Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese
This is my two favorite things combined into one dish, taking the heat of buffalo chicken and folding it into a cheddar mac and cheese instead of serving them separately. It's one of the more indulgent recipes in my rotation, but it reheats better than you'd expect.
Shredded chicken folds into the pasta a lot more evenly than diced chicken would, so every bite gets a little of everything. Buffalo sauce stirred in at the end keeps its heat instead of cooking off in a pot the whole time.
Cheddar sauce made from scratch is smoother than anything from a box, and it's not much more effort once the milk and butter are already going. A splash of milk when reheating brings the sauce back to that same creamy texture.
The recipe card has the full ingredient breakdown and cook time for all ten portions. Let everything cool before sealing the containers, then refrigerate what you'll eat within four days and freeze the rest. This buffalo mac reheats better than most cream-sauce pastas do.
Nutrition note: This is general food information, not individualized medical or nutrition advice.
Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese
YIELD
10 portions
ESTIMATED NUTRITION
660 calories • 58g protein • 51g carbs • 23g fat per portion
What I really like about this recipe is that it turns two separate cravings into one dish.
Ingredients
• 3 3/4 lb chicken breast, cooked and shredded
• 30 oz dry pasta, cooked
• 3 cups shredded cheddar
• 2 cups milk
• 1 1/2 cups buffalo sauce
• 3 tbsp butter
• salt and pepper
• 2 tsp garlic powder
Directions
1. Poach or bake the chicken until cooked through, then shred.
2. Melt butter with milk in a pot; stir in cheddar until melted into a smooth sauce.
3. Toss the sauce with the pasta and shredded chicken; stir in the buffalo sauce.
4. Let the food cool briefly, then divide it evenly among 10 airtight meal-prep containers.
Meal-prep notes: Refrigerate promptly and use refrigerated portions within 3–4 days; freeze any portions you will not eat in that window. Reheat hot meals until steaming, adding a splash of milk if needed. Nutrition is estimated per portion.
