Easy Beer Mac and Cheese.
Is there anything better than macaroni and cheese? I mean… really?
I don’t think so either.
Sure, we can all make the argument for chocolate or bacon or broccoli (um, who are you and what are you doing on this website?), but in the end we know that mac and cheese is in a league of it’s own.
It’s a weapon, really.
You can get whatever it is that you want with the perfect dish of cheesy noodles. Except maybe like five million dollars, which I reallllly need because I have a lot of shoes to buy and a lot of bacon to fry. And thanks to the invention of the internet I can do both at once. Winning.
Remember the night that I made this beer mac and cheese and served it with BBQ portobello sliders and couldn’t stop talking about it for four days because it was an ohhh so good meal and everyone within close proximity just wanted me to shut my trap? No… you probably don’t. Because I only subjected my real life friends and family to such misery and not my invisible internet friends. I seriously have no idea how I waited so long to tell you about this but for some reason I found things like cookies and cupcakes and even breakfast to be more important. Oh, and I kind of forgot about it because I have sooo much on my mind, like wondering when the heck I’m going to get to see Crazy Stupid Love (waiting is getting ridiculous) and really – I mean REALLY – are Ari and Mrs. Ari going to get back together (?!?) because they only have like, three more weeks. I can’t even take this.
But in the meantime… have you ever had beer cheese soup? It’s only one of the most delicious bowls of comfort you will ever taste and is always an essential part of my Octoberfest feast, which lasts much longer than just October. This pasta is like beer cheese soup… WITH CARBS. And crunch.
Hello heaven.
So yes. I’m fully convinced that a good bowl of mac and cheese can score you an engagement ring or maybe even just a free movie ticket or something. If anything, it makes the day that your credit card statement appears in the mail about a billion times better. Betcha Judy Blume never told you that.
Easy Beer Mac and Cheese
[inspired by my cousin, who mentioned beer mac on vacation last month]
serves 4-6
2 1/2 cups uncooked whole wheat elbow noodles
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
8 ounces milk
8 ounces beer (I used an amber beer – it was what I had on hand)
8 ounces freshly grated cheddar cheese
4 ounces freshly grated parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
pinch of black pepper
pinch of nutmeg
1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
10 large basil leaves, chopped for garnish
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Prepare water for pasta and boil according to directions, shaving 1-2 minutes off of cooking time since pasta will continue to cook in the oven.
Heat a saucepan over medium high heat and add butter. Once melted and sizzling, whisk in flour to create a roux and cook until bubbly and golden in color, about 2 minutes. Add milk and beer into saucepan whisking constantly, then add cheeses and stir until melted. Turn heat down to medium and continue to stir, cooking for 5-6 minutes while mixture thickens. It will most likely NOT thicken like regular mac and cheese because of the beer, but you want it to thicken a little bit. Stir in pepper, paprika and nutmeg.
Add noodles (once cooked and drained) to a casserole dish, then pour cheese over top, mixing gently to combine. Top with panko bread crumbs and an additional sprinkle of cheese if desired. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until bubbly and golden on top.
Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes, then top with fresh basil.
There is only one way this can get better: bacon.
374 Comments on “Easy Beer Mac and Cheese.”
I’m not going to lie . . . mac & cheese? I can take it or leave it. But put a crunchy breadcrumb topping on, well, anything, and I’m there.
You just combined 2 of my favorite things! I love it!
I was already planning on doing mac’n’cheese for dinner…so I’ll add beer and bacon and make it better! Thanks jess!
Yup – making it!
whole wheat noodles make it 100% healthy. 100%. healthy.
God you’re smart.
Making this for dinner tomorrow!
This looks SO good! Worth getting fat for!
I don’t drink beer, but I am pretty dang sure I’d be all over this mac n cheese…
Somehow my boyfriend would disagree. He doesn’t hate mac and cheese, but it’s not anywhere close to being his first pick or something he would ever crave. Weird! How do I date this person!? Maybe the beer in it will change his mind.
This is new to me.
Oh and he doesn’t like bacon much either… I’m not sure we have anything in common haha.
Wow! Looks amazing! The boyfriend will definitely love this one. :)
I want that. Mac and cheese is my favorite comfort food of all time.
WELL, i think you’ve out done yourself! I want this asap. My boyfriend would loooooooooooooooove this recipe. Too bad I want it all for myself.
1 – Beer mac and cheese? This may be the new match.com. Stand outside with a pan and you will meet a man. Guaranteed. Beer and cheese!
2 – It’s totally ironic that your site is designed by someone who resides at “No More Bacon”
3 – This whole Ari/Mrs. Ari and E/Sloan drama will definitely come to some sort of super dramatic end… and then get dragged out into an Entourage move.
I’m sure they’re all banking on a movie considering their Entourage characters are more famous then they are in real life. Who can even pronounce Vincent Chase’s real name?!
Does the guy who plays Turtle even have a real name?
