Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese

Wow what can we say about this dish. If you are watching your weight - STAY AWAY!!!  This is a great combination of buffalo chicken wings and mac and cheese. Absolutely a winning casserole. 

Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese

Ingredients:

7 tablespoons butter
1 pound (16 oz.) elbow macaroni
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 stalks celery, finely chopped
3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken or cooked diced chicken breast
2 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup Buffalo wing sauce
2 tablespoons  flour
2 teaspoons dry mustard
2 1/2 cups half-and-half
medium cheddar cheese, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 3 1/2 cups)
8 ounces  Jack cheese, shredded (about 2 cups)
2/3 cup sour cream
1 cup panko breadcrumbs (found in the grocery store next to regular breadcrumbs)
1/2 cup crumbled parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil; add the pasta and cook until al dente, about 7 minutes. Drain.

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 2 minutes. Then add 1/2 cup hot sauce and simmer until slightly thickened, about 1 more minute.

Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a separate saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the flour and mustard until smooth. Whisk in the half-and-half and add the remaining 1/4 cup hot sauce and stir until thick, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the cheddar and  jack cheeses, then whisk in the sour cream until smooth.

Combine the chicken mixture, cooked pasta, and cheese sauce and toss to combine.

Put the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl and microwave until melted. Stir in the panko, parmesan cheese and parsley. Sprinkle over the macaroni and bake until bubbly, 30 to 40 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

Best served immediately. Makes around 8 servings.

Recipe Link: Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese

While the macaroni is boiling, fry the celery and onions

Add the garlic and cooked left over chicken

Add the buffalo wing sauce and combine

Set aside.

Combine butter, flour and  dry mustard

Add cream, cheeses and stir

Whisk in sour cream and combine macaroni and chicken mixtures

Pour into a 9 X 13 baking dish. This makes a large amount so you can at this point  divide it into  smaller baking dishes.

Sprinkle with the panko, parmesan mixture