Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese

I love buffalo chicken…things. But not buffalo chicken wings. I’m not a super big fan of eating with my hands, or of eating messy foods in general. Buffalo chicken pizza? Delicious. Buffalo dip? Yes, please.

So what could be better than mixing the spiciness of buffalo sauce on nice, neat bite sized pieces of chicken breast, with a thick, cheesy sauce all poured over rotini pasta? There’s also flexibility on the spiciness scale: add more sriracha for more heat, less sriracha and cayenne for something milder.

This recipe took me less than 30 minutes to make, so it’s perfect for a weeknight meal. Serve it with a fresh green salad to balance out the heat.

Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese

Spicy, Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese Recipe

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Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 8 servings

Ingredients

  

• 1 lb thin sliced chicken breast
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• salt & pepper
• 3 1/2 cup rotini pasta

Buffalo Cheese Sauce

• 4 tbsp butter
• 4 tbsp flour
• 2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup sriracha
• 1 tsp ground cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 1/2 cup cheddar cheese
• 3/4 cup Monterey Jack cheese

Instructions

 

• Cook the pasta according to package directions.
• Heat the olive oil in a frying pan. Add the thin sliced chicken breast, sprinkling salt and pepper on each side.
• Cook the chicken breast until heated through, about 5 minutes on each side.
• Remove the cooked chicken to a plate.
• Prepare the sauce.
• In a heavy stock pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium high heat.
• Add the flour to the butter, whisking until it is incorporated.
• Slowly add the milk to the butter and flour mixture, whisking constantly.
• Cook the sauce until it bubbles and begins to thicken. Be sure to keep whisking so that it doesn't burn or stick.
• When the sauce thickens, lower the heat and add the sriracha, cayenne, and paprika. Whisk all together completely.
• Stir in the cheese. It is easier to use a wooden spoon than a whisk at this point. Stir until melted and combined.
• Cut the chicken into bite sized pieces.
• Add the chicken to the sauce.
• Drain the cooked pasta and add the pasta to the sauce. Stir until combined.
• Let the mixture heat through another two or three minutes.

Keyword buffalo chicken, cheddar cheese, chicken, mac and cheese, quick dinner, spicy