop the beer mac and cheese into bowls and sprinkle with crumbled bacon.
This was incredible! I used a Voodoo Ranger IPA from New Belgium and it was almost too bitey. Still really good. I think I’ll try a Highland AVL IPA next time. So creamy and good!
You’ll need an angioplasty in the morning, but it’s so worth it. I never would’ve thought of cream cheese for a mac, but I can’t go back now: the richness it adds is ridiculous. Beer, Bacon, Cheese = Bliss.
such an amazing recipe . just loved it so much
mac and cheese
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Just made this, IT’S A KEEPER!! Made it with Blue Moon, a Belgian style wheat ale. I think you need to make this with beer you LIKE to drink. I love Blue Moon, I love this recipe with it. Best mac n cheese I’ve made yet, and I’ve made SOOO many looking for the one. Who know I just needed to make it with good beer. Excellent recipe! Can’t wait for summer cookouts to share this with friends and family.
Looking for some recommendations for the different beers people used in this dish that made it so good? Thanks!
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DEE-licious! I added extra cheese + breadcrumbs sauteed in butter on top and popped in oven to brown. Winner! Thanks for this delightful recipe!
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the best combination, cheese and bacon and with macaroni is deivin.