4.7 from 54 votes
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!
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
35 mins
Servings: 8
Calories: 492 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 1 pound elbow macaroni
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon dried minced onion
- ½ teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground white pepper
- ¼ cup flour
- 1 1/2 cup milk (2% or whole)
- ½ cup buffalo sauce (hot plain hot sauce)
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese , grated
- 2 cups cooked chicken , shredded or chopped
- 2 tablespoons seasoned bread crumbs
- 2 tablespoons Blue cheese crumbles , optional
- 1 tablespoon parsley , minced, optional
- Celery and Carrot Sticks
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a 9X9 baking dish with cooking spray.
- Cook elbow pasta according to package directions for “al dente”. Drain and set aside.
- In the same large pot, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Add the dried minced onion, kosher salt and white pepper. Stir until the butter is melted.
- Whisk in the flour until a paste forms. Slowly add the milk to form a thick cream, then add a little more until all milk is added and there are no flour lumps.
- Add the buffalo sauce, whisking until combined, then whisk in the cheese and mayonnaise, whisking until combined.
- Fold in cooked pasta and chicken.
- Transfer the contents to the prepared baking dish and top with seasoned bread crumbs.
- Bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Change to low broil to brown the bread crumbs.
- Remove, top with blue cheese crumbles and parsley, if desired.
- Serve hot with celery and carrot sticks.
- If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or ratings.
Cup of Yum
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 Information
Calories
492kcal
(25%)
Carbohydrates
49g
(16%)
Protein
22g
(44%)
Fat
22g
(34%)
Saturated Fat
10g
(50%)
Cholesterol
65mg
(22%)
Sodium
889mg
(37%)
Potassium
277mg
(8%)
Fiber
2g
(8%)
Sugar
4g
(8%)
Vitamin A
540IU
(11%)
Vitamin C
1.2mg
(1%)
Calcium
284mg
(28%)
Iron
1.5mg
(8%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 8Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 492
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 492kcal | 25% |
| Carbohydrates | 49g | 16% |
| Protein | 22g | 44% |
| Fat | 22g | 34% |
| Saturated Fat | 10g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 65mg | 22% |
| Sodium | 889mg | 37% |
| Potassium | 277mg | 6% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 540IU | 11% |
| Vitamin C | 1.2mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 284mg | 28% |
| Iron | 1.5mg | 8% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.