Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese
Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese: Creamy macaroni and cheese with spicy buffalo sauce. 2 of your favorite comfort foods in 1 great dish! Perfect for game day!
When I think of comfort food, the first two things that come to mind are buffalo wings and mac and cheese. I have many fond memories of eating mac and cheese as a little kid, and also hanging out with my friends eating wings. When you combine the 2, you get this buffalo chicken mac and cheese. I hope your family/friends will like it as much as mine! This would be a great dish for serving on game day!
How to Make Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese
This buffalo chicken mac and cheese recipe is so easy, everyone will think you spent a lot of time on it. In reality, it can be thrown together any night of the week making you a supper superstar.
Start by preheating your oven and spraying your pan with non-stick cooking spray. Heat your milk in a large saucepan and add your cheeses. Stir until those are gooey and melted and then add your buffalo wing sauce. I’m telling you, it is this easy! Then, add your chicken. You could even use a rotisserie chicken if you don’t want to cook it yourself. Next, add in your cooked macaroni and stir that baby up.
Once you have done that, pour eveything into your pan and spread it out. Then bake it for about half an hour. Finish it off with buffalo wing sauce ,and some blue cheese. You’ll see it bubbling ,and you may notice a little caramelization around the edges. The edges are my favorite! Fight ya for the end piece?!
You can top it with any kind of cheese you like but I personally enjoy the blue cheese as it really reminds me of bar food. Don’t be afraid to experiment with your favorite.
How Long Do You Bake Mac and Cheese?
All of our ingredients are already cooked, so we’re just trying to heat everything through. For this recipe it should take about 30-40 minutes total. Keep an eye on it. Once is it bubbling and getting golden brown around the edge, you’ll know it is done!
How Do I Make a Cheese Sauce?
There are a few ways you can make a cheese sauce, but for this recipe I keep it simple. I just use one cup of heated milk, add the cheese ,and stir it until it melts. I know, it sounds ridiculous to be this easy! Try it!
If you’re feeling fancy you could also do a bechamel (white sauce) ,and then add your cheese.
What is the Best Cheese to use in Mac and Cheese?
Again, this will come down to your personal taste, but the one I love is sharp cheddar which I use in this recipe. It gives it that classic flavor and color we all love. You can use mozzarella or monterey jack if you’d like. If you want to make it extra decadent, you can even use smoked gouda! The combinations are endless.
Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese
You can also make this recipe in your trusty crock pot. All you have to do is boil your noodles, and cook on low for 1.5-2 hours. This would be especially great for game day, parties ,or a potluck. Set on keep warm, and add to your buffet!
What Can You Add to Mac and Cheese To Make it Better?
Besides buffalo sauce, if you want to give your mac and cheese some extra pizazz, there are many mix ins you can add. One of my other favorites is bacon. I don’t know of anyone who doesn’t enjoy bacon.
By far though, my favorite is garlic. I can add a little garlic to anything and my crew loves it.
What Do You Eat With Mac and Cheese?
Mac and cheese is a heavy dish, so pair it with something lighter. In my opinion a nice piece of oven roasted or grilled chicken would be great. However, if you don’t want more meat, since there is some chicken in the mac and cheese already; you could make a crisp fresh salad. Another way to go would be to make some broccoli or asparagus. One bite of broccoli per 3 bites of mac and cheese is my rule. 😉 It’s all about balance.
Also, consider brussel sprouts. I know some of you just turned up your nose. I saw you! I’m talking about roasted brussel sprouts though, not the boiled ones Aunt Nellie made in 1972. They will change your mind and your life! Try it out.
I hope you enjoy this reipe as much as I did. It is my go to when I need something quick and spicy. Awesome for a quick weeknight supper, but delicious enough for a Superbowl party with friends!
- 4 Cups Elbow Macaroni, Cooked According To Package Directions
- 1 Cup Whole Milk
- 2 Cups Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Shredded
- 1 Cup Mozzarella Cheese, Shredded
- 1¼ Cups Buffalo Wing Sauce, Divided
- 1 Cup Cooked Chicken, Cubed
- 1 Cup Blue Cheese, Crumbled
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 9x9 inch baking dish with non stick cooking spray.
- in a large saucepan heat milk. Add in sharp cheddar and mozzarella cheeses.Stir until melted.
- Stir in buffalo wing sauce.
- Pour in chicken and cooked macaroni. Evenly spread into prepared pan.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until bubbling and golden around the edges.
- Drizzle with remaining buffalo sauce, and top with blue cheese.
- Bake for another 5-10 minutes.
Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese adapted via Frugal Momeh
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Lobster Mac and Cheese via Binky’s Culinary Carnival
Momma’s Baked Mac and Cheese via The Two Bite Club
Copycat Panera Mac and Cheese via Mildly Meandering
What do you think of this Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese?
Oh dear ! game day and every other day ! 🙂
2pots2cook recently posted…Sheet Pan Icelandic Skyr Yogurt and Poppy Seed Pancakes
Right?! I like the way you think 😉
You got me craving badly for mac n cheese now. Looks so delicious Krystle. Picture perfect.
Thanks so much Jyothi! I’m always craving Mac and cheese lol!