Buffalo Rooster Macaroni and Cheese

Loaded with shredded rotisserie hen, buffalo sauce, bacon, and essentially the most scrumptious cheese sauce, that is the final word buffalo hen mac and cheese recipe! Serve with loads of napkins and further scorching sauce!

Buffalo Rooster Mac and Cheese

With Tremendous Bowl Sunday shortly approaching, I can’t consider a greater time than NOW to share this new macaroni and cheese recipe with you! It’s actually all the things you like about buffalo hen dip… however in macaroni and cheese type.

Crunchy, creamy, tacky, and just a bit bit spicy, this buffalo hen Mac & cheese is textbook consolation meals! Excellent for sport day, holidays, or any day you’re seeking to serve a crowd.

Buffalo Rooster Macaroni & Cheese Substances

Salt: Only a pinch to season the pasta water. I don’t name for salt within the macaroni and cheese recipe as a result of between the cheese, bacon, and scorching sauce, it has a superb quantity of sodium. However you’ll be able to at all times add a touch on the finish should you really feel it wants it.
Pasta: I used traditional small elbow macaroni noodles, however you could use shells, shellbows, or giant elbow noodles.
Bacon: I’ve by no means met a Mac and cheese that didn’t profit from the addition of bacon! Not solely does it add taste, nevertheless it provides an important crunchy texture. Be happy to omit it desired, or sub diced pancetta!
Butter: Melted butter is cooked with our veggies to provide them taste, but in addition helps create our roux, which is able to thicken the sauce.
Flour: Our thickening agent! You’ll want to use all-purpose flour right here for greatest outcomes!
Onion: Use a candy yellow onion if you’ll find one, or a white onion will work effective. I don’t recommend utilizing a crimson onion.
Celery: You’ll want to finely chop your celery so it blends in with the sauce, however doesn’t get in the best way of the general texture.
Garlic: Provides recent taste! Don’t sub garlic powder right here, it won’t give the identical impact.
Buffalo Scorching Sauce: We love Frank’s, however use no matter model you like or have available. If you wish to scale back the warmth, you could omit 1/4 cup of the known as for warm sauce. I don’t recommend lowering it by extra otherwise you’ll free the great taste it provides, and alter the thickness of the sauce.
Milk: For greatest outcomes, use full-fat aka entire milk! I don’t recommend subbing plant primarily based milks on this recipe.
Heavy Cream: This makes the sauce tremendous creamy! Don’t skip it and don’t sub it for half and half. Belief me.
Cheese: Shredded cheddar cheese is our important cheese supply! However pepper jack cheese, cream cheese, and crumbled blue cheese (don’t sub blue cheese dressing right here) all play essential supporting roles. When you can not discover cream cheese, bitter cream will work in a pinch, however will add extra tang and make the sauce barely thinner.
Rooster: To maintain issues straightforward, I take advantage of rotisserie hen, however you could roast hen breasts and shred them your self, if most well-liked.

Let’s make Buffalo Rooster Mac & Cheese!

Prepare dinner the Pasta! Solely till al dente, which is often about 7 minutes. Belief me, you don’t want mushy pasta for this recipe, so when doubtful, pull it a minute early. It cooks extra within the sauce.
Fry the Bacon! Get it crispy on each side, this takes about 3 to 4 minutes, per aspect. I take advantage of a cast-iron skillet (affiliate hyperlink), however you should use no matter pan you like.
Prepare dinner the Veggies: Take your time right here! You need the celery gentle and the onions virtually translucent earlier than you add the garlic. The secret’s to do that over medium warmth in order that they don’t burn.
Make the Sauce: Add the flour and cook dinner STIRRING CONSTANTLY! Then pour within the milk and scorching sauce and stir till effectively mixed. Add within the cheeses and cook dinner till clean.
Convey all of it Collectively: Fold within the pasta and many of the hen and stir till effectively mixed. Then high with bacon, hen, blue cheese, and scallions. Serve heat!!!

Can I make this Baked Mac & Cheese?

Sure! Though it is a stovetop macaroni and cheese by nature, should you desire baked Mac and cheese, you’ll be able to simply adapt this recipe! Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray, scrape the macaroni and cheese into the ready baking dish, and bake at 350 for about 20 minutes. If you would like, add some panko bread crumbs (combined with a teaspoon of olive oil) for crunch!

Extra Macaroni and Cheese Recipe Choices: