Pastrami Irish Mac and Cheese Recipe (2024)

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by Sandyon Mar 10, 2023

A cozy dish for St. Patrick’s Day, make a pan of Irish Mac and Cheese with pastrami (or corned beef)! Serve with a side salad and soda bread!

Pastrami Irish Mac and Cheese Recipe (1)

This Irish Beer Pastrami Mac and Cheese (with bacon) is to die for! If you’re looking for a good Dubliner Mac and Cheese recipe, then you’ve come to the right place. Especially for St. Patrick’s Day coming up, we love this Irish Mac and Cheese dish with corned beef (or pastrami) served with a slice of Irish Brown Soda Bread.

Table of Contents

Irish Mac and Cheese

Add a touch o’ the Irish to your original American comfort mac and cheese recipe, for this festive main dish today. You can also bring this to an Irish potluck, as it will be the first dish to be devoured quickly.

Why I love this recipe

  • We are an Irish family, so we always love to make mac and cheese at least once during the month of March.
  • It’s easy to make, and guests swoon over the additional bacon flavor.
  • The leftovers (if any), are out of this world.

Oh, and happy March!

Pastrami Irish Mac and Cheese Recipe (2)

Food comfort is … a big bowl of Irish mac and cheese with a bottle of Guinness beer. Right? When my husband and I went to Ireland, landing in Dublin, the first thing we did was go to Davey Byrnes for a pint of Guinness.

Not only does this tasty Irish Beer Cheese Pastrami Mac and Cheese look like a pot of gold, but it has delicious flavors of cheese, pastrami (or corned beef), and Guinness, so it tastes like gold, too! Oh, and give this Guinness Cheese Dip andChocolate Pudding Bundt Cake a try, too!

Pastrami Irish Mac and Cheese Recipe (3)

Gather these ingredients

  • Whole grain elbow macaroni
  • Kerrygold butter: we love Kerrygold (Irish) but you can use any brand + white flour
  • Guinness beer: or other stout
  • 2% milk
  • Kosher salt and ground black pepper
  • Sharp cheddar
  • Shredded mozzerella
  • Shredded Dubliner cheese
  • Pastrami: or use corned beef
  • Bacon
  • Chives: optional, for garnish

Pastrami Irish Mac and Cheese Recipe (4)
How do you make Irish Mac & Cheese

  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil with salt. Cook your macaroni according to package directions (but make sure it is el dente)—do not rinse under water after the pasta is cooked. Set aside.
  2. Make the roux: In a medium saucepan, heat the butter on medium-low heat. After it has melted and begins to gently bubble, add the flour, and whisk consistently to incorporate. Smooth out any lump, and continue stirring frequently until the flour turns an off-white color and emits a nutty scent.
  3. Stream the warmed milk into the pan slowly and continue to stir. When milk is incorporated and the sauce is smooth, add in the beer and continue stirring. Whisk gently over low heat until the sauce is smooth and thickened.
  4. When sauce is smooth, remove from heat and add in 1/3 cup cheddar cheese, Dubliner, mozzarella, pasta, bacon, pastrami, and 1/4 cup chives. Mix until all ingredients are incorporated, then transfer to baking dish or skillet. Sprinkle with remaining 1/3 cup of cheddar cheese.
  5. Bake until cheese bubbles and is slightly browned.
  6. Remove from oven, sprinkle with remaining chives, and serve hot.Pastrami Irish Mac and Cheese Recipe (5)

Tips and substitutions:

  • This mac and cheese is loaded with flavor, because it’s so rich, this recipe makes an 8X8 (or similar sized) baking dish. You can double the recipe to feed more people.
  • Bacon is optional, but it really adds to the flavor!
  • Swap out the elbow macaroni for your favorite pasta.
  • Chives are a great touch for a garnish, but you can also add parsley.

Pastrami Irish Mac and Cheese Recipe (6)

Cozy winter meal – mac & cheese

Friends, we recently hiked into a hut at Edison’s Snow Park with our good friends. It was so fun, but guess what?

Pastrami Irish Mac and Cheese Recipe (7)

Comfort is a cozy fire, good food, being warm in the cold outdoors, being with your favorite people and dog.

And coming home to a dish of mac and cheese, the ultimate comfort food.

Mac & cheese is synonymous with fond memories, full bellies and family.

