Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

This buffalo chicken mac and cheese is right up there on my list of favorite pasta dishes. The combo of tender chicken, pasta, and that creamy, spicy cheese sauce is seriously something you won’t forget.

Easy Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

Buffalo chicken mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food with a spicy twist. If you love buffalo sauce as much as I do, it’s time to take it beyond wings and let it shine in this creamy, cheesy pasta. Packed with all the right flavors, this dish is both comforting and bold.

This version has everything you want—hot wing sauce, a cheesy blend of sharp cheddar, pepper jack, and blue cheese, and a crispy topping that adds the perfect crunch. It’s the kind of mac and cheese that’ll have you coming back for seconds.

Whether it’s game day or just a weekend gathering, this buffalo chicken mac and cheese is perfect for sharing with friends and family. It’s a cozy, crowd-pleasing dish that works for any occasion.

Why I Love This Recipe

• Rotisserie chicken makes this a super convenient, time-saving meal.
• The mix of extra sharp cheddar, pepper jack, and blue cheese delivers the best flavor.
• Frank’s Buffalo Wing Sauce gives it the perfect spicy kick.
• The half-and-half and sour cream bring the ultimate creaminess.
• A touch of blue cheese in the crunchy topping adds richness and depth.
• The combo of smooth mac and cheese with crispy panko topping makes it visually and texturally awesome.

Ingredients

Here’s a rundown of what you’ll need to make this buffalo chicken mac and cheese. It’s got all the good stuff that makes this dish creamy, spicy, and full of flavor.

• Unsalted butter: This is where the richness in the cheese sauce comes from.
• Kosher salt (for the pasta water): I always add a little salt to my pasta water—helps bring out the flavor as it cooks.
• Elbow macaroni: This is your classic pasta base that holds everything together.
• Yellow onion: I love how onions add that savory depth to the dish.
• Celery: A little crunch and fresh flavor to balance out the richness.
• Rotisserie chicken: I grab a rotisserie chicken to save time and add a ton of flavor.
• Garlic: Gives the dish that awesome aroma and a bit of bite.
• Frank’s Buffalo Wing Sauce: If you’re a buffalo sauce fan like me, this is the game changer for that spicy kick.
• All-purpose flour: Helps thicken up the cheese sauce.
• Dry mustard: Just a little bit adds some tang and depth.
• Half-and-half: This makes the sauce super creamy, just how I like it.
• Extra sharp cheddar cheese: The star of the cheese sauce—it melts so well and adds that rich, cheesy flavor.
• Pepper jack cheese: I like how this brings a bit of heat and extra creaminess.
• Sour cream: This makes the sauce even creamier with a tangy twist.
• Panko: A crunchy topping that gives this mac and cheese a nice texture contrast.
• Blue cheese: If you love blue cheese, this adds a bold, tangy hit to the topping.
• Fresh parsley: I always throw in a bit of fresh parsley at the end for color and a fresh, herby flavor.

How to Make Homemade Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

Find the complete recipe with measurements in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

• Step One (Preheat and Prep the Baking Dish)
  Preheat the oven to 350°F and butter a 9×13-inch baking dish.
• Step Two (Cook the Pasta)
  Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the pasta, and cook it until al dente, about 7 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• Step Three (Cook the Veggies and Chicken)
  While the pasta is cooking, melt 3 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Toss in the onion and celery and cook them until they’re soft, about 5 minutes. Add the chicken and garlic and cook for another 2 minutes. Then, pour in 1/2 cup of wing sauce and let it simmer until it thickens a bit, about 1 minute.
• Step Four (Make the Cheese Sauce)
  In a saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Stir in the flour and mustard until smooth. Whisk in the half-and-half, then add the remaining 1/4 cup of hot sauce and stir until it thickens, about 2 minutes. Next, add in the cheddar and pepper jack cheeses, then stir in the sour cream until it’s all smooth and creamy.
• Step Five (Assemble the Dish)
  Spread half of the cooked macaroni in the prepared baking dish, then layer the chicken mixture on top. Add the rest of the macaroni and pour the cheese sauce evenly over everything.
• Step Six (Make the Topping)
  Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Stir in the panko, blue cheese, and parsley. Sprinkle this mixture on top of the macaroni.
• Step Seven (Bake)
  Pop it in the oven and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until it’s bubbly and golden. Let it rest for about 10 minutes before serving. Drizzle a little more wing sauce on top for extra flavor and color.
• Step Eight (Garnish)
  Top with even more wing sauce, blue cheese, and a dollop of sour cream.

Recipe Tips

These tips are the little tweaks that really make this buffalo chicken mac and cheese hit the spot every time!

