Stovetop Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese makes the perfect weeknight comfort meal. Filled with chicken, cheddar and blue cheeses, and buffalo sauce, this meal is made on the stovetop in less than 30 minutes.
Looking for a flavorful twist on a classic macaroni and cheese? Look no further. This buffalo chicken mac and cheese is filled with chicken, cheddar and blue cheeses, buffalo sauce, and topped with diced green onion.
The best part about this recipe is that it's ready in 30 minutes and made entirely in one pot on the stove top.
Serve this buffalo chicken mac and cheese for a quick weeknight meal, or any time you're looking for a comfort food fix.
Ingredients and substitutions
Cooked chicken - a shredded rotisserie chicken, cooked and cubed chicken breasts, or canned chicken can all be used in this recipe. Or, omit the chicken for a meatless meal.
Blue cheese and green onions are optional toppings, but highly recommended.
For your sharp cheddar cheese, I highly recommend buying a block of cheese and grating it yourself.
Most pre-shredded cheeses are coated in a powder to prevent clumping. When this cheese is melted into a sauce, it often becomes grainy. To prevent this - I grate my own cheese.
Macaroni can be substituted with shells or any other medium sized pasta.
Chicken substitutes
This recipe can easily be made without chicken, for a vegetarian buffalo mac and cheese recipe.
Or, substitute your cooked chicken with cooked ground chicken (or turkey), cooked ground beef, or leftover Thanksgiving turkey!
What to serve with mac and cheese
Want to stretch this meal even further? Serve your buffalo chicken mac and cheese with a side dish or two, or as a side dish itself! This recipe can stretch to serve six as a side dish.
Side dishes to add:
- Winter Chopped Salad
- Parmesan Roasted Broccoli
- Roasted Zucchini and Squash
- Cheesy Broccoli
- Strawberry Spinach Salad
Main courses to pair with mac and cheese:
- Oven Roasted Brats
- Patty Melt with Secret Sauce
- Cheesesteak Style Sloppy Joes
- Oven Baked Ribs
- Baked Chicken Drumsticks
Stovetop Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 6 ounces elbow macaroni, uncooked
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups milk
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ cup buffalo sauce
- 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, freshly shredded
- 16 ounces cooked chicken, shredded or cubed
- ½ cup blue cheese, optional
- 2 diced green onions, optional
Instructions
- Cook macaroni according to package directions for al dente pasta. Drain and set aside.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add flour and stir to combine, creating a paste. Cook for 1 minute. Add milk and whisk constantly to combine. Cook for 1-2 minutes, or until mixture thickens.
- Reduce heat to low. Add salt, pepper, shredded cheese and buffalo sauce. Stir until cheese is melted and fully incorporated.
- Add diced chicken and macaroni and stir to combine. Remove from heat and allow to set for 2 minutes before serving.
- Optionally, top with blue cheese and diced green onions before serving.
Equipment Recommendations
Notes
- This recipe serves four if served as a main course, or six if served as a side dish alongside a main course.
- A cooked, shredded rotisserie chicken can be used in this recipe, or leftover chicken or turkey you have on hand. Chicken can also be omitted for a meatless mac and cheese.
- I highly recommend shredding your own cheese for this recipe. Pre-shredded store bought cheese is often coated in a powder (to prevent clumping) and when melted, can make your sauce grainy.
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