Description
Creamy Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese brings zesty spice and comfort to classic pasta perfection. Hearty protein and tangy sauce combine for an irresistible dish that satisfies serious comfort food cravings with bold flavor you’ll devour.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (1 lb) elbow macaroni
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 cups cooked shredded chicken breast
- 1/2 cup buffalo sauce
Dairy and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Salt and pepper to taste
Topping Ingredients:
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 2 tablespoons chopped green onions
Instructions
- Boil macaroni in salted water until al dente, typically 8-10 minutes. Drain thoroughly and reserve.
- Create a golden roux in a large pot by melting butter and whisking in flour over medium heat for 2 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
- Gradually pour milk into the roux, whisking continuously until the mixture thickens and becomes smooth, approximately 3-4 minutes.
- Incorporate cream cheese and cheddar cheese into the sauce, stirring until completely melted and creating a velvety texture.
- Pour buffalo sauce into the cheese mixture, blending until well combined and achieving a vibrant, spicy color.
- Fold shredded chicken into the sauce, ensuring even distribution of meat throughout the creamy base.
- Gently mix cooked macaroni into the buffalo chicken cheese sauce, coating each pasta piece thoroughly.
- Transfer to serving dishes and sprinkle blue cheese crumbles and finely chopped green onions on top for added flavor and visual appeal.
- Serve hot, directly from the pot, for maximum flavor and optimal cheese consistency.
Notes
- Prevent sauce separation by slowly adding milk and stirring continuously while creating the roux.
- Enhance flavor by using rotisserie chicken for extra tender and juicy meat that absorbs buffalo sauce perfectly.
- Customize heat levels by adjusting buffalo sauce quantity to suit different spice preferences.
- Create a gluten-free version by substituting regular flour with cornstarch or alternative gluten-free flour blend for thickening the sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 569 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 33 g
- Cholesterol: 115 mg