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    Home » Recipes » Entrées

    Stovetop Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

    Published: Feb 21, 2019 · Modified: May 6, 2021 by Heather · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · 617 words. · About 4 minutes to read this article.

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    Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese by The Toasty Kitchen
    Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese by The Toasty Kitchen
    Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese by The Toasty Kitchen

    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. 

    Green onions, blue cheese, and buffalo sauce sprinkled on top of pasta.

    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

    Ingredients to make macaroni and cheese.

    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.

    Making a cheese sauce and adding macaroni and chicken.

    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!

    A bowl of mac and cheese on a marble counter top with a white towel.

    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
    Green onions, blue cheese, and buffalo sauce sprinkled on top of pasta.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 1 review

    Stovetop Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

    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. 
    Prep Time10 minutes
    Cook Time20 minutes
    Total Time30 minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 742kcal
    Author: Heather

    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

    • SS 3-Quart Saucepan
    • OXO Metal Balloon Whisk
    • Red Spoonula Set
    • Pyrex Liquid Measuring Cups

    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.

    Nutrition Estimate

    Serving: 0g | Calories: 742kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 54g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 174mg | Sodium: 1294mg | Potassium: 606mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1152IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 631mg | Iron: 2mg
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American

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    Heather of The Toasty Kitchen

    Hi, I'm Heather of The Toasty Kitchen. I love cooking with real, unfussy ingredients, and I want to help you make homemade meals with ease.

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