Description
Creamy Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese delivers spicy comfort in one hearty skillet. Melted cheeses and tender chicken combine with zesty hot sauce, creating a crowd-pleasing dish you’ll crave repeatedly.
Ingredients
Scale
- 250 g (8 oz) pasta (elbow macaroni, shells, or penne)
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded (rotisserie chicken works great)
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup buffalo sauce (Franks RedHot or your favorite)
- 3 tbsps butter
- 3 tbsps all-purpose flour
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup blue cheese crumbles (optional)
- 2 tbsps butter, melted
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Chopped green onions for garnish
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Bring a generously salted water pot to a vigorous boil, then cook pasta until perfectly al dente. Drain and set aside for later incorporation.
- Sauce Foundation: In a large saucepan, craft a smooth roux by melting butter and whisking in flour until harmoniously blended. Gradually introduce milk and heavy cream, stirring continuously to create a silky, thickened base.
- Flavor Infusion: Season the sauce with garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Remove from heat and integrate cheddar and mozzarella cheeses, stirring until melted into a luxurious mixture. Blend in buffalo sauce for a spicy kick.
- Chicken Integration: Combine cooked pasta, shredded chicken, and cheese sauce in a spacious mixing bowl, ensuring comprehensive coating of each ingredient.
- Baking Preparation: Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Transfer the mac and cheese mixture into a greased 9×13 inch baking dish. Marry panko breadcrumbs with melted butter, creating a crisp topping.
- Final Assembly: Sprinkle buttered breadcrumbs and blue cheese crumbles across the surface. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the top achieves a golden-brown hue and edges bubble enticingly.
- Serving Finale: Rest the casserole briefly after removing from the oven. Garnish with chopped green onions and an optional buffalo sauce drizzle. Serve alongside a crisp salad, warm garlic bread, or fresh celery sticks for a complete dining experience.
Notes
- Choose Al Dente Pasta: Cook pasta just until slightly firm to prevent mushiness when baking, ensuring perfect texture in the final dish.
- Control Spice Levels: Adjust buffalo sauce quantity based on personal heat tolerance, starting with less and adding gradually for customized flavor intensity.
- Prevent Sauce Separation: Melt cheese slowly and whisk continuously to maintain smooth, creamy consistency without grainy or oily texture.
- Maximize Breadcrumb Crispiness: Toast panko breadcrumbs with melted butter before topping to enhance golden-brown crunch and prevent soggy surface.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 660
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 40 g
- Saturated Fat: 23 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg