Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

Here is a really tasty dish that turns ordinary pasta and chicken into a dreamy buffalo chicken mac and cheese casserole!

It's over the top creamy cheesy with chicken and hot sauce.

This is our go-to recipe when we have leftover roasted chicken and wish for chicken wings.

I really love this dish using leftover chicken of any kind,  it makes this fast and easy to put together.

When you have the craving for hot wings this pasta casserole will fix that in a hurry it's so delicious.

Everyone loves it and it's a great side to take a long for picnics.

Just scroll down to our printable recipe card to get this easy chicken casserole recipe.

Easy Casserole 

When I have a get-together with family and friends especially on a game day, this is my go-to recipe. Buffalo chicken is always a favorite with everyone, so is macaroni and cheese.



I wanted to make everything all in one pan. The flavors were perfect together.



A little heat in the chicken and macaroni plus the blends of cheeses just took the whole dish to a new level of yum.



Everyone loved it. Actually, I had none left. It all went fast! I will make a double batch of this next time.



Sometimes I used leftover chicken breasts or in a hurry or cooked chicken tenders, even just seasoned boneless cubed and seasoned chicken breasts from the grill are perfect in this recipe.



This is a super easy buffalo chicken mac and cheese casserole and you can make it as mild or spicy as your family likes just by adding a little cayenne pepper or even chopped jalapenos.

Ingredients you will need

• unsalted butter, divided 
• salt, pepper, and cayenne to taste 
• baby shells or elbow macaroni
• shredded boneless chicken (I used a rotisserie chicken)
• garlic, minced
• granulated garlic
• Frank's hot sauce, divided 
• flour  
• dry mustard powder 
• milk or half and half  heavy cream 
• shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• shredded pepper jack cheese
• sour cream  
• panko bread crumbs or buttery crackers crushed

Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese Pin for later

Tips

• if using raw sauteed chicken season it with garlic powder, salt, pepper, chili powder
• leftover chicken of any kind can be used
• chicken tenders cooked cut into small pieces
• I usually have rotisserie chicken leftover and use it
• use a sharp cheddar

Here Some Other Great Chicken Dishes To Try

Bundt Pan Chicken


Chicken Fried Chicken


Baked Beer Chicken

A nice change of pace.

I have always had picky eaters. They just like the same old same old.



Mac and cheese, wings, pizza you know the common game day foods. Cheese is always a big hit no matter what I put it on.



The kids love cheese. This buffalo chicken mac and cheese can have more than what the recipe calls for.

Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

Yield: 6

Author: Claudia Lamascolo

Prep time: 20 MinCook time: 35 MinTotal time: 55 Min

This is a casserole loaded with cheddar buffalo sauce and chicken all mixed in with your favorite pasta then baked.

Ingredients

• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
• salt, pepper, and cayenne to taste
• 1/2 pound baby shells or elbow macaroni
• 1 1/2 cups shredded boneless chicken (I used a rotisserie chicken)
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
• 3/4 cup Frank's hot sauce, divided
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard powder
• 1 cup milk or half and half
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 1 1/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
• 1/3 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs or buttery crackers crushed
• Optional: 1/2 cup crumbled bleu cheese dressing or ranch for garnish

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a large casserole dish.
2. Bring a pot of water to a boil, season with salt, and add the pasta and cook until al dente.
3. Drain and set aside.
4. In the meantime, in a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter and stir in the chicken and garlic, (or if using leftover precooked skip this step). 
5. Cook for a couple of minutes then add 1/4 cup of the hot sauce and mix it all together until well combined. 
6. Put the chicken mixture in a bowl and set aside.
7. Melt 2 tablespoons of. butter in the skillet over medium heat and whisk in the flour and mustard powder until smooth.
8.  Then whisk in the milk, heavy cream, and add the remaining 1/2 cup of hot sauce and stir until thick. 
9. Whisk in the cheddar and pepper jack cheese until melted and smooth then whisk in the sour cream until all evenly blended.
10. In the buttered baking dish, spread half of the macaroni in the bottom of the dish then top with the buffalo chicken mixture, and then the remaining macaroni. 
11. Pour on the cheese sauce evenly on top.
12. Put the remaining 2 tbsp. of butter in a small bowl in the microwave to melt. 
13. Stir in the panko, sprinkle a little granulated garlic over the top.
14. Garnish: with the bleu cheese and drizzle ranch or bleu cheese on top if desired.

Calories

801.47

Fat (grams)

59.02

Sat. Fat (grams)

28.41

Carbs (grams)

34.18

Fiber (grams)

2.59

Net carbs

31.59

Sugar (grams)

3.64

Protein (grams)

34.46

Sodium (milligrams)

1585.50

Cholesterol (grams)

161.78

https://www.whatscookinitalianstylecuisine.com/2015/02/buffalo-chicken-mac-and-cheese.html

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American

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Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese Pin for later

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