Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese (Print Version)

Creamy macaroni and chicken in buffalo cheese sauce, finished with golden panko for spicy comfort.

# Ingredients:

→ Base

01 - 8 ounces dried macaroni or similar pasta
02 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
03 - 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
04 - 2 cups whole milk
05 - 0.5 teaspoon salt
06 - 0.5 teaspoon ground black pepper
07 - 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
08 - 0.5 teaspoon onion powder
09 - 0.5 teaspoon ground mustard

→ Cheese Sauce

10 - 4 ounces cream cheese
11 - 1.5 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
12 - 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
13 - 0.33 cup sour cream

→ Flavoring and Protein

14 - 0.5 cup buffalo hot sauce
15 - 1.5 cups cooked shredded chicken

→ Topping

16 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
17 - 0.5 tablespoon olive oil
18 - 0.5 cup seasoned panko breadcrumbs

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×9-inch baking dish.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add dried macaroni and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Drain well and set aside.
03 - In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter, then whisk in flour until smooth, about 1 minute.
04 - Gradually whisk in milk, then add salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and ground mustard. Stir constantly and bring to a gentle boil. Cook until sauce thickens slightly, about 3 to 4 minutes.
05 - Reduce heat to low. Add cream cheese, mozzarella, sharp cheddar, and sour cream. Stir until completely melted and the sauce is smooth.
06 - Stir in buffalo hot sauce. Fold in shredded chicken and cooked macaroni until evenly coated with sauce.
07 - Spread the buffalo chicken mac and cheese mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish.
08 - Melt butter and olive oil together in a small skillet over medium heat. Add seasoned panko breadcrumbs and toast, stirring, until lightly golden.
09 - Sprinkle the toasted panko mixture evenly over the pasta. Bake for 15 minutes or until bubbly and heated through.
10 - Allow to rest for a few minutes before serving warm.

# Notes:

01 - For extra heat, increase the buffalo sauce to taste or garnish with sliced green onions and a drizzle of additional sauce.

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