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.
I’ll have a double helping, please and thank you!
beer macaroni and cheese- yes, please!!
I love how simple this is, Sommer! Looks so delicious! Beer + cheese + noodles = amazing!
This looks crazy good!
I love Asheville! I went there a few years ago for a friend’s wedding and fell in love! I love this recipe. I could eat mac ‘n’ cheese for any meal any day of the week, but my husband isn’t as big of a fan. However, with the addition of beer, I think I could convince him to eat mac ‘n’ cheese every night this week. :)
Tailgate and fall approved! Pass me a fork!
This recipe looks amazing & I love the type treatment in the bowl :)
Here in WI we are VERY into our beer and cheese, so this dish would win over the entire state!
Great fall meal!
Beer AND bacon??? I want to come eat at your house. This sounds amazing!
Yowza! I need this in my life!
Mmmmm! Love a good mac!!
The ultimate comfort food. Period!
WOW, just WOW… I am in love with this mac n cheese and I am pretty sure it’ll win my hubby over in less than a second ;)
Genius Sommer! What a great idea to add a depth of flavor to a classic comfort dish!
Oh. my. This is going on the must-have list for fall menus! Simple, cheesy, and it’s got bacon — heaven!
BBEEEEEERRRR (thingk Homer Simpson saying it). My sons are going to freak when I make this! Ok it’s legal they’re 23, 21 and …ummm well 20. lol. Thanks for sharing we all love mac and cheese and of course beer!
Are you kidding me — HOLY CRAP YES!! Could there be anything more comforting, and “homey” as beer and macaroni and cheese — total win!!