BBQ Brisket Mac & Cheese: Smoky, Cheesy, and Loaded with Slow-Cooked Flavor

This BBQ Brisket Mac & Cheese is the ultimate comfort food power move.

It’s creamy mac & cheese at the base — sharp cheddar, buttery sauce, tender pasta — and it’s topped (or folded) with smoky, saucy shredded brisket that takes it over the top.

Perfect for cookouts, tailgates, potlucks, or just feeding your soul on a random Tuesday.

Ingredients

For the Mac & Cheese:

  • 12 oz pasta (elbows, shells, or cavatappi)
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • ¾ cup milk
  • ¾ cup heavy cream or half & half
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp smoked paprika
  • Salt & black pepper to taste
  • 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar
  • 1 cup Monterey Jack or Gouda
  • Optional: ½ cup Parmesan for richness

For the Brisket:

  • 2 cups cooked brisket, shredded or chopped
  • ½ cup BBQ sauce (smoky, sweet, or spicy — your choice)
  • Optional: dash of hot sauce or apple cider vinegar for brightness

Topping (optional but awesome):

  • Extra cheese
  • Toasted panko mixed with butter
  • Pickled red onions or jalapeños for garnish

Instructions

Step 1: Cook the Pasta

Boil pasta in salted water until just al dente. Drain and set aside.

Step 2: Warm the Brisket

In a small pan, combine brisket and BBQ sauce.

Heat over medium-low until warm and saucy. Keep covered until ready to serve.

Step 3: Make the Cheese Sauce

  • In a large saucepan, melt butter. Whisk in flour and cook for 1–2 minutes.
  • Slowly whisk in milk and cream. Cook until thickened — about 5 minutes.
  • Add mustard, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
  • Lower heat and stir in cheeses by the handful until smooth and velvety.

Step 4: Combine & Assemble

Fold pasta into the cheese sauce. Stir to coat.

You can either:

  • Fold the brisket in for a fully mixed experience
  • Pile it on top for a layered look and dramatic presentation

Optional: Pour into a baking dish, top with panko, and broil for 2–3 minutes until golden and crispy.

Serving Suggestions

  • Serve With:
    • Pickles or slaw on the side
    • Cornbread or grilled garlic toast
    • A cold beer (obviously)
  • Top With:
    • Pickled onions, scallions, jalapeños
    • Drizzle of extra BBQ sauce or ranch
    • Fried onions for crunch

Beer Pairing

  • Best match:
    • Brown ale or amber ale
    • Smoked porter or stout
    • Sweet bock or malty lager
  • Why:
    • You need a beer with enough backbone to stand up to the meat, the cheese, and the sauce — without clashing.

🧀 More Beer Mac & Cheese Recipes

Creamy, cheesy, and kicked up with the flavor of craft brews — these beer-infused mac and cheese recipes go way beyond basic. Whether you’re into IPAs, stouts, or smoky add-ins, there’s a bowl here for you.

🍺 Beer Mac & Cheese Recipes (Main Hub) – Your ultimate mac & cheese guide with a boozy twist.

🧀 Classics & Crowd-Pleasers

🍺 Classic Beer Mac & Cheese – Smooth cheddar sauce with a malty beer boost.
🥓 Bacon Beer Mac & Cheese – Smoky bacon and melty cheese in every forkful.
🧄 Garlic Herb White Cheddar Mac & Cheese – Rich and fragrant with roasted garlic and herbs.

🍻 Beer-Specific Twists

🧄 IPA Mac & Cheese – Hoppy, bold, and layered with sharp cheddar.
🌶️ Spicy IPA Mac & Cheese – Heat and hops for a fiery beer lover’s dream.
☘️ Guinness Mac & Cheese – Dark, creamy, and perfect for stout fans.
🍄 Stout Mushroom Mac & Cheese – Earthy mushrooms meet deep stout flavor.
🧀 Hopped-Up Gouda Beer Mac & Cheese – Smooth Gouda with a hoppy beer backbone.

🔥 Bold, Loaded, & Over-the-Top

🔥 Buffalo Chicken Beer Mac & Cheese – Spicy buffalo chicken meets creamy mac.
🧅 BBQ Brisket Mac & Cheese – Smoky brisket folded into cheesy, saucy mac.
🦞 Lager Lobster Mac & Cheese – Elegant comfort with sweet lobster and crisp lager.

Final Thoughts

BBQ Brisket Mac & Cheese is creamy, smoky, bold, and unapologetically indulgent.

It’s mac & cheese dialed to 11 — no shortcuts, no shame, just a mountain of cheesy-meaty goodness that tastes like it came straight out of your favorite BBQ joint.

Cheers to smoke, sauce, and serious mac attack! 🧀🥩🍻

Explore Our Top Cooking-with-Beer Recipes 🍺 🍺

From crispy beer-battered classics to bold mains, cheesy dips, breads, and even desserts — these roundups bring together the best of beer-infused cooking. Whether you’re hosting a game day, planning a backyard BBQ, or just experimenting in the kitchen, there’s a beer recipe collection for every craving.

Similar Posts