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.
- 🍽️ Cooking with Beer (Main Hub) – Your ultimate guide to cooking with beer, from mains to apps and desserts.
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