Smokey Beer Macaroni and Cheese

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This Smokey Beer Macaroni and Cheese is full of melty deliciousness and lots of flavor! In addition to combining beer and cheese, it also has a breadcrumb topping for that extra crunch!

Beer Cheese Macaroni and Cheese

This is such a fun way to put a spin on the classic macaroni and cheese! It takes a childhood favorite and makes it perfect for adults! If you’re a fan of beer cheese like I am, this will be right up your alley. The beer flavor is clearly there, but definitely doesn’t overpower the dish. It’s gooey, cheesy and just a little bit crunchy. And with a combination of flavors like paprika, garlic and Worcestershire, what’s not to love?

A side dish like this is perfect for pretty much an occasion. It’s unique and special enough for a holiday, but easy enough to make on a weeknight or bring to a potluck. And as with any mac and cheese, it’s completely addicting.

What Kind of Beer Should I use?

It’s hard to go wrong here, but a lager or dark ale is going to go well for someone wanting a little stronger flavor. For something a little lighter, reach for a pale ale or wheat beer. One way to choose is to pick a beer you like. Or, if you’re like me and don’t really like beer but love it in food, grab your husband’s favorite beer.

While most beers will work, stouts and IPAs will be too overpowering.

What You’ll Need

With the exception of a few things, you should have most ingredients on hand. And certainly anything you don’t have should be easy to find.

Breadcrumb Topping

• Panko breadcrumbs: I used the plain ones. You could use other types of breadcrumbs if you prefer, but panko ones tend to give you a crispier topping.
• Butter: To hold everything together.
• Seasoning: A little salt, pepper and dried rosemary.

Macaroni and Cheese

• Elbow noodles: These are classic for macaroni and cheese, but feel free to swap the elbows out for another pasta. the hubs is a big fan of penne.
• Butter: For helping create the roux.
• Onion: A medium yellow onion is best. It adds great flavor to the mac and cheese.
• Flour: All purpose flour, for helping create the roux.
• Beer: I used a lager, since we like a little stronger beer flavor, but feel free to use your favorite beer.
• Milk: Whole milk is naturally going to be creamier, but you could use something like 2% if you really prefer.
• Seasonings: Salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, Worcestershire and pepper helps accentuation and enhance the flavor of this mac and cheese.
• Cheeses: There’s a combination of three cheeses in this mac and cheese – cream cheese, yellow cheddar and white cheddar. Cream cheese adds a wonderful creaminess, while the cheddars create the perfect flavor.

How to Make Beer Mac and Cheese

1. Make the Topping: Combine the topping ingredients and set aside.
2. Cook Onion: Melt the butter in a large saucepan and cook the onions until they are beginning to soften.
3. Make the Roux: Stir in the flour and cook for 30 seconds to a minute, until a thick paste forms. Slowly whisk in the beer, milk, and seasonings. I find it’s best to add a little liquid at a time to start, to help break down the thick flour mixture slowly, so that you don’t end up with lumps. If you just add it all at once, you are more likely to end up with some lumps.
4. Simmer: Bring the mixture to a simmer and let it cook for 2 minutes, whisking constantly.
5. Add Cheese: Whisk in the cream cheese, then add the shredded cheeses a handful at a time, until melted and incorporated. Reserve about a cup of cheese to add in with the pasta. Simmer for a minute or two more until the cheese sauce is thickened and creamy. Remove from heat.
6. Add Pasta: Stir in the cooked pasta and reserved cheese and stir until well combined.
7. Bake: Pour the macaroni and cheese into a 9×13 dish, sprinkle the topping on and bake until it’s bubbling throughout. Broil it for a few minutes, if you’d like to brown it on top a bit.

Serve and enjoy!

What is a Roux?

A roux is used as a thickening agent in sauces, gravy and soups. It’s a mixture of butter (or oil) and flour that then has a liquid added to it. In the case of mac and cheese, cheese is then added to it. Using a roux isn’t always totally necessary, but it does help the sauce thicken nicely and stick to the pasta well. It may seem intimidating, but it’s actually super easy to do and just takes a few minutes.

Tips for Success

• Be Ready: Be sure to have your ingredients ready to go as you’re making the cheese sauce. You don’t want to have your roux sitting and drying out while you’re pouring beer or shredding cheese.
• Don’t Add Extra Pasta: Adding extra pasta can lead to not having enough cheese sauce and ending up with a dryer macaroni and cheese.
• Serve it With Other Favorites: This beer mac and cheese would go great with some Ham and Cheese Sliders or this Crispy Buffalo Chicken.

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