Comfort food meets craft beer. 🧀 🍺

Mac & cheese is already the ultimate comfort food — but when you add beer? Game over. These beer-infused mac & cheese recipes are rich, flavorful, and ridiculously satisfying.

Whether you’re going for smoky, spicy, cheesy, or boozy, there’s a version here for every palate and pour. Grab a brew, boil your pasta, and let’s go all-in on the cheese.

🍺 Classic Beer Mac & Cheese

The base recipe — smooth, creamy cheese sauce built on a buttery roux and finished with your favorite brew.

Use a malty amber or pale ale to add depth without overpowering the cheese. Great on its own or as a base for mix-ins.

👉  Classic Beer Mac & Cheese Recipe

🥓 Bacon Beer Mac

Crispy bacon bits folded into a rich beer cheese sauce made with a smoky porter or brown ale.

Topped with breadcrumbs and baked until bubbly — perfect for BBQ sides or holiday feasts.

👉  Bacon Beer Mac Recipe

🧄 IPA Mac & Cheese

Bold, hoppy, and perfect for flavor chasers. This version uses a citrusy or West Coast IPA to cut through the richness of sharp cheddar and Gruyère.

Best served with spicy toppings like jalapeños, buffalo sauce, or crushed red pepper flakes.

👉 IPA Mac & Cheese Recipe

☘️ Guinness Mac & Cheese

Dark, rich, and extra cozy — this version uses Guinness or another dry stout for deep roasted flavor.

Pair with aged cheddar and a touch of Dijon for complexity. Great baked with breadcrumbs or stirred with caramelized onions.

👉  Guinness Mac & Cheese Recipe

🦞 Lager Lobster Mac & Cheese

Luxe and comforting, this recipe blends tender chunks of lobster with creamy cheese sauce and a crisp, clean lager.

Top with toasted breadcrumbs and a squeeze of lemon — perfect for date night or dinner parties.

👉  Lager Lobster Mac & Cheese Recipe

🌶️ Spicy IPA Mac & Cheese

Hoppy, zesty, and bold — a citrus-forward IPA blended with sharp cheddar, pepper jack, and diced jalapeños.

Great for heat-lovers who want their mac with a kick.

👉  Spicy IPA Mac & Cheese Recipe

🍄 Stout Mushroom Mac

A darker, earthier twist featuring sautéed mushrooms and a splash of stout.

Savory, rich, and perfect for cooler nights or serving alongside roasted meats.

👉  Stout Mushroom Mac Recipe

🔥 Buffalo Chicken Beer Mac

Hot sauce, shredded chicken, and blue cheese crumbles mixed into a creamy beer cheese base.

Pair with a light lager or wheat beer for balance. Always a hit at parties and tailgates.

👉  Buffalo Chicken Beer Mac Recipe

🧅 BBQ Brisket Mac & Cheese

Smoky pulled brisket stirred into baked beer mac and finished with crispy onions.

Use a porter or dark lager for maximum flavor. It’s mac with serious attitude.

👉  BBQ Brisket Mac & Cheese Recipe

🧄 Garlic Herb White Cheddar Mac

Use a lighter beer (like a blonde ale) and stir in garlic, herbs, and creamy white cheddar for an elevated, elegant version.

Pairs beautifully with grilled chicken or as a vegetarian main dish.

👉  Garlic Herb White Cheddar Mac Recipe

🧀🍺 Hopped-Up Gouda Beer Mac & Cheese

This Hopped-Up Gouda Beer Mac & Cheese is rich, smooth, and built to punch above its weight — smoked gouda and sharp cheddar bring the creaminess, while a splash of hoppy pale ale cuts through the fat with citrusy zing.

👉  Hopped-Up Gouda Beer Mac & Cheese Recipe

🧾 Final Thoughts: Bold, Boozy, and Built for Flavo

Beer Mac & Cheese is the perfect intersection of two great things — rich, melty cheese and your favorite craft beer.

Pro tip: The bolder the cheese, the more flavor the beer can carry. Try different pairings and find your signature combo.

These recipes are easy to tweak, endlessly customizable, and crowd-pleasing every time. Serve them straight from the pot, bake them with a crunchy topping, or build them into your next epic side dish.

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.
• 🥨 Beer-Battered Appetizers and Sides – – Crispy onion rings, fried pickles, mushrooms, zucchini, & more pub-style favorites with a golden beer crunch.
• 🍞 Beer Bread Recipes – From 2-ingredient quick breads to jalapeño cheese loaves.
• 🧀 Beer Cheese & Dips – Beer cheese soup, queso, nachos, ranch dip & more.
• 🍖 Beer Can Chicken & Grilled Mains – Bold, juicy recipes straight from the grill.
• 🌶️ Beer Infused Chili’s – Hearty, bold, and slow-simmered beer-infused chili.
• 🍻 Beer Mac & Cheese – Creamy, quick& easy, made to impress.
• 🍰 Beer-Infused Desserts & Sweets – Sweet treats made better with beer.
• 🎉 Oktoberfest & Seasonal Ideas – Perfect pairings for parties, fall feasts, and festive gatherings.