Hot Rod's Whiskey Mac and Cheese

This Whiskey Mac & Cheese is probably one of the best Gourmet Mac & Cheese you will ever have. Mac & Cheese and Whiskey. Yum!

My Whiskey Mac and Cheese recipe is in my top 3 go-to comfort foods. Regular visitors know that I love a good gourmet Mac & Cheese as well as Whiskey. So why not come up with a recipe with the best of both worlds?

Now in case you have concerns over alcohol in your meals, rest assured that most of it should burn off during the cooking process. I cannot guarantee that it will completely burn off as way too many factors come into play so if the whiskey is a concern, you can easily substitute with apple juice and a touch of vanilla extract.

If you do decide to try my Hot Rod's Whiskey Mac & Cheese recipe with the whiskey, you can basically use any bourbon whiskey but I prefer the unique flavor of Jack Daniel's. Not only will it give this dish great flavor, but it will also give the cheese sauce a nice brownish color.

🥓 How to Make Bacon

If you struggle to make bacon perfectly, I've put together a short tutorial on How to Make Perfect Bacon - 3 Ways. Check it out! My preferred method is baking it in the oven.

And don't throw away that bacon grease! Bacon is expensive and the grease is great for making Scrambled Eggs, Grilled Cheese, Popcorn and even hash browns. It can keep up to 3 months if properly stored in the refrigerator.

If you are fortunate enough to have an Instant Pot, I would suggest you try my Instant Pot Mac & Cheese. If you like your Mac and Cheese baked, you must try my Mac & Cheese with Green Onions and Ham or my Easy Baked Mac and Cheese. Delicious!

💭 What is Al Dente

When making Mac and Cheese, it's important to cook the pasta al dente to ensure to best texture possible. If you are not familiar with the term "al dente", it means cooking the pasta so it's still chewy and form and that it will hold its shape when the sauce is added to it.

An alternative to using chicken broth is Better Than Bouillon. I often use it when I don't have broth on-hand.

For more great recipes like this one, I suggest you check these recipes out:

• Cranberry Sauce with Whiskey
• Cinnamon Whiskey Cupcakes
• Jack Daniel's Whiskey Chili
• Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
• Jack Daniel's Baked Beans

📋 What Ingredients do I need

You will need the following ingredients to make this Whiskey Mac & Cheese recipe: Kosher Salt, Bacon, Unsalted Butter, Whiskey, Low Sodium Chicken Broth, All Purpose Flour, Paprika, Garlic Powder, Seasoned Diced Tomatoes, Chili Paste, Mustard, Worcestershire Sauce, Heavy Cream, Cheddar Cheese, Provolone Cheese, Asiago Cheese, Pasta, Bread Crumbs, Unsalted Butter, Parsley, Cayenne Pepper and Salt & Pepper.

🥣 How to make Whiskey Mac and Cheese

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Once water is boiling, add pasta and cook al dente. Drain and set aside.
In a large skillet cook bacon and keep 2 tablespoon of bacon grease and toss the rest.
Pour 2 Tablespoons of bacon grease back into the skillet and over medium heat add butter. Once butter is melted add flour and whisk to combine.
Add spices, chili paste, Worcestershire, mustard, whiskey, and chicken broth and whisk to combine. Bring to a bubble, whisking occasionally to pick up bits on the bottom of the pan.
Add heavy cream and whisk to combine. Bring back to a bubble and add cheese. Stir until all the cheese is melted.
Add pasta to cheese sauce and stir to combine. Add cooked bacon and diced tomatoes. Cook pasta in the sauce for about 5 minutes over medium heat until sauce thickens.
While pasta is cooking in the sauce, mix all topping ingredients in a bowl. Once pasta is done, transfer to a serving dish and sprinkle topping mixture over pasta.