We report on the optical coupling between hollow core waveguides and external cavity mid-IR quantum cascade lasers (QCLs). Waveguides with 1000 μm bore size and lengths ranging from 2 to 14 cm, with metallic (Ag)/dielectric (AgI or polystyrene) circular cross-section internal coatings, have been employed. Our results show that the QCL mode is perfectly matched to the hybrid HE 11 waveguide mode, demonstrating that the internal dielectric coating thickness is effective to suppress the higher losses TE-like modes. Optical losses down to 0.44 dB/m at 5.27 μm were measured in Ag/polystyrene-coated waveguide with an almost unitary coupling efficiency. © Springer-Verlag 2012.