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Leftover Brisket Mac and Cheese Recipe

Brisket Mac and Cheese is smooth and creamy. Tender beef brisket in a cheesy cream sauce under a buttery bread crumb topping makes the perfect brisket pasta dish. No one will know it’s with leftovers!

Top down view of pasta with chunks of beef briskit in a cheesy cream sauce then topped with bread crumbs.

When I made our oven-baked beef brisket, I made sure that I’d have enough leftovers just for this leftover brisket Mac and Cheese. It’s that good!

What we love about Brisket Mac and Cheese

  • Brisket Macaroni and Cheese is a delicious way to repurpose brisket.
  • Make as little or as much as you want. That makes it a great meal for two or several.
  • It’s a quick and easy recipe making dinner quick and easy any day of the week.

Ingredients you need to make Brisket Mac and Cheese recipe

Ingredients needed to make brisket macaroni and cheese.

Pasta. You can use any pasta. I used Cavatappi because it’s thick enough not to get lost in the brisket and the little ridges hang onto the creamy cheese sauce.

Cheese. Cheddar and Gouda make a creamy flavorful brisket mac n cheese.

Heavy Cream. Smooth and creamy cheese sauce starts with real cream.

Brisket. Diced is what this recipe used. It made it easier to get a good balance of pasta and brisket.

Panko Topping

Adding a Panko bread crumb topping to this brisket mac and cheese recipe provides a delicate buttery crunch to the dish. It’s optional but I highly recommend it.

The panko topping ingredients are simple.

  • Panko. Panko is a Japanese bread crumb that’s easy to find in most grocery stores next to bread crumbs. We like them because they maintain their crunch. You could substitute with bread crumbs.
  • Butter. Real butter is what I use. A substitute would work as well.
  • Parmesan Cheese. A special touch that is optional but highly recommended.

How To Make Brisket Macaroni and Cheese

First step: Panko topping

Toasted bread crumbs topped with parmesan cheese.

Melt the butter in a medium-sized skillet. Add the Panko bread crumbs. Stir continuously until evenly browned. Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly. Stir in the parmesan cheese. Set aside.

Second step: Cheesy cream sauce

Add the cream to a large skillet or braiser. Heat over medium-low until the cream has reduced to half. Remove the pan from the heat and add the cheese. Stir until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.

Cheese added to warm cream in a pan.

Third step: Combine Mac and Cheese Brisket ingredients

Add the cooked pasta and leftover brisket to the cheesy cream sauce. Stir until combined. Add additional milk, cream, or pasta water if the mac and cheese need thinning.

A pan filled with leftover brisket mac and cheese.

Fourth step: Top and Serve

Top each serving with Panko topping and serve.

Popular Variations & Additions

  • Cheese! You can use all cheddar or the combination of your choice. My recommendation is a semi-soft cheese that will melt smoothly.
  • Veggies. This is a great recipe to sneak some vegetables into your family’s diet. You can blend cooked carrots and add them to the cream sauce.
  • Brisket – Our brisket was diced but if you shredded your brisket it will work great in this recipe.

How To Reheat & Store

Best Way To Store Leftover Brisket Mac and Cheese

Any dish that contains dairy should be stored in the refrigerator. Store your leftover brisket mac and cheese in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Most leftovers should be used within 5 days of making an ingredient. Even though mac and cheese is a new dish, you should use it up or freeze it within 5 days of when you made the brisket.

Can I Freeze Brisket Macaroni and Cheese?

Yes! Macaroni and cheese with brisket freezes great for up to 3 months. I store it in individual serving sizes in airtight containers for a quick dinner. You can store leftover bread crumbs in a reclosable plastic bag and add them before serving.

I’ve actually had mine in there longer than that and it was fine when I finally used it. Just check it for freezer burn and drying out.

How To Reheat Mac and Cheese with Brisket

When you remove your macaroni and cheese with brisket from the refrigerator, it may appear very thick. Add a little bit of milk or cream and stir. Microwave either the entire container or individual servings at 1 to 2 minute increments, stirring between each increment until heated through. Add additional liquid if necessary.

You can also reheat leftover macaroni and cheese with brisket in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the liquid and cover it with a lid, stirring occasionally until heated through.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Brisket Mac and Cheese grainy?

Don’t cook the cheesy cream sauce at too high a heat. It can “break” which means that the cream and butter separate. Your cream sauce will be grainy instead of creamy.

Is Brisket Mac and Cheese a main dish or a side dish?

We enjoy this recipe as a main dish. However, you could serve it as a side dish. Either way, it’s delicious.

How do you make leftover mac and cheese creamy?

