Buffalo Chicken Mac n’ Cheese
Buffalo Chicken Dip is probably my favorite guilty pleasure. But, if you turn it into macaroni and cheese, it becomes dinner - and you can have it whenever! This hits all the notes of comfort food - perfect pasta, creamy cheeses, rich flavors, crunch from the breadcrumbs, and some relief from the fresh herbs. This is sure to make any weeknight feel like a party!
Ingredients
1 box macaroni pasta
Rotisserie Chicken - Shredded
5 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
2 cups heavy cream
2 cups milk
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon ground mustard
1 teaspoon onion powder
Pinch of Salt and Pepper
1 cup hot sauce
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
2 ounces cream cheese
1 cup parmesan cheese
1/2 cups breadcrumbs
1 tablespoon fresh or dried chives
Parsley For Topping
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 60 minutes
Recipe
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
In a pot, bring water to a boil and add salt. Once boiling, add macaroni noodles. Cook noodles until done, strain and set aside
While waiting on the macaroni to cook, shred the rotisserie chicken and set aside
In a dutch oven, or another oven safe pot, melt 4 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Once melted, add 4 tablespoons of flour and whisk until fully incorporated. This will make a roux!
Once roux is fully formed, gently pour in 2 cups of milk and 2 cups of heavy cream
Whisk together until fully mixed with roux and bring to a simmer
Add 1 tablespoon garlic powder, ground mustard, and onion powder and a pinch of salt & pepper to cream. Whisk until fully combined.
Once the cream mixture begins to thicken, add 2 ounces of cream cheese. Stir.
When cream cheese is melted, add 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese, and 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese. Whisk continually until all cheese is fully melted.
Add 1 cup hot sauce (or less or more depending on how spicy you want this), and shredded chicken. Stir mixture until fully combined and then remove from heat
Add cooked macaroni & stir
Sprinkle remaining cheeses on top
In a microwave safe bowl, melt 1 tablespoon of butter. Combine with 1/2 cup breadcrumbs and chives.
Evenly sprinkle breadcrumb mixture on top of macaroni mixture
Bake in oven for 35 minutes or until golden brown. Finish this dish under the broiler for the last few minutes to crisp up the cheese and breadcrumbs. Be careful not to burn the crumbs!
Top with parsley and fresh chives before serving!
