Beer Bacon Mac and Cheese
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Beer, Bacon, and Cheese are pretty much my culinary trifecta! With that said; Beer Bacon Mac and Cheese is the ultimate comfort food. This restaurant quality recipe goes from prep to plate in just 25 minutes and will certainly make the Mac and Cheese Hall of Fame. I dare you to try and eat just one bowl.
Beer Mac and Cheese with Bacon
I looooooove mac and cheese so much! I am constantly trying new ideas and turning some of my favorite dishes into mac and cheese.
One of our most favorite soups is our Beer Cheese Soup and I just had to turn that into a creamy, cheesy, ooey gooey mac and cheese!
This super cheesy mac and cheese starts with thick cut bacon cooked in a skillet and a magical cheese sauce is created out of the bacon drippings.
Your favorite beer is cooked right into the mixture and a mixture of smoky spices are added in. The cooked beer imparts a very distinctive taste that you can not get with any other ingredient.
These flavors result in a restaurant quality mac and cheese unlike anything that you have had before. It’s ready in less than half an hour. Or, try our comfort food made easy recipes, you will love them!
Trust me, you NEED this in your life!
Helpful Tips:
- Recipe may be doubled. Simply use 2x the ingredients and follow cooking directions.
- The sauce will thicken as it cools. If the sauce is too thick, add milk a few tablespoons at a time until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Reheating instructions: Add pasta to pot with milk. Heat until warmed through, adding 1/4 cup of milk at a time until desired constancy is reached.
- Freezing instructions: Allow pasta to come to room temperature. Place in resealable plastic bag or container. If using a container press a small piece of plastic wrap over top to avoid freezer burn. Will keep for up to 6 months. To reheat, that pasta and follow reheat instructions.
Freezing instructions: Allow pasta to come to room temperature. Place in resealable plastic bag or container. If using a container press a small piece of plastic wrap over top to avoid freezer burn. Will keep for up to 6 months. To reheat, that pasta and follow reheat instructions.
What you will need:
- A large skillet with a lid – To help the pasta cook evenly, a wide skillet works best, ideally one that’s more than 12 inches in diameter.
- Mesh Strainer – Normally you don’t need to drain the grease when cooking with lean ground beef, but if you do, a mesh strainer will help ensure you don’t lose any of the cooked meat.
- Heat resistant spoon or spatula – Ideal for cooking, stirring, and serving.
Enjoy!
With love from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Check out more of our favorite mac and cheese recipes!
Slow Cooker Triple Cheesy Mac and Cheese
Super Simple Italian Style Mac and Cheese
Philly Cheesesteak Mac and Cheese
Jalapeno Popper Bacon Mac and Cheese
Beer Bacon Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 8 ounces dry elbow pasta
- 12 ounces thick cut bacon, uncooked
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground chile de arbol, (can substitute cayenne pepper to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup beer, (I used Blue Moon)
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 8 ounces shredded mild cheddar cheese
- fresh chives, optional garnish
Instructions
- Bring an 8 qt covered pot filled with water to a boil over high heat. Once it boils, add a handful of salt and pasta. Reduce heat to medium high and cook uncovered to al dente (has a bite to it). Drain and set aside.
- Meanwhile, heat a large 12” skillet over medium-high. Using clean kitchen shears cut bacon into bite-size pieces over the skillet and let them to fall into the pan. Stir occasionally as needed. Cook until crisp.
- Once bacon is cooked through, remove bacon to a bowl with a slotted spoon. Reserve 2 Tbsp of bacon drippings and discard the rest. Wipe the side of the skillet to avoid flame ups.
- Pour reserved bacon drippings back into the skillet over medium heat and add butter.
- Once the butter is melted add flour and whisk to combine. Cook for 2-3 minutes to allow the flour-y taste to cook off.
- Add spices, beer and chicken broth. Whisk to combine. Allow to come to boil for 3 minutes, whisking occasionally to help pick up the bits on the bottom of the pan.
- Add milk. Whisk to combine. Bring back to a bubble. Once you see the first few bubbles in the pan remove from heat and add cooked bacon, Worchershire and cheese. Stir to combine.
- Add pasta to sauce and stir to combine. Cook pasta in sauce for 5 minutes over medium heat until sauce thickens and the pasta has a chance to absorb some of the sauce.
- Pour into a casserole dish and sprinkle with chives and serve.
Donna’s Notes
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
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Oh my goodness Donna, you've taken mac cheese to a whole new amazing level!!
Get out! This sounds incredible. Pinned faster than a seamstress.
OMG, mac and cheese looks really delicious…But could you share the recipe? because I want to give it a try at my kitchen,,,I like to surprise to my husband with some different mac and cheese,,
Oh boy, this looks mighty tasty! Can't wait to make this!
This looks amazing! I was wondering if I didn't want to use any type of alcohol, would adding extra milk or broth do the trick as well?
Thanks!
Jack Daniels Mac an cheese is a winner in our home . Cooking it tonight
Awesome! We are so happy you enjoy it!!
Can this recipe be done in a slow cooker? Or is it best on the stove top??
This was awesome. A great comfort food, and easy to make.