Description
This Irish Cheddar & Stout Mac and Cheese Bake is your new favorite comfort food! With its creamy texture, rich flavors, and crunchy topping, it’s perfect for a quick dinner or cozy gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound elbow macaroni
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- ⅔ cup guinness or other stout
- 1 ½ cups 2% milk
- ½ cup half and half
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 2 ounces cream cheese, cut into pieces
- 3 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1½ tablespoons butter
- 2 teaspoons finely minced garlic
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- salt/pepper to taste
- 2 teaspoons minced fresh parsley
Instructions
- Cook the elbow macaroni according to package instructions until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- In a medium skillet, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Add the minced garlic and panko breadcrumbs, cooking until the breadcrumbs are toasted and fragrant. Season with salt, pepper, and minced parsley, then remove from heat and set aside.
- In a large saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat, then whisk in the flour, stirring until smooth. Gradually whisk in the guinness, milk, and half and half, cooking until the mixture thickens.
- Stir in the salt, pepper, dijon mustard, and cream cheese, mixing until smooth. Fold in 2 cups of shredded cheddar until melted and combined.
- Combine the cooked macaroni with the cheese sauce and transfer to a greased baking dish. Sprinkle the top with the remaining cheddar and the toasted breadcrumb mixture.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F for about 25 minutes or until the top is golden and bubbly.
Notes
For a spicier kick, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the cheese sauce.
You can substitute cheddar cheese with other good melting cheeses if desired.
For a richer flavor, let the baked macaroni and cheese rest for a few minutes before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 67g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 75mg