Guinness Mac and Cheese – With Irish Whiskey Onions. Get ready to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a mac and cheese that is It is rich, cheesy, crispy, and outrageously good!
This Guinness Mac & Cheese with Irish Whiskey Onions is rich, creamy, and irresistibly cheesy, featuring a blend of aged Irish cheddar, Dubliner, and Cashel Blue. The sauce is infused with Guinness stout for a deep, malty richness, while Irish whiskey-caramelized onions add a touch of sweet, smoky depth. Topped with crispy Irish-style bacon and a crunchy herbed potato chip crust, this dish is the ultimate comfort food with an Irish flair.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
✔ Authentic Irish Ingredients - Guinness, Irish cheddar, Irish whiskey onions, and kettle chips bring the flavours of Ireland right into your kitchen.
✔ Perfect for St. Patrick's Day - Whether you're hosting a party or just want a festive dinner, this dish pairs beautifully with a pint of stout.
✔ Crowd-Pleaser - Creamy, cheesy, crispy, and savoury-it checks all the boxes!
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Ingredients
For the Mac & Cheese Base
- Elbow macaroni or cavatappi
- Unsalted butter (🍀Irish butter if available)
- All-purpose flour
- 35% whole milk
- Heavy whipping cream
- Guinness stout 🍀
- Dry mustard powder
- Ground nutmeg
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- Irish sharp cheddar cheese 🍀
- Dubliner cheese 🍀
- Irish blue cheese or goat cheese 🍀(Cashel Blue or Coolea if available)
Irish Whiskey Caramelized Onions
- Yellow onions, thinly sliced
- Butter
- olive oil
- Irish whiskey (Jameson)🍀
- Salt
Crispy Bacon Layer
- 8 slices Irish-style back bacon 🍀 or thick-cut bacon
Herbed Chip Topping
- Kettle-style potato chips (We used Guinness 🍀 potato chips)
- Fresh thyme or parsley
- Cheddar and Dubliner cheese mix🍀
See recipe card below for quantities.
Instructions
Caramelize the Onions
In a pan over medium heat, melt butter and oil.
Add onions and a pinch of salt. Cook low and slow for 25-30 minutes, stirring often.
Once deep golden brown, deglaze with Irish whiskey. Let it bubble until the liquid is gone, 1-2 minutes. Set aside.
Cook the Pasta
Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
Make the Cheese Sauce
In 3.5qt sauteuse or large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Wisk in the flour and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly.
Slowly whisk in milk, cream, and Guinness. Stir until thickened.
Add mustard, nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in all three cheeses (reserve ¾ cup of cheese for the chip topping) until melted and velvety.
Herbed Chip Topping
Chop all the ingredients together.
Combine It All
Stir cooked pasta into the cheese sauce.
Fold in caramelized onions and crispy bacon.
Assemble & Bake
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
If not using an ovenproof sauteuse transfer the mixture to a greased 3-quart baking dish
Sprinkle the herbed chip topping evenly over the top.
Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes until golden and bubbling.
Serve and Enjoy
Serve warm with a glass of Guinness (or a non-alcoholic version) or green beer with extra chips on the side! Sláinte!
Watch how this Guinness Mac and Cheese recipe was made
FAQ
Both whiskey and Guinness enhance the depth of flavour in this mac and cheese. The Guinness brings a malty richness with a subtle bitterness that balances the creamy cheese sauce. At the same time, the whiskey adds caramel, vanilla, and oak notes that complement the sweet and savoury Irish whiskey onions. As they cook, most of the alcohol evaporates, leaving behind complexity without the boozy taste. If you prefer to skip the whiskey, you can caramelize the onions with a splash of apple cider vinegar or a bit of brown sugar for a different but equally delicious flavour.
Tips for the Best Irish Mac & Cheese
Choose a Smooth Stout - Guinness adds depth without overpowering. If you want a non-alcoholic version, try a dark malted beer alternative.
Mix Up the Cheese - Aged Irish cheddar provides sharpness, Dubliner adds nuttiness, and Cashel Blue gives a touch of tangy funk.
Slow-Cook the Onions - Caramelizing the onions with Irish whiskey enhances their natural sweetness and richness-don't rush this step!
The Ultimate Topping - The crushed Guinness kettle chips add crunch and extra flavour. Feel free to mix in more herbs like chives or rosemary.
What to serve with Guinness Mac and Cheese
This mac and cheese is rich, cheesy, and full of bold Irish flavours, so pairing it with something fresh, tangy, or crisp can help balance the meal. Here are some great serving ideas:
Fresh & Light Sides:
Crisp Green Salad - A simple salad with arugula, shaved fennel, apples, and a light vinaigrette (like a Guinness mustard or honey-lemon dressing) adds freshness.
Roasted or Steamed Veggies - Brussels sprouts, asparagus, or green beans roasted with a touch of lemon work well.
Savoury Irish Classics:
Grilled or Seared Steak - A juicy steak (perhaps marinated in Guinness beer) complements the deep flavours of the mac & cheese.
Irish Bangers or Sausages - Serve with a grainy mustard or onion gravy for a traditional touch.
