Guinness Mac and Cheese - With Irish Whiskey Onions
Get ready to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a mac & cheese packed with bold Irish flavours! 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.
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!
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