The Ultimate Comfort Food Trio: Perfect Wine, Burger & Mac and Cheese Pairings

It’s Memorial Day weekend, a time to appreciate the veterans who died in the line of duty and a time to gather with friends and family over home-cooked meals. Summer doesn’t begin until mid-June, but once Memorial Day rolls around, the unofficial beginning of Cookout Season is upon us. And there are even more reasons to celebrate perfect pairings for your mac and cheese with National Wine Day coming up May 25th and National Burger Day on May 28th all falling smack dab in Memorial Day week.

One of our central food philosophies at MacAttackCle is that classic comfort food can be elevated to the level of gourmet cuisine. We also believe in offering gourmet quality on the go, on your schedule.

When it comes to comfort food, few combinations can compete with a fresh grilled hamburger, some creamy mac and cheese, and the perfect pairing of wine. While some might think wine and casual comfort food don't mix, we're here to prove that the right pairings can elevate your favorite indulgent meals into something truly, well... Memorial!

Why Wine + Burgers + Mac and Cheese Works

The magic of the flavor pairings all comes down to the way the individual and distinct tastes complement each other. The savory, umami of the grilled beef, the delectable buttery, richness of the mac and cheese and the sweet, floral, fruity or tart tones of your glass of wine. Picking the perfect pairings can transform a typical Memorial Day cookout (or dinner outing of any occasion) into an experience to remember.

When it comes to mac and cheese, some experts recommend a lightly oaked or unoaked Chardonnay. The acidity of the Chardonnay mixes beautifully with the richness of the cheese. The buttery, cheesy mac flavor mixes well with the fruity notes,  according to Grape Experiences. If you’re looking for a red for your Memorial Day mac and cheese, burgers, and wine pairings a Pinot Noir might be just the thing. The lighter-bodied Pinot Noir is recommended as it’s less likely to overpower the other flavors in your Memorial Day spread. If sour is more your speed, the tartness of an off-dry Riesling balances the sweetness of the wine. According to Wine Folly, other great choices for a mac and wine meal include white wines like Pinot Grigio, Assyrtiko, and Sauvignon Blanc.

Burgers and Mac and Cheese are classic comfort foods, but also traditional staples of cookouts and grilling season. Southern Living magazine lists mac and cheese as #4 on their top 25 foods to pair with burgers on the grill.

Regardless of what you end up making, don’t forget that whether you need a 6 or 12-ounce package of our multi-award winning, ready to heat and eat mac and cheese, or a pan full of baked mac for your catered event, MacAttackCle has got your back! Hope you enjoyed this little article, stay tuned to the new blog here for recipes, fun facts, cheesy jokes, and more to come, and don’t forget to share on social media and give us a follow at @macattackcle on Instagram and on Facebook to keep up with upcoming events and more! 

What's your favorite comfort food and wine combination? Share your discoveries in the comments below!