Healthier Buffalo Chicken Macaroni Recipes

BUFFALO-CHICKEN MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. 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 saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the flour and mustard with a wooden spoon until smooth. Whisk in the half-and-half, then add the remaining 1/4 cup hot sauce and stir until thick, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the cheddar and pepper jack cheeses, then whisk in the sour cream until smooth.
• Spread half of the macaroni in the prepared baking dish, then top with the chicken mixture and the remaining macaroni. Pour the cheese sauce evenly on top.
• Put the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl and microwave until melted. Stir in the panko, blue cheese and parsley. Sprinkle over the macaroni and bake until bubbly, 30 to 40 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

LOWER-CALORIE BUFFALO CHICKEN PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook rigatoni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until tender yet firm to the bite, about 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine milk, blue cheese, and cream cheese in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until cheeses melt, about 5 minutes.
• Drain pasta into a colander; reserve about 1/4 cup cooking liquid and pour into the sauce. Add Buffalo sauce, garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper and stir until smooth. Mix in the pasta and chicken and heat until chicken is warmed through, 2 to 3 minutes.

BUFFALO CHICKEN MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until tender yet firm to the bite, 8 minutes. Drain.
• Cut wings and legs off rotisserie chicken. Skin and bone wings and legs; chop or shred dark meat into bite-size pieces.
• Melt butter in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Whisk in flour gradually until a thick paste forms. Cook until golden, about 1 minute. Pour in milk, whisking constantly, until thickened and bubbling, about 5 minutes. Continue to cook until sauce is smooth, about 1 minute more. Reduce heat and season sauce with black pepper.
• Stir Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese into the sauce until melted and combined. Stir in hot sauce, adjusting to reach desired level of spiciness. Add blue cheese, chicken, and macaroni; mix well to combine.

HEALTHIER BUFFALO CHICKEN MACARONI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and spray a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with non-stick spray. Bring a large pot of water to a boil; salt the water and add the pasta. Cook until al dente, about 7 minutes. Drain.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat saute the onion, carrot and celery until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook 2 minutes, then add hot sauce and simmer until slightly thickened, about 1 more minute.
• Sprinkle in the flour and whisk to combine, reduce heat. Add milk and mustard and stir until thick, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the cheddar and pepper jack cheeses, then whisk in the sour cream until smooth.
• Return macaroni to the large pot and stir in cheese sauce and chicken.
• In a small bowl, combine panko, blue cheese and ranch dressing and parsley.
• Place macaroni in the prepared baking dish, then top with the the panko, blue cheese and parsley. Bake until bubbly, 30 to 40 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.