Jack Daniels Mac and Cheese + Video

Jack Daniels Mac and Cheese is the grown up comfort food of your dreams! Tender pasta, peppered bacon, tons of cheese, and of course, bourbon whiskey. Now you can drink your whiskey and eat it too!!

Macaroni and cheese has to be the #1 comfort food. Not only that, it’s a simple and quick go-to dish.

Plus, it’s really easy to customize with extra ingredients. Have a little bit of leftover ham or Italian sausage in the fridge?

Stir it into the cheese sauce for a boost of protein!

Of course, adding crispy bits of bacon makes for the ultimate comfort food of all time! Bacon mac and cheese?? Yes, please! Or try this Cheez It Mac and Cheese

For the flavors of cheesy mac in a different form, make mac and cheese quesadillas. They’re a fun twist for taco night!

Or, go with bite-sized finger foods – make bacon mac and cheese bombs!

Jack Daniels Mac and Cheese

Needless to say, I have a lot of unbelievable twists for the traditional macaroni and cheese recipe.

But out of all the versions, I am especially proud of this most recent creation – Jack Daniel’s Whiskey Mac and Cheese with Bacon.

Seriously, how can anything with bacon in it be a bad thing?! Plus, this grown up mac and cheese recipe makes the most sensational and scrumptious game day food!

This meal is ready to eat in just 30 minutes, and I know you are going to love it!

Whether you use straight up bourbon or bourbon whiskey, it’s unlike any cheesy pasta you have ever eaten. 

Cooking with Jack Daniels Whiskey

Jack Daniels whiskey cooks down to leave the perfect smokiness, some maple, and a hint of woodiness to recipes, and to me that means it is the perfect partner with bacon!!

After cooking with bourbon whiskey to make recipes for bbq sauce, pork chops, whiskey glaze, pulled pork, and SO many cocktails, it’s the perfect time to use it in the best comfort food ever – this boozy bacon Jack Daniels mac and cheese recipe!!

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

Oodles of ooey gooey cheese, 12 ounces of hickory smoked peppered bacon and a collection of spices will wake up your taste buds and leave you completely satisfied makes this the best grown up mac and cheese of your life.

Here are the primary ingredients in Jack Daniels mac and cheese. You can see a full ingredient list in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

• bacon– I use hickory smoked peppered bacon, but any variety will work. Obviously, one with a smoky flavor is what you want to look for.
  
• unsalted butter– If all you have on hand is salted butter, use it. But, don’t add any extra salt to the dish. The salty bacon will add plenty on its own.
  
• Tennessee whiskey– If you’re not a whiskey drinker but you have some beer on hand, that works too. It just doesn’t have quite the kick that whiskey has.
  
• chicken broth (or stock)– In a pinch, go ahead and use vegetable stock.
  
• all-purpose flour– If you need a gluten free option, any brand of gluten free 1:1 all purpose flour will be fine.
  
• milk– I use whole milk.
  
• extra-sharp cheddar cheese– For this recipe, we use white cheddar.
  
• smoked provolone cheese– Smoked cheese is definitely what you want to use to get the smoky flavor in the cheese sauce.
  
• Asiago cheese– Yep, three kinds of cheese go into this dish. Cheesy to the max!
  
• elbow macaroni– This is the classic noodle shape, but feel free to use any small pasta shape that you like. Small shell pasta is a great substitute.

Alcohol substitutions: You can substitute another liquid for the whiskey. Beer, Kentucky bourbon, or chicken broth would be best.

Jack Daniels Mac and Cheese Recipe Tips

Doubling the recipe: The recipe may be doubled. Simply use 2 times the ingredients and follow cooking directions.

The sauce will thicken as it cools. If the sauce is too thick, add milk, 1/2 cup at a time, until it reaches your desired consistency.

Storing and Reheating Whiskey Mac and Cheese

Store any leftover bacon mac in a covered container in your fridge. It keeps well for up to 5 days.

Freezing instructions: Allow the dish to come to room temperature before freezing. Place in a resealable plastic bag or container. 

If using a container, press a small piece of plastic wrap over the top to avoid freezer burn. If frozen, will keep for up to 6 months. 

Before reheating frozen macaroni and cheese, first allow it to thaw in the fridge.

Reheating instructions: Add leftover macaroni and cheese to a pot with milk. Heat until warmed through, adding 1/2 cup of milk at a time until desired consistency is reached.

Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours. 

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Originally published February 2014. Updated and republished June 2022.

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