Buffalo Chicken Mac 'n Cheese Recipe (2024)

Home » Recipes » Main Dish » Chicken Recipes » Buffalo Chicken Mac ‘n Cheese

posted by TidyMomon January 9, 2012 (updated Feb 16, 2023) 45 comments »

This post may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Jump to Recipe

Buffalo Chicken Mac ‘n Cheese.A kick of hot sauce and chicken gives a new twist to this old classic, mac ‘ncheese recipe.

comfort food
noun

simple, home-style food that brings comforting thoughts of home or childhood.

When I hear the words “comfort food” Macaroni and Cheese is one of the first things that comes to mind. It’s an ooey-gooey food that warms you, makes you feel cozy, soothes you when you need it and reminds you of childhood.

What happens when you mix comfort food with man food? It’s a recipe made in heaven. I knew when I first ran across this recipe for Buffalo Chicken Macaroni and Cheese on The Food Network it had my family’s name written all over it (with just a few modifications).

RELATED:Buffalo Chicken Meatballs Recipe + Video

Be forewarned, it does take a little more prep time in the kitchen than I expected and it made enough for an army. So plan accordingly. It’s well worth the time, and if you’re not serving a crowd you could easily make half the recipe.

Table of Contents

CHECK OUT HOW EASY BUFFALO CHICKEN MAC ‘N CHEESE IS TO MAKE! WATCH THE VIDEO!

click to see more of my recipe videos

It’s also a bit on the hot and spicy side, so you might want to adjust the hot sauce and cheese for your family’s taste!

LIKE THIS BUFFALO CHICKEN MAC ‘N CHEESE RECIPE? PIN IT!

Buffalo Chicken Mac 'n Cheese

A kick hot sauce gives a new twist to this old classic.

Ingredients

6 tablespoons butter (divided) salt
1 pound elbow macaroni
3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
2 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup hot sauce (divided)
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons dry mustard
2 cups milk (I used 2%)
1/2 cups heavy cream
1 pound yellow sharp cheddar cheese, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 3.5 cups)
8 ounces pepper jack cheese, shredded (about 2 cups)
2/3 cup sour cream
1 cup panko bread crumbs
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350° F and grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil; add the pasta and cook until al dente, about 7 minutes. Drain.
Meanwhile, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in the chicken and garlic and cook 2 minutes, then add 1/2 cup hot sauce and simmer until slightly thickened, about 1 more minute.
Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the flour and mustard with a wooden spoon until smooth. Whisk in the milk and cream, then add the remaining 1/4 cup hot sauce and stir until thick, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the cheddar and pepper jack cheeses, then whisk in the sour cream until smooth.
Spread half of the macaroni in the prepared baking dish, then top with the chicken mixture and the remaining macaroni. Pour the cheese sauce evenly on top.
Put the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl and microwave until melted. Stir in the panko, blue cheese and parsley. Sprinkle over the macaroni and bake until bubbly, 30 to 40 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

RECIPE ADAPTED FROMTHE FOOD NETWORK.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

This would be perfect for any pot-luck menu!

What’s your favorite comfort food?

The Best Homemade Buffalo Chicken Pizza Recipe
Chili Mac, Cheesy Chili And Macaroni Casserole
Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake-Irresistibly Good!
Carrot Cake Gooey Butter Cake

Hi there, I'm Cheryl!

As a wife, mom, and caffeine enthusiast, my journey has taken me from bustling mornings with my family to sharing delicious recipes, home care tips, and heartfelt decorating insights with wonderful readers like you. My love for baking, photography, and tidiness shines through every post I craft. Dive into my world and discover the art of homemaking, one tidy moment at a time. Read more...

Tidymom is a participant in the amazon services llc associates program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Please respect my work, recipes and photographs. If you do use a recipe in your own writing, please give proper credit and link back to the original post.

Chicken Recipes Main Dish Recipes

originally published on January 9, 2012 (last updated Feb 16, 2023)

45 comments Leave a comment »

Become a TidyMom VIP!

subscribe now and get a free ebook!

« Previous PostI’m Lovin’ It Wrap Up: Great Ideas{1-8-12}

Next Post »8 Smart Organizing Tips for the Kitchen

45 comments on “Buffalo Chicken Mac ‘n Cheese”

Carrie @ Bakeaholic Mama — January 9, 2012 @ 6:44 am Reply
I just did a post yesterday for my version of Buffalo Mac. I think it is one of my new favorite comfort foods! Yours looks delish!!
Debbi Does Dinner Healthy — January 9, 2012 @ 7:08 am Reply
I love anything with buffalo sauce! This souds great, thanks!
Sue @ Cakeballs, cookies and more — January 9, 2012 @ 7:27 am Reply
this sounds so good!
Natalie @ Cooking for My Kids — January 9, 2012 @ 8:40 am Reply
This looks so good! I am pinning it so that I will remember to add it to a Pasta Night when I do my February menu. Yummy!
bridget {bake at 350} — January 9, 2012 @ 9:45 am Reply
that sounds AMAZING!!! I’ll be over in about 5 hours. 😉
Brenda @ a farmgirl's dabbles — January 9, 2012 @ 10:22 am Reply
This sounds zippy & delicious! Hot sauce, pepper jack & blue cheese…yum!
Maria — January 9, 2012 @ 10:39 am Reply
Josh just peeked at the screen and said he wants this for dinner:)
susan — January 9, 2012 @ 10:48 am Reply
what a great way to combine to very yummy tastes!! looks like the perfect weeknight meal!
Diane {Created by Diane} — January 9, 2012 @ 10:55 am Reply
looks so yummy! LOVE the addition of blue cheese genius!
marla — January 9, 2012 @ 12:43 pm Reply
Oh my is this comfort food…in love 🙂
Tabitha (a.k.a. Penny) — January 9, 2012 @ 12:46 pm Reply
I love all things buffalo. It’s a wonder that I have any tastebuds left at all! I am going to pin this to my Main Dishes board and want to invite you to link up with my co-hosts and me on Fridays for Foodie Friday. We love to promote recipes like this.
MandyLynn — January 9, 2012 @ 1:05 pm Reply
Oh. Em. Gee. This is an astoundingly delicious looking idea!!!! Clipped! <3
Mary @ Bake Break — January 9, 2012 @ 1:12 pm Reply
WOW! Baked macaroni is one of my favorite comfort foods – and I usually add hot sauce in the aftermath – but your addition earlier makes a ton of sense! This looks fantastic, and I can’t wait to try it!
See Also
Popo's Pot Stickers Recipe on Food52
Cassie — January 9, 2012 @ 2:24 pm Reply
Mac and cheese has been on my mind lately, this sounds PERFECT!
Allison [Girl's Guide to Social Media] — January 9, 2012 @ 2:39 pm Reply
Looks fantastic! I can’t wait to try it out. Thanks.
Mac-n-cheese actually doesn’t communicate childhood memories or comfort food to me. In fact, Greek and Mediterranean are my comfort food. My sister and I grew up on it!
Wenderly — January 9, 2012 @ 2:42 pm Reply
I could inhale this entire dish. For realz.
Jessica @ How Sweet — January 9, 2012 @ 3:05 pm Reply
I can’t even get over this. WANT!
aida mollenkamp — January 9, 2012 @ 3:23 pm Reply
Cheryl: This is such an amazing fusion of comfort food. I’m sure it’d be a huge crowd pleaser come Super Bowl time!
Emma — January 9, 2012 @ 3:29 pm Reply
I love this recipe! I found it on Food Network’s site a few months ago and have been tweaking it ever since. I am pretty sure my boyfriend would eat it every day if I’d let him. We like it extra spicy, but for a milder taste, I’ve subbed the pepper jack cheese for an 8 oz. block of neufchatel (cream cheese works too).
Also before bread crumbs and baking, I divide it into smaller pans and freeze portions for later. Makes for a super easy meal when the buffalo craving hits!
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen — January 9, 2012 @ 3:37 pm Reply
