Whether you're tailgating at Arrowhead or watching from home, you'll enjoy this deluxe mac & cheese. As a native of KC transplanted in Seattle, I know which local flavors score and it just felt lucky to combine them to ensure a win in the Big Game. Enter Tailgater's Mac & Cheese! Burger's Ham studs the crunchy potato chip topping and Beecher's Cheeses are loaded in the sauce and on top. This dish is a flavor powerhouse seasoned with our own KC Tailgater's BBQ Rub. How can we lose? Go Chiefs!
Tailgater's Mac & Cheese

Whether you're tailgating at Arrowhead or watching from home, you'll enjoy this deluxe mac & cheese. As a native of KC transplanted in Seattle, I know which local flavors score and it just felt lucky to combine them to ensure a win in the Big Game. Enter Tailgater's Mac & Cheese! Burger's Ham studs the crunchy potato chip topping and Beecher's Cheeses are loaded in the sauce and on top. This dish is a flavor powerhouse seasoned with our own KC Tailgater's BBQ Rub. How can we lose? Go Chiefs!

Whether you're tailgating at Arrowhead or watching from home, you'll enjoy this deluxe mac & cheese. As a native of KC transplanted in Seattle, I know which local flavors score and it just felt lucky to combine them to ensure a win in the Big Game. Enter Tailgater's Mac & Cheese! Burger's Ham studs the crunchy potato chip topping and Beecher's Cheeses are loaded in the sauce and on top. This dish is a flavor powerhouse seasoned with our own KC Tailgater's BBQ Rub. How can we lose? Go Chiefs!
Ingredients
For the Potato Chip Topping:
- 1 cup Beecher's Smoked Flagship Cheese
- 1 1/2 cups plain kettle cooked potato chips, slightly broken
- 1/2 cup cubed Burgers Hickory Smoked Ham
- 1 tablespoon BBQ Rub - KC Tailgater'sBBQ Rub - KC Tailgater'sFolks from Kansas City like to say they'll barbecue anything that moves, and we've created a classic rub that is versatile enough to bear the name. Our KC tailgater's rub will do jus...
For the Mac & Cheese:
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for preparing dish
- 12 ounces macaroni pasta
- 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 quart half and half
- 1 1/2 cups Beecher’s Flagship Cheese
- 1 cup Beecher’s Just Jack Cheese
- 1/2 cup cream cheese at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon Garlic SaltGarlic SaltThis is not your average garlic salt, and we are biased for good reason. It is a masterfully balanced blend of premium California garlic granules and Italian sea salt with neither ov...
- 1 teaspoon BBQ Rub - KC Tailgater'sBBQ Rub - KC Tailgater'sFolks from Kansas City like to say they'll barbecue anything that moves, and we've created a classic rub that is versatile enough to bear the name. Our KC tailgater's rub will do jus...
Preparation
For the Potato Chip Crust:
In a medium bowl, add the Beecher's Smoked cheese, broken kettle chips, cubed Burgers ham and 1 tablespoon KC Tailgater's BBQ Rub. Toss to combine and set aside.
For the Mac & Cheese:
Heat oven to 350°F. Butter or oil an 2 quart casserole dish.
Cook the macaroni 2 minutes less than package directions. Rinse in cold water and set aside.
Melt the butter in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat and whisk in the flour. Continue whisking and cooking for about 1 minute to fully incorporate.
Slowly add the half and half, whisking constantly. Cook until sauce thickens, about 7 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat.
Slowly add the half and half, whisking constantly. Cook until sauce thickens, about 7 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat.
Add the Flagship cheese, Just Jack cheese, cream cheese, 1 teaspoon KC Tailgater’s, and garlic salt. Stir until the cheese is melted and all ingredients are incorporated, about 2 minutes.
Combine cooked pasta and sauce in a medium bowl, and mix gently but thoroughly. Pour pasta mixture into the prepared casserole dish, and smooth out evenly.
Evenly sprinkle potato chip crust on top of macaroni.
Bake uncovered for 20 minutes until piping hot. Let mac & cheese sit for 3 minutes before serving.
Go team!
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Tailgater's Mac & Cheese
| Side Dishes, Comfort Food, Entrees, Bread & Pasta
Whether you're tailgating at Arrowhead or watching from home, you'll enjoy this deluxe mac & cheese. As a native of KC transplanted in Seattle, I know which local flavors score and it just felt lucky to combine them to ensure a win in the Big Game. Enter Tailgater's Mac & Cheese! Burger's Ham studs the crunchy potato chip topping and Beecher's Cheeses are loaded in the sauce and on top. This dish is a flavor powerhouse seasoned with our own KC Tailgater's BBQ Rub. How can we lose? Go Chiefs!
Jamie Aragonez
Jamie Aragonez