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Buffalo Chicken Macaroni and Cheese

Kicked up macaroni and cheese. Easy, quick way to use up left over chicken (leftovers from slow cooker buffalo chicken on allrecipes.com is perfect).
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course lunch/dinner
Cuisine Italian
Servings 6 people
Calories 2653.3 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 8-inch Square Casserole Dish
  • 1 Large Pot for cooking pasta
  • 1 Medium Mixing Bowl for chicken mixture
  • 1 Stirring spoon or whisk
  • 1 Measuring Cups/Spoons for ingredients

Ingredients
  

Main

  • ½ pound cubed cooked chicken
  • 2 tablespoons hot sauce or to taste
  • 2 tablespoons ranch dressing or to taste
  • 1 7.25 ounce package macaroni and cheese mix
  • ¼ cup margarine
  • ¼ cup 2% milk
  • 2 stalks celery chopped
  • 2 tablespoons crumbled blue cheese

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  • Mix chicken, hot sauce, and ranch dressing together in a bowl until coated; set aside for flavors to blend.
  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, 8 minutes. Drain and transfer back to the pot. Stir margarine, milk, and cheese powder into pasta until sauce is smooth.
  • Pour half of the macaroni and cheese into an 8-inch square casserole dish; top with chicken mixture, celery, and blue cheese. Spread remaining macaroni and cheese on top of blue cheese layer.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until chicken is warmed and casserole is bubbling, about 15 minutes.

Notes

For a richer flavor and texture, consider making your macaroni and cheese from scratch using a roux-based cheese sauce rather than a packaged mix; this allows for better control over seasoning and creaminess. Ensure your cooked chicken is moist; if using leftover, gently warm it before mixing to prevent drying out during baking. Don't overcook the pasta; it should be al dente as it will continue to cook slightly in the oven. For an extra layer of texture and flavor, sprinkle a mix of panko breadcrumbs and a touch of melted butter over the top before baking. Adjust hot sauce and ranch dressing to your preference, and use a good quality crumbled blue cheese for a sharper, more authentic buffalo kick.