Description
This Baked Beer and Bacon Macaroni and Cheese feature hickory smoked bacon, chopped chives, and sharp cheddar cheese topped with crunchy panko crumbs to add an extra twist of flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3/4 lb. smoked bacon, diced
- 2 tbsp. unsalted butter
- 3 tbsp. all-purpose flour
- 2 c. whole milk
- 1 c. heavy cream
- 1 1/2 c. lite beer
- 16 oz. macaroni pasta, cooked
- 2 c. sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- 1 c. smoked cheddar cheese, grated
- 2 c. white cheddar cheese, grated
- 4 oz. cream cheese
- 1/3 c. chives, chopped
- 1/2 tbsp. seasoned salt
- 1 tsp. black pepper
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. onion powder
- 1 tsp. smoked paprika
- 1 tsp. dry mustard
- 2 tsp. chicken bouillon
- A few dashes of hot sauce
- 2 tbsp. Unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 c. panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp. dried parsley
- Garnish: Chopped chives and more bacon bits
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 Degrees. Grease a 9X13 casserole dish with butter and set aside.
- Place the bacon on a baking sheet and cook in the oven until crispy, about 15 minutes. Once cooled enough to manage, remove from the baking sheet and chop. Set aside. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease from the bacon drippings.
- Cook the pasta to al dente. Drain and return to the pot, off the burner. Add 2 tbsp butter to the pasta and stir to ensure the pasta doesn’t stick.
- Add the bacon grease and 2 tablespoons of butter to another large pot on medium-high heat. Once the butter has melted, sprinkle the flour in the pot and whisk. Large clumps of flour will form.
- Slowly pour in the milk and whisk as the mixture becomes smooth. Next, add the heavy cream and beer and stir. Allow the milk mixture to come to a small simmer for about 5 minutes. The mixture will thicken.
- Next, add the cheeses (1 cup cheddar, 1 cup white cheddar, cream cheese, all smoked cheddar) and stir in the milk mixture until smooth. Reduce heat to low.
- Add the seasonings (salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and dry mustard) and the chicken bouillon to the cheese sauce. Stir to combine. Add a few dashes of hot sauce and stir.
- Fold in the cooked macaroni. Add the chopped bacon and chives and fold in until evenly distributed. Add half of the macaroni to the casserole dish and sprinkle about half of the remaining cheese. Pour the other half of the macaroni and cheese on top and add the remaining cheese.
- On medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a medium skillet and add the panko bread crumbs. Continuously stir the bread crumbs until they turn golden brown. Be careful, as they can turn very quickly. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs over the mac and cheese.
- Bake in the oven, uncovered, for about 15 minutes. The mac and cheese should be golden brown and crisp. Allow to cool slightly and serve.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
