Best Whiskey Macaroni And Cheese Recipes

CLASSIC BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until it's barely al dente. (It should be more al dente than your average pasta: It's going to continue to cook in the oven.) Drain and set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat butter in a medium pot over medium heat. (The pot should be large enough to hold all the pasta when cooked.) Whisk in flour and cook, whisking constantly, until the flour is foamy and just starting to turn a light golden brown, about 4 minutes. Slowly whisk in milk to avoid clumping. Add garlic, paprika and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, whisking constantly and paying special attention to the edges of the pot to make sure the flour mixture is totally incorporated.
• Add grated cheese and whisk to blend until the cheese is completely melted. (The sauce will seem thick at first and thin out as the cheese melts; it will thicken while it bakes.) Season with salt and pepper and add cooked pasta, stirring to coat well.
• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil (to catch any cheesy drips).
• Make the optional topping: Combine bread crumbs, melted butter and Parmesan, if using, in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper and, using your hands, mix well to ensure the bread crumbs are evenly coated.
• Transfer the macaroni and cheese mixture to a 3-quart or 9 x 13 baking dish and scatter bread crumbs, if using, evenly over the top. Place on prepared baking sheet and bake until macaroni and cheese is bubbling, thickened and creamy, and bread crumbs are evenly golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.

WHISKEY MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook pasta in boiling water about 7 minutes; set aside. Do not overcook, and do not rinse.
• While it's cooking, cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat, until it is crisp. Remove from pan. Pour out all but two tablespoons of the drippings (leave the two tablespoons in the pan). Wipe outer side of pan if grease is on it from pouring off the rest of the grease. Crumble bacon and set aside.
• While bacon cooks: (1) shred cheeses and (2) in a large measuring cup, combine chicken broth, whiskey, spices and Worcestershire sauce.
• In skillet with bacon fat, add the butter and melt it. Add flour; whisk to combine. Add chicken broth mixture; whisk. Let bubble for 2 - 3 minutes, stirring occasionally to pick up fond on the bottom of the pan. Add milk; combine. Let come to a bubble or at least get very hot and add cheeses. Stir until it's melted and smooth. All of this stuff can burn easily; watch it.
• Add pasta and bacon to sauce; stir. Cook pasta in sauce for 5 minutes over medium heat, stirring. It's done when the sauce is thickened.

JACK DANIEL'S BACON MAC AND CHEESE RECIPE - (4.2/5)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil and coat with non-stick cooking spray. In a small saucepan, bring 1/2 cup Jack Daniel's to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, and simmer until reduced to 2 tablespoons. Remove from heat. On a plate, combine brown sugar and cayenne. Dip bacon into Jack Daniels and then press each side into brown sugar mixture to coat. Place on prepared baking sheet. Bake for 7 minutes, then flip and bake for about 5 minutes. Watch the bacon so it doesn't burn. {The sugar will run all over the pan, and the bacon with have a shiny lacquered look.} Remove the bacon to a plate coated with non-stick cooking spray to cool. Chop bacon; set aside. Bring water to a boil in a large pot. Add macaroni and cook until al dente. Drain pasta; set aside. While pasta is cooking, melt butter in a medium sauce pan over medium-high heat. Add flour, and whisk to combine. {You will have a very tight roux.} Add 1 tablespoon Jack Daniel's and whisk into roux. Whisk in 1 cup milk until combined. Add remaining milk. Whisk frequently until sauce thickens and begins to bubble. Add cheeses; whisk until cheeses melt and sauce is smooth. Add paprika and salt and pepper to taste. Pour sauce over pasta, and add bacon. Stir until pasta is completely coated in sauce. Add more salt and pepper if desired.

CHEF JOHN'S MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, stir in the macaroni, and return to a boil. Cook the pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is cooked through but still slightly firm, about 8 minutes. Drain well.
• Melt 1/4 cup butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. When the butter starts to foam and bubble, stir in the flour; cook on medium heat until flour just begins to turn pale yellow, 3 to 4 minutes. Add thyme, cayenne pepper, and white pepper; cook and stir another minute, then whisk in 1 cup of milk until smooth. Pour in remaining milk and whisk again. Bring the sauce just to a simmer.
• Stir in nutmeg, Worcestershire sauce, and salt; simmer on medium-low heat until thickened, about 8 minutes, whisking often. Turn heat off, then add 2 1/4 cups of Cheddar cheese; stir until melted and combined. Add Dijon mustard.
• Transfer the macaroni into a casserole dish, then pour in the cheese sauce; stir to thoroughly combine sauce with pasta. Mix panko bread crumbs and 1 tablespoon melted butter in a small bowl, and sprinkle crumbs on top of macaroni and cheese. Sprinkle remaining 3/4 cup of Cheddar cheese on top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until bread crumbs and Cheddar cheese topping are golden brown, about 20 minutes.

HOMEMADE MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook macaroni according to the package directions. Drain.
• In a saucepan, melt butter or margarine over medium heat. Stir in enough flour to make a roux. Add milk to roux slowly, stirring constantly. Stir in cheeses, and cook over low heat until cheese is melted and the sauce is a little thick. Put macaroni in large casserole dish, and pour sauce over macaroni. Stir well.
• Melt butter or margarine in a skillet over medium heat. Add breadcrumbs and brown. Spread over the macaroni and cheese to cover. Sprinkle with a little paprika.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes. Serve.