The cream sauce is what makes this recipe creamy. That’s why it’s cooked separately before adding in the remaining ingredients. Once the consistency is perfect, you’ll have the best brisket mac and cheese.

Top down view of a brisket pasta dish topped with breadcrumbs and cheese.

Tips for the perfect Brisket Mac and Cheese Recipe

You can serve brisket mac and cheese right from the pan to a plate and then sprinkle with bread crumbs. You don’t have to serve them in individual serving dishes as I did.

Allow your panko bread crumbs to cool before adding the parmesan cheese or the cheese will melt and appear stringy.

What to Serve with Brisket Macaroni and Cheese

  • Cherry fluff – Light and fluffy “salad” that adds a delicious sweetness to a savory meal.
  • Orange salad – The simplicity of this salad makes it the perfect side to a heavier dish.
  • Grape Clemintine salad – The glory of this fruit salad is it can be made all year long.
  • Coleslaw – This salad provides a delicious crunchy side to any meal.

You could always go right to dessert in my humble opinion. I serve this apple pie filling like applesauce. It’s loaded with cinnamon in a rich brown sugar sauce.

Cookies are always an easy dessert following a filling meal. My favorite is this oatmeal raisin cookie. John’s favorite is my oatmeal scotchies.

Top down view of cavatappi pasta in a cheese sauce combined with chunks of brisket then topped with toasted bread crumbs.

If you liked this recipe try these out

I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe as much as we do. Drop me a comment below, and don’t forget to give it a star rating. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. Your comments and ratings help others decide if this recipe is for them too.

Closeup angle of macaroni and cheese with leftover brisket in a dish.

Brisket Mac and Cheese

Author: Hostess At Heart
Brisket Mac and Cheese combines tender beef brisket in a smooth cheesy cream sauce under a buttery bread crumb topping.
5 from 7 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Main Dish, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword: Macaroni and Cheese, Pasta
Servings: 6

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb Cavatappi pasta cooked al dente. Retain 1/2 cup pasta water
  • 5 oz Cheddar Cheese – grated
  • 5 oz Gouda Cheese – grated
  • 1 quart heavy cream
  • cups cooked brisket diced

Bread Crumb Topping

  • 1 cups Panko bread crumbs
  • 3 teaspoons butter
  • ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
  • Salt to taste

Instructions
 

  • In a 10-inch skillet, melt the butter and stir in the Panko bread crumbs. Stir continuously until browned. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the breadcrumbs to cool then stir in parmesan cheese. Set aside.
  • In a large skillet, bring the cream to a simmer over medium-low heat. Continue cooking until the cream has reduced in half and thickened. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cheese until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.
  • Add the brisket, and cooked pasta. If the mac and cheese is too thick, stir in a little pasta water, milk, or cream.
  • Garnish pasta with toasted Panko bread crumbs. Serve immediately. Garnish with parsley if desired.

Notes

I grate my own cheese. It’s so creamy and cooks up well.  I had about 4 cups total of unpacked shredded cheese. You don’t have to weigh it.
If you don’t allow the breadcrumbs to cool before mixing in the parmesan cheese, the parmesan will melt and clump,

Nutrition

Serving: 6gCalories: 1055kcalCarbohydrates: 69gProtein: 27gFat: 75gSaturated Fat: 47gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 19gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 234mgSodium: 484mgPotassium: 385mgFiber: 3gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 2751IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 471mgIron: 2mg

Nutritional Disclaimer

This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.

Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

Pin this amazing Brisket Mac and Cheese!

Two photos for pinterest of dishes filled with max and cheese and chunks of brisket.
5 from 7 votes (1 rating without comment)
Recipe Rating




Susannah

Wednesday 16th of November 2022

Love love loved this! Can never get enough brisket in my life and this is a great way to spread the love into more meals.

Julie Menghini

Friday 18th of November 2022

Thank you, Susannah. They're so good and perfect all year long.

Mindy

Saturday 29th of October 2022

This is SO delicious. The whole family rave about it for days! Made me look like a rockstar. Thank you thank you!

Julie Menghini

Monday 31st of October 2022

So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you.

Jennifer

Tuesday 25th of October 2022

So rich and decadent!! A great way to make my leftovers "new" again!

Julie Menghini

Friday 28th of October 2022

Thank you, Jennifer!

Kathleen

Tuesday 25th of October 2022

Was looking for ways to use leftover brisket and happened upon yours. Oh my word, my boys were home for the weekend and they went crazy over this recipe. Thank you!

Lynn

Tuesday 25th of October 2022

Yep, this was amazing. I love adding extras to mac and cheese and this was a hit!

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