More Irish dishes to try:

Classic Shepherd’s Pie Recipe

St. Patrick’s Day Snack Board

Irish Guinness Cupcakes

Bailey’s Irish Cream Cake

Colcannon Irish Potatoes

Steak and Potato Soup

Pastrami Irish Mac and Cheese Recipe (8)

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Irish Mac and Cheese

A cozy dish for St. Patrick’s Day, make a pan of Irish Mac and Cheese with pastrami (or corned beef)! Serve with a side salad and soda bread!

Prep Time: 20 minutes mins

Cook Time: 40 minutes mins

Total Time: 1 hour hr

Yield: 6

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Ingredients

  • ½ pound whole grain elbow macaroni
  • 2 tablespoons Kerrygold butter
  • 2 tablespoons white flour
  • cup Guinness stout, or other stout
  • 1 ½ cup 2% milk
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 2 cups shredded Dubliner cheese, divided
  • 4 oz sliced pastrami, cut into about 1’’ pieces (or corned beef)
  • 4 oz bacon, cooked and cut into about 1’’ pieces
  • Fresh chives, finelly chopped for garnish

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil with 2 Tbsp of salt. Cook your macaroni according to package directions (but make sure it is el dente)—do not rinse under water after the pasta is cooked. Set aside.

  • Make the roux: In a medium saucepan, heat the butter on medium-low heat. After it has melted and begins to gently bubble, add the flour, and whisk consistently to incorporate. Smooth out any lump, and continue stirring frequently until the flour turns an off-white color and emits a nutty scent.

  • Stream the warmed milk into the pan slowly and continue to stir. When milk is incorporated and the sauce is smooth, add in the beer and continue stirring. Whisk gently over low heat until the sauce is smooth and thickened, 5-7 minutes.

  • When sauce is smooth, remove from heat and add in 1/3 cup cheddar cheese, Dubliner, mozzarella, pasta, bacon, pastrami, and 1/4 cup chives. Mix until all ingredients are incorporated, then transfer to baking dish or skillet. Sprinkle with remaining 1/3 cup of cheddar cheese.

  • Bake for 27-30 minutes, or until cheese bubbles and is slightly browned.

  • Remove from oven, sprinkle with remaining chives, and serve hot.

Notes

Reposted from March 2020.

Cuisine: Irish

Course: Main Course

Author: Sandy / Reluctant Entertainer

Calories: 529kcal, Carbohydrates: 35g, Protein: 27g, Fat: 32g, Saturated Fat: 16g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 9g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 91mg, Sodium: 938mg, Potassium: 294mg, Fiber: 0.1g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 730IU, Vitamin C: 7mg, Calcium: 477mg, Iron: 2mg

Did you make this recipe?Tag @reluctantentertainer on Instagram and hashtag it #reluctantentertainer!

Pastrami Irish Mac and Cheese Recipe (9)

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Pastrami Irish Mac and Cheese Recipe (14)

Hello and welcome to my home and table!

I’m Sandy—lover of food, family, cooking, THE BIG BOARD, travel, and bringing people together. Through great recipes and connection around the table, we become better, stronger, and more courageous people. Feasting on Life is real, and every time we do it, we grow a little more. Read more...

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Entertaining Holiday Foods Holidays Hospitality Main Dishes Recipes St. Patrick's Day

published on Mar 10, 2023

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3 comments on “Irish Mac and Cheese”

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  1. CindyReply

    Pastrami Irish Mac and Cheese Recipe (15)
    This is amazingly good and will not be reserved for St. Patrick’s Day in our household! Thank you!

  2. Allena MacDonaldReply

    Made the Pastrami Irish Mac and Cheese and my family absolutely loved it. I doubled the recipe. Good thing
    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    • Sandy

      So glad you loved it!

Pastrami Irish Mac and Cheese Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What kind of cheese goes with pastrami? ›

Cheese: Not all pastrami sandwiches have cheese, but those that do use Swiss cheese. In a pinch, provolone cheese works well, too. Feel free to use any other white mild cheese you love for a slightly different taste. Mustard: For a slightly spicy kick, use dijon mustard for the sauce.

How does Gordon Ramsay make the best mac and cheese? ›

Preparation
  1. In a large pot over medium heat, combine the pasta and milk. ...
  2. Once the pasta is cooked, remove the pan from the heat and add the butter, cheddar cheese, salt, and pepper. ...
  3. Divide between serving bowls and top with the bread crumbs.
  4. Enjoy!
  5. All your favorite recipes, stored in one place.
May 4, 2023

What is the best meat for pastrami? ›

Cuts of Meat

Pastrami is made with point brisket, which contains more marbling and fat. Pastrami can also be made with other cuts of beef, such as deckle (a lean shoulder cut) or navel (aka beef belly, which comes from the plate, a juicy section just below the ribs).

