Southern baked macaroni and cheese with beer is creamy, gooey-cheesy with a crispy topping like the old fashioned mac and cheese recipe your kids love but with a grown up flavor all its own!
1cupevaporated milkmay need a little more if it seems too thick
8ouncesbeer
8ouncessharp cheddar cheesegrated
4ouncessmoked Gouda cheesegrated
¼teaspoonsmoked paprika
½cupPanko bread crumbs
Generous amount of black pepper
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Cook pasta in salted boiling water - about 12 minutes.
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium high heat.
Whisk in flour and cook, stirring constantly, until golden – about 2 minutes.
Add the milk and the beer, whisking constantly.
Add both cheeses and stir with a wooden spatula or spoon until melted.
Reduce heat to medium.
Simmer the cheese mixture for 5 minutes or so – just until it thickens slightly.
Stir in the pepper and smoked paprika.
Stir in the cooked macaroni.
10. Spoon the mixture into a large, greased iron skillet or casserole dish.
11. Top with bread crumbs.
12. Bake for 30 minutes or until the dish is bubbling and has browned on top.
13. Let stand a few minutes before serving.
Notes
StorageCover with plastic wrap or put in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days. You can also freeze this mac and cheese casserole.Tips
Use evaporated milk. It makes creamy recipes creamier without a lot of extra fat. Our moms and grandmas knew it but it seems to have been forgotten by most of us.
Use any kind of beer you like. If you use milder cheeses instead of sharp Cheddar you may want to go with a milder beer. Otherwise try the dark beers in this dish.
Use a variety of cheeses. Sharp cheddar, smoked cheddar or Gouda, some Monterey Jack... experiment with combinations until you come up with something that you really love.
Overcook the macaroni a little. Oh, not enough to turn it to mush but just past the a la dente stage. It will soak up more flavor and take on a better texture - trust me on this.
Bread crumbs baked on top take any mac and cheese recipe out of the mundane and into the wow.
Use a pasta shape that will clutch at the cheese like a shopper with a cashmere sweater at the Neiman Marcus 75% off sale table. Elbows, shells, corkscrews...
Be sure to salt the water that you're cooking the macaroni in - and salt it well.