Hmmm, don’t you think Mrs Ari’s gotten a little big for her britches? I’m kinda rootin’ for Dana right now…but I do want E and Sloan to get back together. I think they will.
So. I did think that. The whole week leading up to Sunday’s episode I was saying how she was being a biotch and in the first 15 minutes I was SO sold on Ari and Dana. I loved them together! But then after he used her to make the wife jealous, I realized he doesn’t really feel anything for her and I don’t want him to be alone… so yeah. And I agree – E and Sloan HAVE to get back together.
No, I don’t want Ari alone either. Maybe Mrs. Ari will see that Ari really is a good guy at heart, and is a much better match for her than Bobby Flay. Which is KILLING me! So hilarious!
Love your site, btw! A new fav of mine. : )
OH. EM. GEE!!!! THIS LOOKS INSANE!!! Must eat!! :D :D :D
Two questions:
#1 Can beer mac and cheese make someone volunteer to babysit so a woman could go see One Day with her husband this weekend?
#2 Can beer mac and cheese make a man leave The Bachelor Pad and give up a chance at 250,000 to be with his one true love? Can it make him chase after the limo in a heart stopping moment of riveting television??
I figured it could. This stuff is magic.
I find Ames to be SO STRANGE.
What is strange about a navy blue blazer paired with magenta(ish) slacks? C’mon!
Received the Anthro Gift Card yesterday! Thank you again :-)
Winning! LOL, can’t believe you said that! This looks delish!!!
I’m thinking this needs a side of beer fries?? :) Looks deeelicious. The 2-stacked bowl photo is my fav. So gooey…mmm
Perfect for game day!
I can’t even begin to understand the glory that I eyes are looking at. I THINK I see cheese. I BELIEVE that’s beer. I’m WONDERING if that’s pasta.
It’s all freaking sublime bliss heavenly goodness.
Let’s date.
I’ll have to make this for the boyfriend, because I’m definitely trying to get an engagement ring!! LOL!
Bahahah LOVE it! Keep me posted. :)
Yes!!! Let’s go see Crazy Stupid Love together. This waiting is so wrong! :D
I’m in!
umm this looks like Heaven on a plate. seriously. you are a genius. I’ll be over for dinner… ;)
I can’t get enough mac & cheese!! Last summer I went on an everything mac craze and my friends either didn’t mind or were kind enough not to burst my mac & cheese bubble. In any case, I can’t wait to try this one out!
When I was pregnant, one of the only things I ever wanted was mac and cheese. Or grapefruit. But mac and cheese sounds 100 times better right now. I hope I’m not pregnant.
I LOVE MAC AND CHEESE – and am always looking for new recipes. I’ll have to try this soon!
omg, this looks scrumptious. totally delicious. never thought of adding beer. you are so smart! :-) love it! and the crunch.. ooh .
I dont know how its possible, but Im pretty convinced cheese actually gets better when you mix it with beer.
Oh my gosh…this looks incredible! I cannot wait to make this!
I might have just licked my screen.
…might have.
OMG!!! Beer, mac n cheese…good heavens! You’re right the only thing that can come close to making this is better is bacon.
This is the ultimate man food! Can’t wait to make it for my boyfriend and earn mega brownie points.
Oh I can’t wait to change up my usual recipe with this! Have you ever used cheese ends to make mac and cheese? My mom has always done it – in the deli section of some grocery stores they wrap up all the ends of the deli cheeses and sell it for pretty cheap. You always get a new variety of cheeses, so it tastes a little different every time :)
I’ll have to try your recipe because I tried that with leftover fondue one time and it tasted like…well, not so good! :-\
The only thing better than mac ‘n cheese is mac ‘n cheese with beer. Obv. ;)
So, is beer the new bacon ;) I normally don’t even like mac n’ cheese but this has me licking the screen!
Oh man that looks good! I have to admit, growing up in New England my favorite mac and cheese has always been lobster! but this is definitely a cheaper alternative!!
O.M.G. this looks amazing!! It’s being added to this weekend’s BBQ menu :-) I can’t wait to make it!
wow, this look fantastic!! thank you for sharing this.. i will be sure to try this out soon. have a great day:)
there is nothing better.
how wonderful you are using Leinies for the beer – nothing but the best I say!!
This looks like a perfect comfort meal after a bad day, rainy day, or any day really!
You had me at beer. Then you added cheese. Oh. my.
Um, amazing. Plus, I bet my husband won’t even notice that there are whole wheat noodles in this. :)
this mac and cheese looks delish!
Sweet Fancy Moses, I think i want to bathe in this.
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Beer is a great twist on mac and cheese!
Mac & Cheese seems to be one of those foods that fits no matter what mood you’re in. You’re happy? Mac & Cheese! You’re depressed? Mac & Cheese! You’re exhausted from a long day but absolutely starving? Mac & Cheese! This is the real superfood, people.
And this one looks gorgeous and perfect for the fall. Bookmarking this recipe. :)