BUFFALO CHICKEN PASTA
BUFFALO CHICKEN PASTA– the best of spicy buffalo and the best of mac & cheese all in ONE!
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Mac & Cheese is maybe the number one dish in our house and the number one recipe on Ambs Loves Food. Firstly, there are so many versions that it’s hard to choose which one to make!
Let me tell you a little bit about each of them…
The Best Comfort Mac & Cheese: a simple cheesey sauce with sharp cheddar and swiss!
Pimiento Mac & Cheese: My Grandmother in Law Peggy’s amazing creamy recipe!
White Cheddar Mac & Cheese: a copycat Panera decadent delight.
Instant Pot White Cheddar Mac & Cheese: So fast and so creamy. Made with broth and cream and the best cheese- white cheddar!
Instant Pot Cheddar Mac & Cheese: Simplest of them all. White and sharp yellow cheddar, milk instead of cream and butter.
I don’t even think I can pick a favorite, they’re all my favorite in their own ways.
We needed to make sure we had ALL categories covered…
Therefore, we needed a Buffalo Chicken Pasta version to add to the mix, because why not?!
AU (my hubby) LOVES anything buffalo! Moreover, buffalo chicken wings, so this had to be a thing and it had to be REALLY good.
Think simple and fast and creamy and cheesey, we wouldn’t want it any other way.
A traditional roux cheese sauce (roux= butter and flour mixture) is the start of this recipe. Nonfat milk is added to thicken the creamy sauce.
Most importantly we used monterey jack cheese and sharp cheddar cheeses, grated fresh from a block. Above all, the cheeses will always melt much better when grated fresh instead of using pre-shredded cheese. This is a must for any mac & cheese!
Then the best part is adding in buffalo sauce (we used Frank’s Red Hot). After that you literally have the best buffalo cheesey creamy saucey mac & cheese base.
We add the creamy spicy cheese sauce to seasoned cubed chicken and whole grain pasta of choice (we used penne!). In addition top it with breadcrumbs and more cheese and then finally garnish it with fresh cilantro and chives!
BUFFALO CHICKEN PASTA
Ingredients
- 1 BOX WHOLE GRAIN PASTA 13.25 OZ (PENNE)
- 2 LARGE BONELESS SKINLESS CHICKEN BREASTS OR 3 SMALL CHICKEN BREASTS
- 1.5 TABLESPOONS UNSALTED SWEET CREAM BUTTER
- 1.5 TABLESPOONS ALL PURPOSE FLOUR
- 1.5 CUPS NON FAT MILK OR WHATEVER MILK YOU LIKE!
- 4 OZ MONTEREY JACK CHEESE BRICK SHREDDED
- 1/4 CUP MONTEREY JACK CHEESE FOR TOPPING SHREDDED
- 1/2 CUP YELLOW SHARP CHEDDAR SHREDDED
- 1/4 CUP SHARP CHEDDAR FOR TOPPING SHREDDED
- 1/3 CUP SPICY BUFFALO SAUCE 1/2 CUP FOR SPICIER (FRANKS)
- 1/3 CUP PANKO BREADCRUMBS
- 2 TABLESPOONS OLIVE OIL
- S&P
- FREEZE DRIED OR FRESH CHIVES
- CILANTRO
- GORGONZOLA OR BLUE CHEESE OPTIONAL
Instructions
- PREHEAT OVEN TO 375 DEGREES F.
- CUT CHICKEN BREASTS INTO 1" CUBES. ADD 2 TABLESPOONS OLIVE OIL TO A LARGE PAN. HEAT OVER MEDIUM HIGH.
- COOK CUBED CHICKEN UNTIL SLIGHTLY BROWNED AND JUICES RUN CLEAR, SEASON WITH SALT & PEPPER. ADD CHICKEN TO A 9X13" SPRAYED BAKING DISH.
- COOK PASTA ACCORDING TO INSTRUCTIONS, USING THE LEAST AMOUNT OF TIME (WE DID 8 MINUTES). DRAIN AND ADD TO CHICKEN IN BAKING DISH.
- WIPE OUT COOKING PAN AND ADD BUTTER OVER MEDIUM HEAT. LET MELT, ADD IN FLOUR AND WHISK UNTIL A PASTE FORMS AND ALL LUMPS DISAPPEAR.
- KEEP COOKING AND WHISKING UNTIL SLIGHTLY GOLDEN BROWN. START ADDING IN MILK ABOUT 1/4 CUP AT A TIME. WHISK UNTIL COMBINED, SMOOTH, AND STARTING TO BUBBLE. CONTINUE ADDING MILK SLOWLY AND WHISKING UNTIL ALL IS COMBINED.
- TURN HEAT TO LOW AND ADD IN 4 OZ SHREDDED MONTEREY JACK AND 1/2 CUP CHEDDAR CHEESE. POUR IN BUFFALO SAUCE AND SEASON WITH S&P.
- ADD CHEESE SAUCE TO PASTA AND CHICKEN AND COMBINE GENTLY. SPREAD OUT IN BAKING DISH AND TOP WITH SHREDDED 1/4 CUP MONTEREY JACK AND 1/4 CUP SHARP CHEDDAR CHEESE. SPRINKLE BREADCRUMBS ON TOP.
- BAKE FOR 20 MINUTES. GARNISH WITH CHIVES & CILANTRO. AND IF YOU'RE INTO IT SPRINKLE CRUMBLED BLUE CHEESE OR GORGONZOLA ON TOP!
Notes
Similarly, if you’re feeling like buffalo but want something slightly healthier, these Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps are such a hit. With a slight crunchy breaded chicken and all the toppings!
Much love,
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