If your favorite comfort food has a spicy kick, then this Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese is soon going to be the ultimate comfort food for you. It is creamy, cheesy, and filled with tender chicken bathed in tangy buffalo sauce. I enjoy making this when I want something hearty yet flavorful. The best part is that it’s easy, fast, and can feed a crowd!

What is Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese?

Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese is yet another mash-up of two favorites: classic mac and cheese and spicy buffalo chicken wings. Imagine creamy pasta in melted cheese, mixed with juicy shredded chicken and laced with that spicy buffalo sauce heat. It’s rich, it’s cozy, and it gives you that perfect mix of cheesy and spicy in each mouthful.

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the pasta

1 lb elbow macaroni (or any small pasta)
1 tbsp salt (for boiling water)

For the chicken

2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
½ cup buffalo sauce (adjust to taste)

For the cheese sauce

4 tbsp butter
4 tbsp flour
4 cups milk
3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup mozzarella cheese
Salt and pepper, to taste

For topping (optional)

½ cup breadcrumbs
2 tbsp melted butter
Extra drizzle of buffalo sauce

Step-by-Step Instructions

Al Dente It Is! Drain the Pasta and Keep It Aside.
Toss in Buffalo Sauce Until the Shredded Chicken Is Fully Coated.
Melt Butter in a Big Pot, Add Flour, and Allow It to Brown for 1 Minute.
Then, Slowly Add the Milk in a Continuous Stream while Whisking to Avoid Lumps; Cook Until Thick.
Add Processed Cheddar Cheese and Mozzarella Cheese and Stir Until Creamy and Smooth.
Mix Well with Pasta and Cheese Sauce-Now It Is Time to Add The Buffalo Chicken.
Pour into a Baking Dish-Sprinkle With Breadcrumbs That Have Been Mixed with Melted Butter.
Bake at 375°F (190 °C) for 20 Minutes, until golden and Bubbling.
Drizzle a Little More Buffalo Sauce on Top Just Before Serving!

Related: Ricotta Spinach Quiche

Storage Tips

Leftovers Can Last in an Airtight Container in The Refrigerator for Four Days.
Reheat in The Oven or Microwave and Add a Splash of Milk For A Creamy Consistency.
You May Also Freeze It (Without Breadcrumbs) for Two Months.

Serving Suggestions

Then Serve with Celery Sticks and Ranch or Blue Cheese Dressing.
A Green Salad Will Destress All That Richness.
Make It a Game Day with Some Sliders, Nachos, or Wings.

Pro Tips & Variations

Feel like adding a bit more heat? Add buffalo sauce splashes or sprinkle cayenne peppers to taste.
Make it smoky with some smoked cheddar.
Make a meat-free version by substituting chicken with cauliflower or chickpeas.
Top with bacon bits for that extra crunch.

FAQs

1. Is this recipe very spicy?

This relies on the buffalo sauce you are using. Start mild and add more if you like heat.

2. Will rotisserie chicken work?

Yes! It’s fast and easy and adds superb flavor.

3. What Type of Cheese Combines Best?

The cheddar’s standard, but it just makes it that more ooey-gooey with a little mozzarella or Monterey Jack thrown in.

4. Is it possible to make it free of gluten?

Yes, use pasta that contains no gluten and substitute cornstarch for the flour in the cheese sauce.

Try It!

This Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese is everything that a person longs for from comfort food: cheesy, creamy, and full of flavor. Be it for dinner, a get-together, or game night, it just disappears. Try it out this week, and watch everyone go back for seconds!