Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

A hot and bubby casserole, like this Buffalo mac and cheese recipe, is a decadent dish that’s especially welcome at gatherings (don’t plan on bringing home any leftovers). Creamy mac and cheese sauce is intensified with Buffalo hot sauce. Stir in cubed chicken and top with golden, crunchy panko breadcrumbs and cool blue cheese for a hearty dish layered with flavor and texture.

Accompany it with crisp celery sticks or this fresh pear, apple and celery salad.

Ingredients for Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

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• Macaroni: Elbow macaroni is the classic mac and cheese pasta shape, but any short and chunky type will work.
• Butter, flour and milk: Melt the butter and flour to form a golden-hued roux. Whisk in the milk to make a thick sauce.
• Cheeses: Combine a generous amount of cheddar and Monterey jack cheeses to make a gooey sauce. Cheddar adds flavor while Monterey jack is a mild but superb melting cheese.
• Buffalo wing sauce: Use your favorite Buffalo wing sauce to spice up the cheese sauce and add some vibrant color.
• Cooked chicken breast: Cube up cooked chicken breast and stir in before baking.
• Panko bread crumbs: Panko-style bread crumbs are coarser and flakier than typical dry breadcrumbs, making them extra crunchy.
• Blue cheese: Blue cheese crumbles top the casserole, a call back to the original inspiration of hot wings and blue cheese dressing.
• Green onions: Fresh green onions are added after baking, adding color and some bright allium notes to the rich dish.

Directions

Step 1: Cook the macaroni

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Preheat oven to 400°F. Cook pasta following the package directions and drain well.

Step 2: Mix up the creamy mac and cheese sauce

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Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook until lightly browned, stirring the entire time. This will take a few minutes. Slowly add milk while whisking and cook until thick, for three to four minutes. Stir in the shredded cheeses, Buffalo sauce and seasonings until smooth. Fold in macaroni and chicken.

Step 3: Bake until bubbly and golden brown

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Put the cheesy macaroni and chicken into a greased 13×9 inch baking dish. Sprinkle the panko and blue cheese on top. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until it’s bubbly and the edges are golden brown. Scatter green onion over the top before serving.

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Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese Variations

• Add next level spice: Buffalo hot sauce already has some heat to it and if you want to turn this into a four-alarm dish, add a pinch of cayenne. Replace the Monterey jack with pepper jack and swap the green onions for fresh sliced jalapeno peppers.
• Incorporate some veggies: This dish is more about decadence than health, but if you want to get in a serving of veggies here’s how: Frozen vegetables are the easiest to incorporate into this dish. Stir in frozen peas or broccoli florets when combining the cheese sauce, macaroni and chicken. They will thaw and cook with the casserole.
• Don’t like blue cheese? We’ve got you: Before you cancel blue cheese entirely, there are varieties that are very mild. Look for a Danish blue cheese, cambozola or a dolce gorgonzola. If you definitely want to skip the blue cheese, you can crumble a mild fresh goat, Cotija or feta cheese over the top.

How to Store Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

Store leftover buffalo chicken mac and cheese in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The leftovers will last up to four days in the fridge.

Can you freeze this Buffalo chicken mac and cheese recipe?

You can freeze buffalo chicken mac and cheese for up to three months; consider doubling the batch! You can freeze baked mac and cheese in individually portioned freezer-safe containers. Or, freeze the whole casserole by wrapping it in a layer of plastic wrap and then aluminum foil. Thaw the mac and cheese in the fridge overnight.

How do you reheat baked Buffalo chicken mac and cheese?

Reheat Buffalo chicken mac and cheese in a 400° oven until warmed through. If reheating a whole casserole (maybe one that’s been thawed from the freezer), take the dish out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. For smaller leftover portions, you can reheat the mac and cheese in the microwave.

Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese Tips

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Can you use pre-grated cheese to make Buffalo chicken mac and cheese?

Packaged shredded cheese is convenient (and will work), but we like to make a case for grating your own cheese if you want an extra-creamy sauce. Pre-grated cheese is coated with anti-caking powders to keep the shreds from sticking together. It won’t melt as well. Freshly grated cheese creates a silkier and smoother cheese sauce.

How do you cook pasta for baked mac and cheese?

Salting the pasta cooking water helps infuse the pasta with flavor. When cooking pasta for baked casseroles like mac and cheese, make sure to stop just short of al dente. The pasta will finish cooking in the cheese sauce in the oven, absorbing even more flavor. 

Can you use rotisserie chicken in Buffalo chicken mac and cheese?

Of course! Cube or shred rotisserie chicken and stir into the mac and cheese before baking. Just make sure whatever chicken you use is cooked. The casserole doesn’t bake long enough for raw chicken to safely cook.