Storage and Freezing Tips

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can I use a different type of pasta? Yes, you can. While elbow macaroni is classic, you can swap it out for penne, rigatoni, or any pasta shape you like.
• Can I use a different kind of chicken? If you don’t have rotisserie chicken, cooked chicken breast or shredded chicken from another source works just fine.
• How spicy is this dish? It’s got a good kick from the buffalo sauce, but you can adjust the spice level to your liking. If you prefer less heat, use a milder wing sauce or reduce the amount.
• Can I make this ahead of time? Yes, you can prep everything in advance. Assemble the dish, then cover and refrigerate until you’re ready to bake. You may need to add a few extra minutes to the baking time if it’s cold from the fridge.
• What can I use instead of blue cheese? If blue cheese isn’t your thing, you can use crumbled feta, goat cheese, or even just more cheddar for the topping.
• How can I make this dish less rich? To lighten it up a bit, you could use lower-fat cheeses and sour cream, or substitute half of the half-and-half with milk.

More Way to Indulge in Buffalo Sauce Flavored Recipes

If you’re as obsessed with buffalo sauce as I am, you’re in for a treat—check out these other recipes packed with that bold, spicy flavor!

• Buffalo Chicken Dip
• Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
• Buffalo Chicken Enchiladas
• Buffalo Cauliflower Soup
• Buffalo Hot Dogs
• Buffalo Falafel Balls

More Cheesy Mac and Cheese Recipe Ideas

I’m positive macaroni and cheese contributes to our emotional well-being! It’s both soothing and indulgent and so easy to prepare.

• Gnocchi Mac and Cheese
• Pumpkin mac and cheese.
• Cheeseburger Mac and Cheese
• Mac n’ Kim-Cheese
• Pimento Macaroni and Cheese  
• Ranch Macaroni and Cheese

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Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

This buffalo chicken mac and cheese is right up there on my list of favorite pasta dishes. The combo of tender chicken, pasta, and that creamy, spicy cheese sauce is seriously something you won’t forget.

Prep Time20 minutes mins

Cook Time55 minutes mins

Resting10 minutes mins

Total Time1 hour hr 25 minutes mins

Course: Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

Servings: 12

Calories: 645kcal

Author: Cathy Pollak

Equipment

• measuring cups and spoons For accurate measurments.
• mixing bowls For melting toppings.
• baking dish 9 x 13 For assembling and baking the mac and cheese.
• Pasta Pot To cook the pasta.
• nonstick skillet For cooking the chicken, veggies, and wing sauce.
• wooden spoon To stir the sauces.
• whisk To whisk the sauces.
• Saucepan To make the cheese sauce.

Ingredients

Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese:

• 7 tbsps. unsalted butter (divided) plus more for the baking dish
• kosher salt
• 1 lb. elbow macaroni
• 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
• 2 stalks celery, finely chopped
• 3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3/4 cup Frank's Buffalo Wing Sauce, divided
• 2 tbsps. all-purpose flour
• 2 tsps. dry mustard
• 2-1/2 cups half and half
• 1 lb. extra sharp cheddar cheese shredded
• 8 oz. pepper Jack cheese shredded
• 2/3 cup sour cream
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
• 2 tbsps. chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350°F and butter a 9x13-inch baking dish.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the pasta, and cook until al dente, about 7 minutes. Drain.
  1 lb. elbow macaroni , kosher salt
• Meanwhile, melt 3 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and celery and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in the chicken and garlic and cook for 2 minutes, then add 1/2 cup wing sauce and simmer until slightly thickened, about 1 more minute.
  7 tbsps. unsalted butter, 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped, 2 stalks celery, finely chopped, 3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken, 2 cloves garlic, minced, 3/4 cup Frank's Buffalo Wing Sauce, divided
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the flour and mustard with a wooden spoon until smooth. Whisk in the half-and-half, then add the remaining 1/4 cup hot sauce and stir until thick, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the cheddar and pepper jack cheeses, then stir in the sour cream until smooth.
  2 tbsps. all-purpose flour, 2 tsps. dry mustard, 2-1/2 cups half and half, 1 lb. extra sharp cheddar cheese, 8 oz. pepper Jack cheese, 2/3 cup sour cream
• Spread half of the macaroni in the prepared baking dish, then top with the chicken mixture and the remaining macaroni. Pour the cheese sauce evenly on top. Place the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave until melted. Stir in the panko, blue cheese, and parsley. Sprinkle over the macaroni. Bake until bubbly, 30 to 40 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving. Drizzle with some wing sauce for color.
  1 cup panko breadcrumbs, 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese, 2 tbsps. chopped fresh parsley
• Garnish with even more wing sauce, blue cheese and sour cream.

Notes

For optimal outcomes when preparing this buffalo mac and cheese, it's recommended to refer to the recipe details within the post. The recipe post commonly includes valuable notes, expert tips and frequently asked questions, that are not presented in the recipe card, often including how to make this recipe dairy-free, gluten free or vegan and ideas for healthy ingredient substitutions or variations.

The provided nutrition information is merely an approximation, as variations can arise depending on the specific ingredients/brands you select.

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Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

Amount Per Serving (236 g)

Calories 645 Calories from Fat 351

% Daily Value*

Fat 39g60%

Saturated Fat 22.9g143%

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 6g

Cholesterol 143mg48%

Sodium 1103mg48%

Potassium 240mg7%

Carbohydrates 39g13%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 4g4%

Protein 34g68%

Vitamin A 307IU6%

Vitamin C 2.2mg3%

Calcium 514mg51%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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