Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

There is nothing quite as wholesome and soul warming as a fresh dish of baked macaroni and cheese. Straight out of the oven, I’m inclined to reach in a pick off the crunchy little edges. The only thing that makes it better is when it is Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese!

Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese is a quick and spicy baked mac and cheese recipe the whole family will love. Perfect as a potluck recipe or for a BBQ side dish!

This post is sponsored by Southern Kitchen. All opinions are my own.

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Before you get cooking, here are few notes about this fabulous Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese Recipe. Prepare to be WOWWED. Then prepare to be slightly obsessed. My family loves this stuff and it is requested at every party I attend.

Click the link for my classic buffalo sauce, but feel free to use a mild version, your favorite flavor or even get crazy and use a BBQ sauce!

Many Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese Recipes use sour cream for the creaminess factor, but I prefer mayonnaise. Mayo not only adds creaminess, but since it is made from eggs, helps hold the mac and cheese casserole together.

This mac and cheese sauce is thick, creamy and will grasp onto the ingredients. If you prefer a thinner sauce, add an additional ½ cup of milk. Scroll down to the notes section to see more fun variations on this spicy buffalo chicken pasta bake!

4.67 from 9 votes

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Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

20 mins

Total Time

35 mins

 

Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese is a quick and spicy baked mac and cheese recipe the whole family will love. Perfect as a potluck recipe or for a BBQ side dish!

Course: Main Course, Main Dish

Cuisine: American

Servings: 8

Calories: 492 kcal

Author: Jessica Formicola

Ingredients

• 1 pound elbow macaroni
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon dried minced onion
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon white pepper
• ¼ cup flour
• 1 1/2 cup milk (2% or whole)
• ½ cup Buffalo Sauce , click for homemade
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 2 cups cheddar cheese , grated
• 2 cups chicken , shredded
• 2 tablespoons Italian Style bread crumbs
• 2 tablespoons blue cheese crumbles , optional
• 1 tablespoon parsley , minced, optional
• Celery and Carrot Sticks

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cook elbow pasta according to package directions for “al dente”. Drain and set aside.
3. In the same large pot, melt butter over medium-low heat. Add dried minced onion, kosher salt and white pepper. Stir until butter is melted and onion is fragrant.
4. Whisk in flour until a paste forms. Slowly add milk to form a thick cream, then add a little more until all milk is added and there are no flour lumps.
5. Add buffalo sauce, whisking until combined.
6. Add shredded cheddar cheese and mayonnaise, whisking until combined.
7. Fold in cooked elbow macaroni and shredded chicken.
8. Coat a 9x9 baking dish with cooking spray. Transfer contents to baking dish and top with seasoned bread crumbs.
9. Bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Change to low broil to brown the bread crumbs.
10. Remove, top with blue cheese crumbles and parsley, if desired.
11. Serve hot with celery and carrot sticks.

Recipe Notes

*For easy shredded chicken, use a store-bought rotisserie chicken or canned chicken, drained. Variations: Substitute chicken for cut up hot dogs or ground beef (cooked and drained) ½ teaspoon smoked paprika ½ cup sun dried tomatoes ½ cup bacon ½ cup peas ½ cup celery or carrots, chopped ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Nutrition Facts

Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

Amount Per Serving

Calories 492 Calories from Fat 198

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 22g 34%

Saturated Fat 10g 50%

Cholesterol 65mg 22%

Sodium 889mg 37%

Potassium 277mg 8%

Total Carbohydrates 49g 16%

Dietary Fiber 2g 8%

Sugars 4g

Protein 22g 44%

Vitamin A 10.8%

Vitamin C 1.4%

Calcium 28.4%

Iron 8.4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.