Creamiest Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese Recipe Ever

Mac and cheese gets a spicy twist with this delectable buffalo chicken mac and cheese creation.

Creamy pasta meets zesty hot sauce in a mouthwatering combination that sparks excitement.

Weeknight dinners suddenly feel like a culinary adventure waiting to happen.

Bold flavors dance across your plate, promising something beyond ordinary comfort food.

Tender chicken pieces nestle between cheesy noodles, delivering a punch of tangy heat.

Comfort meets excitement in every single bite of this crowd-pleasing dish.

Your dinner table will buzz with anticipation when you serve this irresistible meal.

Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese You’ll Want Weekly

• Combine the classic comfort of mac and cheese with the zesty kick of buffalo chicken, creating an irresistible dish that satisfies both kids and adults with its bold, creamy taste.
• Easily adapt the recipe by adjusting spice levels, using different cheeses, or adding extra toppings to make it your own personal comfort food masterpiece.
• Prepare this dish ahead of time, refrigerate, and bake when ready, making it an excellent option for meal planning and easy weeknight dinners that taste like they took hours to prepare.

Ingredients That Give Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese Its Kick

Main Ingredients:

Pasta Base:- Pasta: Provides the hearty foundation for the mac and cheese, choose elbow macaroni or shells for best sauce coating.

Protein:- Chicken: Adds protein and buffalo wing flavor, use rotisserie or freshly cooked shredded chicken.

Dairy:- Cheddar Cheese, Mozzarella Cheese: Create creamy, melty texture and rich cheese flavor, choose sharp cheddar for more intensity.

Sauce Components:

Liquid Base:- Milk, Heavy Cream: Builds smooth, rich sauce consistency, whole milk works best for creaminess.

Seasonings:- Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Smoked Paprika, Salt, Pepper: Enhance overall flavor profile with warm, complex seasoning blend.

Buffalo Element:- Buffalo Sauce: Delivers signature tangy, spicy kick, choose mild or hot sauce based on preference.

Topping and Finishing:

Crispy Topping:- Panko Breadcrumbs, Butter: Creates golden, crunchy layer, panko provides extra crisp texture.

Optional Additions:- Blue Cheese Crumbles, Green Onions: Adds extra tang and fresh garnish, green onions provide bright color contrast.

Method to Craft Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese at Home

Step 1: Boil Pasta

Cook pasta in salted water until tender. Drain and set aside.

Step 2: Create Cheese Sauce Base

In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.

Whisk in flour until smooth, creating a golden roux.

Step 3: Build Creamy Sauce

• Milk
• Heavy cream

Whisk continuously until sauce thickens.

Step 4: Season Sauce

• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Smoked paprika
• Salt
• Black pepper

Step 5: Add Cheese Goodness

Remove from heat.

• Cheddar
• Mozzarella

Stir until completely melted and silky.

Step 6: Incorporate Buffalo Kick

Pour buffalo sauce into cheese mixture.

Mix thoroughly.

Step 7: Combine Ingredients

• Cooked pasta
• Shredded chicken
• Cheesy buffalo sauce

Ensure everything gets coated evenly.

Step 8: Prepare Baking Dish

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Transfer mixture to greased baking dish.

Step 9: Create Crispy Topping

Mix panko breadcrumbs with melted butter.

Sprinkle evenly over mac and cheese.

Optional: Scatter blue cheese crumbles.

Step 10: Bake to Perfection

Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden and bubbly.

Step 11: Serve and Enjoy

Let cool slightly.

• Chopped green onions
• Extra buffalo sauce drizzle

Pair with side salad or garlic bread.

Cook Tips That Improve Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese Fast

• Boost Pasta Texture: Cook pasta just until al dente to prevent mushy mac and cheese, ensuring a perfect bite every time.
• Control Spice Level: Adjust buffalo sauce quantity to match your heat preference, adding slowly and tasting as you mix.
• Create Creamy Consistency: Whisk continuously while making the roux and adding milk to prevent lumps and achieve silky smooth sauce.
• Maximize Flavor Depth: Use smoked paprika and mix different cheese types for a more complex, rich taste profile.
• Customize Crunch Factor: Toast breadcrumbs before sprinkling for extra golden, crispy topping that adds delightful texture to the dish.

Save and Reheat Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese Without Losing Flavor

• Store leftovers in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Keep in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
• Transfer mac and cheese to a freezer-safe container. Freeze for maximum 2 months. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn.
• Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Add a splash of milk to maintain creaminess. Cover with foil and warm for 15-20 minutes until heated through.
• Place portion in microwave-safe dish. Add small amount of milk to prevent drying. Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until temperature reaches 74°C (165°F).

Sides That Match Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese Perfectly

• Offset the spicy, rich buffalo chicken mac and cheese with a hoppy IPA or light golden ale that cuts through the creamy texture and complements the tangy buffalo sauce.
• Prepare a crisp cucumber-dill salad or fresh celery and carrot sticks with ranch dressing to balance the dish's heat and provide a refreshing crunch against the cheesy, spicy pasta.
• Select a bright, slightly acidic white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio that can stand up to the bold buffalo flavors while providing a clean, refreshing counterpoint to the rich mac and cheese.
• Whip up a homemade lemonade or iced tea with a hint of mint to soothe the palate and provide a tangy, cool relief from the spicy buffalo chicken elements.

Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese: Creative Mix-Ins to Consider

• Vegetarian Delight: Replace shredded chicken with roasted cauliflower or crispy tofu chunks, keeping the buffalo sauce for a protein-packed meat-free version.
• Gluten-Free Option: Swap regular pasta with gluten-free pasta and use cornstarch instead of flour for the roux, ensuring a celiac-friendly mac and cheese experience.
• Spice Level Adjustment: Create a mild version by reducing buffalo sauce quantity or a super-hot version by adding extra hot sauce and including diced jalapeños for heat lovers.
• Low-Carb Alternative: Substitute pasta with zucchini noodles or cauliflower rice, maintaining the creamy cheese sauce and buffalo chicken flavors while cutting carbohydrate content.

FAQs on Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese You’ll Actually Use

• Can I use different types of chicken for this recipe?

Yes, you can use rotisserie chicken, grilled chicken, or even leftover roasted chicken. Just make sure it’s shredded or chopped into bite-sized pieces.

• Is this dish very spicy?

The spice level depends on the buffalo sauce you use. You can control the heat by choosing a mild or hot buffalo sauce, or by adding more or less sauce to suit your taste.

• Can I make this mac and cheese ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can prepare the dish up to the point of baking, cover it, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When ready to serve, bake it straight from the refrigerator, adding a few extra minutes to the cooking time.

• What can I substitute if I don't have panko breadcrumbs?

Regular breadcrumbs work fine, or you can use crushed crackers like Ritz for a similar crunchy topping. The goal is to add a crispy layer to the mac and cheese.

Buffalo Chicken Mac And Cheese Recipe

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4.6 from 20 reviews

• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Creamy buffalo chicken mac and cheese delivers spicy comfort with classic American flavors. Cheesy pasta studded with tender chicken combines zesty hot sauce and rich dairy for a crowd-pleasing meal you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Protein and Pasta:

• 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded (rotisserie chicken works great)
• 250 g (8 ounces) pasta (elbow macaroni, shells, or penne)

Cheese and Dairy:

• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 2 cups milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 3 tablespoons butter
• ¼ cup blue cheese crumbles (optional)

Seasonings and Topping:

• ½ cup buffalo sauce (Franks RedHot or your favorite)
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
• Salt and pepper to taste
• ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• Chopped green onions for garnish

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Instructions

1. Ignite a large pot of salted water, allowing it to reach a rolling boil for pasta preparation.
2. Immerse pasta into the bubbling water, cooking until it reaches a perfect al dente texture. Drain and reserve the pasta for later assembly.
3. In a spacious saucepan, melt butter over medium flame, creating a smooth foundation for the sauce.
4. Introduce flour to the melted butter, whisking vigorously to form a uniform, silky roux that will thicken the sauce.
5. Gradually stream milk and heavy cream into the roux, continuing to whisk until the mixture transforms into a velvety, thickened consistency.
6. Infuse the sauce with garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper, creating a flavor-packed base.
7. Remove the sauce from heat and fold in cheddar and mozzarella cheeses, stirring until they melt into a luxurious, smooth mixture.
8. Incorporate buffalo sauce, blending thoroughly to create a spicy, creamy foundation.
9. In a generous mixing bowl, unite the cooked pasta, shredded chicken, and cheese sauce, ensuring every morsel is lavishly coated.
10. Warm the oven to 180°C (350°F), preparing it for the final transformation.
11. Transfer the mac and cheese mixture into a generously greased 9×13 inch baking vessel.
12. Combine panko breadcrumbs with melted butter, creating a crisp topping that will crown the dish with golden perfection.
13. Distribute the buttered breadcrumbs evenly across the surface, adding blue cheese crumbles for an extra flavor dimension.
14. Bake the casserole for 20-25 minutes, watching as the top turns a tantalizing golden brown and the edges bubble enticingly.
15. Allow the dish to rest briefly after removing from the oven, letting the flavors meld and settle.
16. Embellish with chopped green onions and an optional drizzle of buffalo sauce for a final flourish.
17. Present alongside a crisp salad, warm garlic bread, or fresh celery sticks to complete the culinary experience.

Notes

• Use gluten-free pasta and replace flour with cornstarch to make this dish celiac-friendly and easier to digest.
• Swap regular milk with plant-based alternatives like almond or oat milk for a dairy-free version that maintains creamy texture.
• Control spice levels by gradually adding buffalo sauce and taste-testing to ensure perfect heat balance for different palate preferences.
• Prep chicken ahead of time by using rotisserie or pre-cooked shredded chicken to reduce overall cooking time and simplify recipe.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 710
• Sugar: 4 g
• Sodium: 1150 mg
• Fat: 41 g
• Saturated Fat: 24 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
• Trans Fat: 1 g
• Carbohydrates: 55 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 34 g
• Cholesterol: 130 mg