This Bacon Crusted Beer Mac and Cheese is a double cheesy pasta bathed in a beer sauce and topped with a cheese and bacon crust. Total comfort food!
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Original content posted February 2014. Updated March 2021.
Friends, after eleven and a half years of marriage, I have created my husband’s ultimate dream dish. The two key ingredients? Beer and bacon. I mean, really. The aroma wafting from my oven when I pulled this Bacon Crusted Beer Mac and Cheese out likely had every guy in the 216 area code headed towards my front door.
What sets this Bacon Crusted Beer Mac and Cheese apart from the rest? Where should I start?
First is the ooey gooey, cheesy pasta. The happiest macaroni you ever did see as it bathes in a sauce made with not one, but two cheeses. Cheddar is the classic choice that you can never go wrong with but the addition of Parmesan gives it a saltier and more complex bite.
The beer in the cheese adds a depth of flavor that is simply unmatched by any other mac and cheese you’e experienced before. Don’t worry, the alcohol is cooked out of the sauce so it’s simply the flavor that you’re getting in the Bacon Crusted Beer Mac and Cheese you pull from the oven.
What Beer to Use for Mac and Cheese?
Obviously, the beer you choose to use for this Bacon Crusted Mac and Cheese needs to be one that you enjoy drinking. Beyond that my advice is to pick something darker rather than lighter. I love to choose a stout beer as the flavor lends itself to a richer cheese sauce.
This recipe was the starting point for my Reuben and Guinness Mac and Cheese, perfect for St. Patrick’s day or any other day of the year!
Now, let’s talk about this bacon crust for a moment, shall we? Crumbled slices of my Oven Roasted Bacon and Panko bread crumbs are showered over the cheese and pasta before being sprinkled with more Parmesan cheese. Creamy and cheesy paired with salty and crunchy. The ultimate, flavorful bite.
Perfect as a side dish along side my Chili Lime Chicken Drumsticks or my Baked Chicken and Mushrooms or as a decadent main dish. The choice is yours!
How to Make Bacon Crusted Beer Mac and Cheese
[1] Add butter to a medium sized saucepan.
[2] Over medium heat, melt butter.
[3] Add flour to saucepan.
[4] Whisk in flour and cook until bubbly and golden in color.
[5] Add milk and beer to saucepan and whisk to combine.
[6] Add cheddar and 1-1/2 cups Parmesan cheese to saucepan.
[7] Stir together to combine. Lower heat to medium and continue to stir, cooking for 5-6 minutes while mixture thickens.
[8] Add paprika, pepper, garlic powder, salt and nutmeg.
[9] Stir together to combine.
[10] Add prepared and drained macaroni to sauce.
TIP: I like to cook my macaroni a minute or two shy of the box instructions to insure it will hold up to the sauce and not become mushy!
[11] Gently stir together until completely combined.
[12] Pour macaroni and sauce mixture into greased 9″ x 13″ baking pan.
TIP: Want to add even more flavor to your mac and cheese? I like to use the drippings from the Oven Roasted Bacon to grease my baking dish. A super easy way to add an extra layer of flavor!
[13] In a small bowl, add Panko bread crumbs and crumbled Oven Roasted Bacon.
[14] Stir together to combine.
[15] Top macaroni and cheese with an even layer of the Panko and bacon mixture.
[16] Sprinkle remaining Parmesan cheese over top of macaroni and cheese.
Bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand for five minutes before serving.
If you’ve tried this Bacon Crusted Beer Mac and Cheese or any other recipe on Melanie Makes, please let me know your thoughts in the comments below. I love hearing from you and respond to each and every comment!
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Bacon Crusted Beer Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 1-1/2 cups milk
- 12 ounces beer
- 1-1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 2-1/2 cups shredded Parmesan cheese divided
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 16 ounces macaroni prepared and drained
- 1 cup Panko bread crumbs
- 1 recipe Oven Roasted Bacon prepared
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Add butter to a medium sized saucepan. Over medium heat, melt butter.
- Add flour to saucepan. Whisk in flour and cook until bubbly and golden in color.
- Add milk and beer to saucepan and whisk to combine.
- Add cheddar and 1-1/2 cups Parmesan cheese to saucepan.
- Stir together to combine. Lower heat to medium and continue to stir, cooking for 5-6 minutes while mixture thickens.
- Add paprika, pepper, garlic powder, salt and nutmeg.
- Stir together to combine.
- Add prepared and drained macaroni to sauce. TIP: I like to cook my macaroni a minute or two shy of the box instructions to insure it will hold up to the sauce and not become mushy!
- Gently stir together until completely combined.
- Pour macaroni and sauce mixture into greased 9″ x 13″ baking pan.TIP: Want to add even more flavor to your mac and cheese? I like to use the drippings from the Oven Roasted Bacon to grease my baking dish. A super easy way to add an extra layer of flavor!
- In a small bowl, add Panko bread crumbs and crumbled Oven Roasted Bacon.
- Stir together to combine.
- Top macaroni and cheese with an even layer of the Panko and bacon mixture.
- Sprinkle remaining Parmesan cheese over top of macaroni and cheese.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand for five minutes before serving.
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