Darn you, now you have me craving mac n’ cheese! There’s nothing better than pasta and warm gooey cheese sauce.
Lisa @ Crazy Adventures in Parenting — January 9, 2012 @ 4:17 pm Reply
OH. HAI. GET IN MY BELLAH!
Maggie @ A Bitchin' Kitchen — January 9, 2012 @ 6:10 pm Reply
This looks AMAZING. If it wasn’t snowing here I’d be off to the grocery store right now to buy the ingredients!
naomi — January 9, 2012 @ 6:32 pm Reply
This is some serious game day grub!!!! I love it, Cheryl.
Cookin' Canuck — January 9, 2012 @ 6:41 pm Reply
Now this is the way to spice up mac ‘n cheese! I’m thinking this would be perfect for a Superbowl party.
Cathy @ Savory Notes — January 9, 2012 @ 8:31 pm Reply
Definitely making this for my super bowl party!
leslie — January 9, 2012 @ 9:06 pm Reply
Oh my..that is the perfect comfort food!!!!
Kristen — January 9, 2012 @ 9:42 pm Reply
I think my son would absolutely flip if I made this. He loves homemade mac and cheese almost as much as he loves hot wings.
What a great idea for a man pleasing meal!
Monica — January 10, 2012 @ 3:13 pm Reply
Oh my goodness that looks delicious!
Amy — January 10, 2012 @ 5:37 pm Reply
Delish! I need some now.
Robin @ Simply Southern Baking — January 10, 2012 @ 6:41 pm Reply
This sounds perfect! What a great combination.
Bake Up, Little Suzy — January 11, 2012 @ 2:57 am Reply
I love all things Buffalo Chicken! I just recently made a Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese Sandwich, and it was outSTANDing!
shelly (cookies and cups) — January 11, 2012 @ 7:05 am Reply
This is like the most perfect combination of two of my favorites 🙂
nancyc — January 11, 2012 @ 12:43 pm Reply
My kids have never been mac and cheese fans – i think this will win them over!
Darlita — January 11, 2012 @ 8:51 pm Reply
Sounds DELISH!!! Thanks for sharing:)
Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction — January 12, 2012 @ 3:10 pm Reply
Wow! All of the football loving men in my life will love this!
Jamie | My Baking Addiction — January 12, 2012 @ 4:22 pm Reply
I’m pretty sure that this recipe would be Brian’s version of absolute bliss. Love this, Cheryl!
Tickled Red — January 13, 2012 @ 3:13 pm Reply
That looks simply scrumptious. I’m going to make for the guys just as soon as my surfer gets home from his trip 😀
michele@hellolovelyinc — January 17, 2012 @ 9:40 am Reply
serious yum going on here.
visiting via TTJ and would love to have you stop by kate spade/vintage jewelry giveaway:
smiles.
michele
kim — January 29, 2012 @ 4:20 pm Reply
This is the BEST home made buffalo chicken mac and cheese I have made…. the recipe above could easily feed 8 people. Split the recipe and it was perfect for 2 with leftovers. The pepper jack makes this dish!! YUMMMMMM
Jessica — April 5, 2014 @ 12:28 pm Reply
I really want to try this but I really can’t do that much spice in one dish. However, I love pepper jack cheese. Do you think it would be okay to only use the hot sauce in the cheese sauce or just on the chicken? I’m a new cook and still scared of venturing that far on my own.
- TidyMom — April 6, 2014 @ 9:14 am Reply
  sure!! this is what I would do – because this dish it pretty hot. It will stil be good, but should be much more mild, try this and if you think you can handle more heat the next time, just add a little more back in until it’s just the way you like it.
  I would do 1/4 cup of hot sauce with the chicken and either none in the sauce, or just 2-3 Tablespoons.
  Enjoy!! let me know how it turns out!!
  - Jessica — May 30, 2014 @ 12:04 pm
    Thanks! I’ll try it this week and let you know.