• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Hot Rod's Recipes
  • Browse Recipes
  • How-To
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Videos
  • How-To
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Videos
    • How-To
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Gourmet Mac & Cheese

    Hot Rod's Whiskey Mac and Cheese

    Published by Rodney on September 26, 2017 - Jump to Recipe - 1 Comment

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

    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?

    whiskey mac cheese

    🥃 Alcohol Warning

    Please take into consideration that some of the alcohol in this recipe may not completely burn off and the remains could be of significant concern to recovering alcoholics, parents, and others who have ethical or religious reasons for avoiding alcohol.

    💭 Ingredient Substitution

    If the whiskey is a concern to you and your guests, you can easily substitute it for an equal amount of chicken broth or some apple juice and a touch of vanilla extract.

    whiskey mac cheese

    If you do decide to try my Whiskey Mac & Cheese recipe with the whiskey, you can basically use any bourbon whiskey you have on hand 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.

    whiskey mac cheese

    🥓 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.

    Or if you own an air fryer you can try my Air Fryer Bacon 🥓 recipe.

    Air Fried Bacon

    If you've ever wondered what part of the pig Bacon comes from check out the picture below. Surprised?

    Pork Cuts Diagram
    whiskey mac cheese

    If you are fortunate enough to have an Instant Pot Pressure Cooker, I suggest you try my Instant Pot Mac & Cheese. A great alternative that does not require any alcohol.

    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. All super 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.

    whiskey mac cheese

    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 Whiskey based recipes, I suggest you check these recipes out:

    • jack daniels honey whiskey bbq sauce
      Jack Daniel's Honey Whiskey BBQ Sauce
    • Jack Daniel's Whiskey Chili
      Jack Daniel's Whiskey Chili
    • Jack Daniel's Baked Beans
      Jack Daniel's Baked Beans
    • Jack Daniel's Honey Mustard
      Jack Daniel's Honey Mustard

    📋 Gather your Ingredients

    You will need the following ingredients to make this Whiskey Mac & Cheese recipe (see recipe card for quantities): 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 the water is boiling, add the pasta and cook al dente. Drain and set aside.
    In a large skillet cook the 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 the butter. Once the butter is melted add the flour and whisk to combine.
    Add the paprika, garlic powder, chili paste, Worcestershire, mustard, whiskey and chicken broth and whisk to combine.
    Bring to a bubble, whisking occasionally to pick up any bits on the bottom of the pan.
    Add the heavy cream and whisk to combine. Bring back to a bubble and add all the cheese. Stir until all the cheese is melted.
    Add the pasta to the cheese sauce and stir to combine. Add the cooked bacon and diced tomatoes. Cook the pasta in the sauce for about 5 minutes over medium heat until the sauce thickens.
    While the pasta is cooking in the cheese sauce, mix all the topping ingredients in a bowl. Once the pasta is done, transfer to a serving dish and sprinkle the topping mixture over the pasta.

    📖 Recipe

    whiskey mac cheese

    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!
    4.88 from 8 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Prep TimePrep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook TimeCook Time 20 minutes mins
    Total TimeTotal Time 40 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Author Rodney
    Servings 8
    Calories 697 kcal

    Equipment

    • Large Pot
    • Skillet
    • Serving Dish

    Ingredients
     

    MACARONI BASE

    • 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
    • 1 lb Bacon, cooked & diced
    • 2 tablespoon Unsalted Butter
    • ½ Cup Whiskey
    • ½ Cup Low Sodium Chicken Broth
    • ¼ Cup All Purpose Flour
    • ½ teaspoon Paprika
    • 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
    • 15 oz Seasoned Diced Tomatoes, drained
    • 1 tablespoon Chili Paste
    • 1 tablespoon Yellow Mustard
    • ½ tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
    • 2 Cups Heavy Whipping Cream
    • 4 oz Cheddar Cheese, shredded
    • 2 oz Provolone Cheese, shredded
    • 2 oz Asiago Cheese, shredded
    • 1 lb Pasta, your choice

    TOPPING INGREDIENTS

    • 1 Cup Bread Crumbs
    • ¼ Cup Unsalted Butter, melted
    • ¼ Cup Dried Parsley Flakes, chopped
    • ½ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
    • Salt and Pepper, to taste

    Instructions
     

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

    Notes

    → Please take into consideration that some of the alcohol may not completely burn off and the remains could be of significant concern to recovering alcoholics, parents, and others who have ethical or religious reasons for avoiding alcohol.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 697kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 15gFat: 58gSaturated Fat: 29gCholesterol: 156mgSodium: 1061mgPotassium: 327mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 1480IUVitamin C: 5.6mgCalcium: 186mgIron: 1.8mg

    Nutritional information provided for this recipe is based on 1 serving. This information is an estimate and may vary based on several factors. If nutritional information is important to you and your diet, please verify this recipe with a Registered Dietitian.

    Tried this Recipe?Leave a Comment below and share a picture on Instagram and tag @hot_rods_recipes and hashtag #hotrodsrecipes!

    More Gourmet Mac & Cheese Recipes

    • smoked mac and cheese
      Easy Smoked Mac and Cheese
    • Baked Gouda Mac and Cheese
      Baked Gouda Mac and Cheese
    • Gnocchi Mac and Cheese
      Gnocchi Mac and Cheese
    • Copycat Chick-fil-A Mac and Cheese
      Copycat Chick-fil-A Mac and Cheese
    hot rods recipes

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kathy

      April 30, 2023 at 5:40 pm

      This Whiskey Mac and Cheese is so delicious. My family and I love any kind of pasta so tried this recipe. The heavy cream makes the sauce very creamy and tasty. This recipe is number 1 in my book. A big thanks to the Chef for posting this recipe.

      Reply

    leave comment and rating! Cancel reply

    We would love to hear from you! If you made this recipe, please choose a star rating. Thanks!

    Recipe Rating:




    Before a comment appears it needs to be approved by the site owner. Read our Comment Policy to see how your comment data is processed. Your email address will NOT be published.

    Primary Sidebar

    Chef Rodney Headshot

    Hi! I'm Rodney and welcome to my blog. I am a foodie and a self-taught cook. See More →

    Recent Recipes

    • Baked BBQ Chicken Sliders
    • whole wheat skillet bread
      Whole Wheat No-Knead Skillet Bread
    • roast beef sandwich with olives
      Roast Beef Sandwich with Olives
    • pulled pork quesadillas
      Pulled Pork Quesadillas

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    Recipes

    • Recipe Index
    • Copycat Recipes
    • Pressure Cooking
    • Celebrity Chef Recipes

    About

    • About Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Recipe Disclaimer
    • Contact Us

    Social

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

    This site may contain affiliate links.

    Copyright © 2015-2023 The Ventucky Chef, LLC. All rights reserved.