Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese

By Thedorf

If you like mac and cheese you'll LOVE this recipe! Buffalo chicken with creamy mac and cheese topped with crunchy panko bread crumbs. Yum!

Ingredients

• 7 tablespoons butter
• 1 pound box elbow macaroni
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 stalks celery, finely chopped
• 3 cups chicken, shredded (2 to 3 bone in breasts with skin on or use rotisserie)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3/4 cup hot sauce (Frank's)
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 2 teaspoons dry mustard
• 2 1/2 cups half n half
• 1 pound yellow sharp cheddar, cut into small cubes
• 8 ounces pepper jack, shredded
• 2/3 cup sour cream
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
• 1/2 cup parmesan, grated

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to convection 375°F.

**Drizzle oil, salt and pepper onto chicken breasts and cook 35 to 45 minutes if non convection. Set aside to cool. Remove skin and bone from chicken and shred.**

Preheat oven to 350°F and butter a 9 x 13-inch dish. Bring large pot of salted water to boil, add pasta and cook until al dente, drain. Melt 3 tablespoons butter in large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and celery and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in chicken and garlic and cook 2 minutes. Add 1/2 cup hot sauce and cook until slightly thickened (about 1 minute).

Melt 2 tablespoons butter in saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and mustard and whisk till smooth. Slowly add half n half, whisking till smooth. Whisk in 1/4 cup hot sauce and stir with wooden spoon till thick, about 2 minutes. Whisk in pepper jack and cheddar cheese and 1/4 cup parmesan cheese and then sour cream till smooth.

Layer 1/2 of macaroni in bottom of pan, spread chicken mixture over, then rest of macaroni. Pour cheese sauce on top. Mix breadcrumbs with blue cheese and rest of parmesan and parsley. Melt 2 tablespoons butter and mix into breadcrumbs. Spread on top of macaroni and bake 30 to 40 minutes.

Let rest 10 minutes, serve and enjoy!

**Shred a rotisserie chicken from a grocery store. Much easier!**