Beer Mac & Cheese
Another beer recipe? Yes of course! This is one of my favorite things to make for St. Paddy’s Day. Honestly, I love scratch mac and cheese more than any box mac, and I’m kind of awful with keeping track of what amounts of things I use. But this recipe is a special little treat to look forward to each year, and so easy to customize and make to your liking!
Ingredients
¾ lb. pasta (I like to use fun shaped noodles, but I didn’t have any so I used normal elbow noodles)
3 Tbsp. butter
3 Tbsp. flour
⅔ cup beer of your choice (I used Guiness and then made another batch with Spotted Cow, but you can just use your fav)
1 and ⅓ cups milk (I used whole cause that’s what was available, but I’d suggest 2% or skim)
2.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese* (or however much you want, the more the cheesier)
*you can use white cheddar or mozzarella or add in a little on top
salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Step One:
In a medium size pot bring water to a boil, then add your noodles, cook on medium-high heat until ready (typically 8-10 minutes)*. Drain and set aside.
*or just cook your noodles like you normally would :)
Step Two:
Grab another pot (or just put the pasta in a colander to wait and use the empty pot) and add butter to pot and heat until melted. Whisk flour into the butter to form a roux. Cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute until roux is bubbling and has slightly darkened.
Step Three:
Slowly add beer to roux, whisking constantly to work out any lumps. Slowly whisk milk into sauce, whisking constantly to work out any lumps. Cook sauce, whisking frequently, until mixture has thickened and is barely simmering, about 6-8 minutes.
Step Four:
Set to the lowest heat. and slowly add in cheddar cheese and stir until melted. Add salt and pepper to taste, then throw your cooked pasta into the sauce and mix until coated.
Feel free to experiment with other beers and flavors of cheese (sharp cheddar is usually good for a stronger taste), or just top the dish with shredded cheeses. If you want to add some green for St. Paddy’s you can add cooked broccoli or green onions, but mac and cheese is so easy to spice up and change and make it your own :)