What is pastrami seasoning made of? ›

1/4 cup coarse ground black pepper. 2 tablespoons coriander seeds. 1 teaspoon mustard seeds. 1 tablespoon turbinado sugar.

How do you keep pastrami moist? ›

After the bark has set and the internal temperature is at least 165 degrees, wrap the pastrami in butcher paper or aluminum foil with a little extra beef broth. This will keep the brisket moist and speed up the cooking process a little bit.

What animal does pastrami come from? ›

While beef is the common meat source for corned beef and pastrami, they have different types of cuts. Usually, brisket is used for corned beef. It is the lower area of a cow's chest. Meanwhile, brisket for pastrami comes from the beef plate, shoulder, or cow's naval area.

What are the 3 best cheeses for mac and cheese? ›

What Is the Best Cheese for Mac and Cheese? Sharp cheddar is the overwhelming popular choice, but for extra-creamy results, we think medium cheddar is even better. Other delicious options include Gruyère, smoked Gouda, and Monterey Jack.

What can I add to mac and cheese to make it tastier? ›

8 Ways to Elevate Your Macaroni and Cheese Dinners
  1. Add extra cheese to your dish.
  2. Mix in some hot sauce and chicken to make buffalo chicken mac n' cheese.
  3. Add in vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower and spinach.
  4. Sprinkle some bacon bits or breadcrumbs on the top of your dish.
  5. Add spices and fresh herbs to your dish.
May 21, 2022

Should pastrami be sliced thin or thick? ›

Pastrami should be sliced thinly against the grain for the best texture and tenderness. This helps to ensure that each bite is easy to chew and provides a satisfying experience when enjoying pastrami in sandwiches or other recipes.

Is turkey pastrami the same as regular pastrami? ›

Turkey pastrami has a slightly lower protein content as beef pastrami, 4.5 grams per ounce as opposed to 6 grams in beef pastrami. While both pastrami types contain less than 2 grams of fat per 1 ounce, the big difference between them is in their saturated fat content.

Is pastrami healthy? ›

In conclusion, while pastrami can be a good source of protein and certain vitamins and minerals, its high sodium content and presence of trans fats require thoughtful consumption. As with many foods, moderation, and balance are key.

Why do Jews like pastrami? ›

Romanian Jews emigrated to New York as early as 1872. Among Jewish Romanians, goose breasts were commonly made into pastrami because they were available. Beef navel was cheaper than goose meat in America, so the Romanian Jews in America adapted their recipe and began to make the cheaper-alternative beef pastrami.

Is pastrami just smoked corned beef? ›

While corned beef is typically made from brisket, pastrami generally comes from the cow's navel area, Serious Eats reports. The navel cut is a fatty one, and it's also likely to stand up well to pastrami's long cooking process.

What is the main flavor of pastrami? ›

No one knows for sure how the name ended up transitioning from the Romanian pastramă to pastrami, but one theory is that it's because it rhymed with “salami” and was sold in the same delicatessens. The distinctive flavors of pastrami are smoke, spicy black pepper, and the sweet citrus tang of coriander.

What goes well with pastrami? ›

The best side dishes to serve with pastrami sandwiches are pickles, caramelized onion, cheese dip, tater tots, corn on the cob, potato salad, French fries, coleslaw, sweet potato fries, garden salad, onion rings, and macaroni salad.

What does Katz put on their pastrami sandwich? ›

Here at Katz's, we serve our pastrami on seedless rye bread with a healthy schmear of deli mustard. It's best eaten hot while etc... If this sounds like a lot of work…. well you're right, it is!

Does pastrami and mozzarella go together? ›

Toast the bread, spread the bread with butter, on the bottom piece spread a liberal amount of Dijon mustard, layer on the New York pastrami top with the mozzarella cheese. Place on a tray lined with baking paper, put in the oven and cook until the cheese has melted. Top with the sliced pickled beans.

How is pastrami traditionally served? ›

Pastrami on rye is a sandwich comprising sliced pastrami on rye bread, often served with mustard and Kosher dill pickles. It was popularized in the Jewish delicatessens of New York City and has been described as New York's "signature sandwich".

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