Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese is rich, creamy, and extra cheesy with a little kick!

Everyone’s favorite mac & cheese is turned up a notch with a special blend of cheeses, chicken, and a bit of buffalo sauce. Topped with a buttery bread crumb topping, adults & kids alike love this easy recipe!

cooked Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese with a spoon in it

I am so excited to have partnered with Cabot Cheese to share this cheesy recipe with you!

A Mac and Cheese You Need to Try!

  • Easy enough for every day, but definitely a celebration-worthy dish!
  • The sauce is loaded with a rich cheesy flavor with two kinds of Cabot cheese.
  • Make it with chicken or sub in your favorite proteins (or even use cauliflower for a buffalo cauliflower mac & cheese).
  • Perfect for a potluck or party, and ready in minutes using store-bought or homemade rotisserie chicken!

ingredients to make Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

Ingredients

CHEESE: A beautiful bold cheese sauce is what this dish is all about so you’ll need quality cheese.

Cabot Seriously Sharp Cheddar stands up beautifully next to buffalo sauce and a bit of Cabot Pepper Jack adds a creamy kick.  Not only do these cheeses have a nice bold flavor, but they’re also naturally aged and truly delicious.

In addition to truly making amazing cheese, Cabot is a certified B corporation. This means they meet high standards of social and environmental performance and, as a co-operative of dairy farm families, 100% of the profits go back to the farmers.

CHICKEN: Ready-made rotisserie chicken is a time saver and has a lightly seasoned flavor that works perfectly for this dish. Leftover chicken, smoked sausage, or even boiled chicken breasts work well in this recipe too.

PASTA: Elbow macaroni noodles are the standard for mac and cheese, but a hearty penne, rotini, or farfalle (AKA bowtie), are great pasta shapes that the sauce clings to.

SAUCE: This recipe uses a bit of buffalo sauce in an easy homemade cheese sauce.

Need a Milder Version? Check your hot sauce aisle, there are mild sauces available that still pack a punch of buffalo flavor!

process of making cheese sauce for Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

How to Make Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

  1. Cook pasta until al dente, rinse.
  2. Make a white sauce and stir in the Seriously Sharp Cheddar and Pepper Jack cheeses until creamy (per recipe below).
  3. Add buffalo sauce and stir.

pouring sauce on chicken and noodles to make Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

  1. Combine pasta, chicken, and sauce in a 9×13 dish.
  2. Sprinkle the topping over the casserole and bake.

Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese before baking

Tips for Perfection

  • Remember that the pasta will cook more as it bakes so ensure it’s boiled to al dente (firm).
  • The sauce is a bit undersalted as the buffalo sauce adds salt. Taste and season once the sauce is mixed.
  • This recipe uses buffalo sauce (not just a straight up hot sauce) for the best flavor.
  • To kick up the spice, toss in some diced jalapenos or red pepper flakes!
  • To tame the spice a little look for a MILD buffalo sauce.

cooked Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese in the casserole dish

More Mac and Cheese Favorites

(Although really, ALL mac and cheese is my favorite!)

Did you love this mac and cheese as much as we do? Be sure to leave a comment and rating below!

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bowls full of Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese
5 from 57 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
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Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

Cheesy, creamy, and a little bit spicy, this Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese is the ultimate pasta dish!
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 8
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Ingredients  

  • 16 ounces elbow macaroni
  • cup butter
  • cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 2 ½ cups milk
  • ½ cup half and half or light cream
  • ½ teaspoon dry mustard powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
  • 3 cups shredded Cabot Seriously Sharp Cheddar
  • 1 cup shredded Cabot Pepper Jack Cheese
  • cup buffalo sauce
  • 3 cups cooked shredded chicken

Topping

  • cup seasoned bread crumbs
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 400°F.
  • Cook macaroni al dente in salted water according to package directions. Drain and run under cold water to stop the cooking.
  • While the macaroni is cooking, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour, mustard powder and, onion powder and cook 1 minute.
  • Add milk and cream a little bit at a time whisking after each addition. The mixture will be very thick at first but will smooth out. Once combined bring to a boil while stirring and let boil 1 minute.
  • Remove from the heat and add Cabot Seriously Sharp Cheddar and Cabot pepper jack. Whisk until melted and smooth. Once melted, stir in the buffalo sauce.
  • Combine the cooked macaroni, chicken, and cheese mixture, mix well. Spread into a greased 9x13 pan.
  • Combine topping and sprinkle over the macaroni.
  • Bake 20-25 minutes or until bubbly and the topping is browned

Video

Notes

  • Remember that the pasta will cook more as it bakes so ensure it's boiled to al dente (firm).
  • The sauce is a bit undersalted as the buffalo sauce adds salt. Taste and season once the sauce is mixed.
  • This recipe uses buffalo sauce (not just a straight up hot sauce) for the best flavor.
  • To kick up the spice, toss in some diced jalapenos or red pepper flakes!
  • To tame the spice a little look for a MILD buffalo sauce.
5 from 57 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 802 | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 51g | Fat: 41g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 182mg | Sodium: 1670mg | Potassium: 333mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1097IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 544mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Casserole, Chicken, Dinner, Main Course, Pasta
Cuisine American
casserole dish full of Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese with a title
Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese in a bowl with writing
plated Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese with a title
Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese in the casserole dish cooked and plated with a title

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About the author

Holly Nilsson is the creator of Spend With Pennies, where she creates easy, comforting recipes made for real life. With a passion for nostalgic flavors and simplified techniques, Holly helps busy home cooks create delicious meals that always work. She is also the author of “Everyday Comfort,” which promises to inspire even more hearty, home-cooked meals.
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Comments

  1. Delicious! I used the cheeses we had on hand (sharp cheddar, mozzarella and cream cheese) and it still turned out great. This recipe is versatile and easy!5 stars

  2. This was A-mazing! Came out perfect and so tasty! Followed to a T – except used large shells pasta – and wouldn’t change anything. Thank you Holly, your recipes never disappoint!5 stars

  3. Doubled the recipe because I was afraid it wouldn’t be enough and it was so delicious! Next time I’ll save myself some time and use shredded sharp cheddar :)5 stars

    1. Don’t use pre shredded cheeses. There is a coating on it to keep the shreds separated that can change how it melts and leave your sauce grainy. Better to just spend the extra little bit of time doing it yourself.

    1. We haven’t tried freezing this casserole Colin. Let us know how it goes if you try freezing it!