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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 Oven
  • 1 Large Pot For cooking macaroni
  • 1 Mixing Bowl For chicken mixture
  • 1 8-inch Square Casserole Dish Oven-safe
  • 1 Wooden Spoon or Spatula For stirring

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 more elevated dish, consider preparing homemade macaroni and cheese with a blend of sharp cheddar and Monterey Jack, rather than a mix, allowing for better control over the sauce's creaminess and flavor. When preparing the buffalo chicken, allow it to marinate for at least 30 minutes for deeper flavor penetration; grilling or pan-searing the chicken before cubing can add a desirable char. To enhance texture, add a buttered Panko breadcrumb topping during the last 5-10 minutes of baking. Ensure macaroni is cooked al dente before baking to prevent mushiness. Taste and adjust hot sauce and ranch levels in the chicken mixture for desired heat and tang. Fresh blue cheese crumbles are key for authentic flavor.