Crunchy & Tangy Additions:
Pickled Vegetables - Pickled onions, beets, or gherkins cut through the richness beautifully.
Irish Soda Bread or Brown Bread - Perfect for scooping up all that cheesy goodness!
Drinks to Pair:
Guinness or Irish Red Ale - Classic pairing! The roasted malt in Guinness enhances the flavours.
Crisp White Wine - A Sauvignon Blanc or dry Riesling works well.
Irish Coffee - For a festive after-dinner treat!
Love this Guinness Mac and Cheese? Try These Recipes Next:
- Guinness and Beef Stew
- Cider Braised Cabbage with Ham Bone and Apples
- Crispy Irish Pub Potato Skillet with Sausage & Bacon
Equipment Used: This Guinness Mac and Cheese was cooked from start to finish in Hestan Culinary's CopperBond cookware:
- The 11-inch skillet brought the onions to golden perfection.
- The 6-quart stockpot gave the pasta room to dance.
- The 3.5-quart sautéuse turned it all into molten magic.
This cookware heats quickly, cooks evenly, works on any cooktop (including induction), and is oven-safe up to 600°F. It performs like a pro and looks like a showpiece. Copper has never looked so good. Proud Hestan Culinary Ambassador. All opinions expressed in this post are our own.
📖 Recipe
Guinness Mac and Cheese – With Irish Whiskey Onions
Ingredients
For the Mac & Cheese Base
- 12 oz elbow macaroni or cavatappi
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter Irish butter if available
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup 35% whole milk
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 cup Guinness stout
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
- 9 oz aged Irish sharp cheddar cheese shredded (for sauce and chip topping)
- 6 oz Dubliner cheese shredded (for sauce and chip topping)
- 6 oz Irish blue cheese or goat cheese crumbled (Cashel Blue or Coolea if available)
Irish Whiskey Caramelized Onions
- 2 large yellow onions thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons Irish whiskey Jameson
- Pinch of salt
Crispy Bacon Layer
- 8 slices Irish-style back bacon or thick-cut bacon cooked until crisp and chopped. 6 pieces for the mac and cheese, and 2 pieces for serving on the side.
Herbed Chip Topping
- 1½ cups kettle-style potato chips crushed (We used Guinness potato chips)
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme or parsley
- ¾ cup grated cheddar and Dubliner mix
Instructions
Caramelize the Onions
- In a pan over medium heat, melt butter and oil.
- Add onions and a pinch of salt. Cook low and slow for 25-30 minutes, stirring often.
- Once deep golden brown, deglaze with Irish whiskey. Let it bubble until the liquid is gone, 1-2 minutes. Set aside.
Cook the Pasta
- Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
Make the Cheese Sauce
- In 3.5qt sauteuse or large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Wisk in the flour and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Slowly whisk in milk, cream, and Guinness. Stir until thickened.
- Add mustard, nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in all three cheeses (reserve ¾ cup of cheese for the chip topping) until melted and velvety.
Herbed Chip Topping
- Chop all the ingredients together.
Combine It All
- Stir cooked pasta into the cheese sauce.
- Fold in caramelized onions and crispy bacon.
Assemble & Bake
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- If not using an ovenproof sauteuse transfer the mixture to a greased 3-quart baking dish
- Sprinkle the herbed chip topping evenly over the top.
- Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes until golden and bubbling.
Serve and Enjoy
- Serve warm with a glass of Guinness (or a non-alcoholic version) or green beer with extra chips on the side! Sláinte!
Love this Recipe?
- We'd really appreciate your feedback! Please take a moment to rate and review it below. Your thoughts help others and inspire us to keep creating delicious recipes. Thank you! - James & Elaine
Where did you get that saucepan from?
Hi Cedric,
The skillet, saucepan and sautéuse are all from Hestan Culinary’s CopperBond Collection.
Why do I love CopperBond? It heats like lightning thanks to the pure copper core, but I don’t have to baby it because it’s reinforced with stainless steel. It works on induction and gas, and it’s so gorgeous, we leave it on our open shelving island because it’s that beautiful!
As a long-time Hestan Ambassador, we can offer you a 20% discount if you use our link: hestan-culinary.pxf.io/jWVabb and code: ZIMMY20
Please let us know if you have any questions.
James & Elaine
Let me think….caramelized onions, thick bacon, and sharp cheddar times two with a dab of blue cheese. This is a clear cut winner from the get go. The onions went first as they a slow and low cook and I did use my cast iron pan. As they were sauteing I weighed and grated my cheese. After that I got my pasta on the way while batching out the bacon. This is the point where you realize the recipe is not quite so big, it allows you to get several jobs done at once. The cheese blend is out of this world and while melting the aroma from the blend is exquisite. Another keeper in the recipe book!!!
Dave, you nailed this one!
Love how you broke down the timing, getting the onions going first and then working through the rest step by step. That’s exactly how this recipe is meant to flow, and it sounds like you made it look easy. And we couldn’t agree more, that moment when the cheese melts and everything comes together is something else.
Really appreciate you cooking along with us and taking the time to share images on social media and your review here. Sounds like your recipe book is filling up with some solid favourites!
Have a fantastic day!
Elaine & James