Crispy Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

This mac and cheese is great served as a side but we elevated it, with the addition of crispy spicy fried chicken. Turning this mac and cheese into a rockstar entree, this dish has a smooth velvety cheese sauce, that will leave you begging for more! Succulent pieces of spicy fried chicken are topped onto the mac and cheese with a generous drizzle of Franks Red Hot Sauce, while finished with a garnish of green onions. Note: If you prefer a baked mac and cheese option - which I generally prefer, I've included a recipe for this as well. Refer to this at the bottom of the page! Either version goes well with this dish!

Recipe

Southern Fried Buttermilk Chicken

  1. Marinate and then cook chicken, according to Southern Fried Buttermilk Chicken recipe. - Click here for link

  2. Once chicken is done frying, set aside on a wire rack.

  3. Dice chicken up into chunks, to top your macaroni.

Mac and Cheese

  1. Cook the macaroni in a large pot of generously salted water, according to the package directions. When finished, drain and set aside while in the colander.

  2. In the large pot you had the pasta boiling in, melt the butter over medium heat. When melted, stir in the flour, garlic powder, and onion powder, until smooth and incorporated.

  3. Pour the milk into the pan in a thin stream while whisking, until smooth. Keep on medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sauce bubbles and thickens, 3-5 minutes.

  4. Add the cubed Velveeta and shredded cheddar and stir until melted and creamy.

  5. Add in the drained macaroni to the pot, mixing until evenly coated. Taste and season with salt and pepper, adjusting to your liking.

  6. Next, place a serving of mac and cheese in a bowl.

  7. Top generously with chunks of fried chicken. Apply a liberal amount of Franks Red Hot sauce on top of the chicken and garnish with green onions. Feel free to add crumbled blue cheese to the top of the sauced chicken, if you like.

Baked Mac and Cheese Option:

To bake: Set oven to 350F. Place the sauced mac and cheese into a oven safe casserole dish. Top mac and cheese with 1/4 cup of sharp shredded cheddar and 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs or crushed ritz crackers. Cook for an additional 20 minutes, until slightly golden.

Equipment

  • Cast iron pan

  • Large pot - Boiling noodles

  • Mesh strainer

  • Large mixing bowl - for dredging chicken

  • tbsp/tsp

  • Cheese grater: Grating your cheese instead of buying shredded is ideal. Your cheese will melt 5 times better, resulting in a better cheese sauce!

  • Cutting board

  • Chefs knife

Ingredients

Southern Fried Buttermilk Chicken

  • Refer to Southern Fried Buttermilk Chicken recipe. Note: Before frying chicken, cut into strips. You do not want to fry chicken whole and cut into strips, you will lose some of your breading!

Macaroni and Cheese

  • 16 oz elbow macaroni

  • 4 tbsp butter

  • 4 tbsp flour

  • 1 tsp garlic powder

  • 1 tsp onion powder

  • 3 cups of whole milk

  • 1 lb Velveeta cheese cubed

  • 1 cup extra sharp shredded cheddar

For Chicken:

  • Franks Red Hot sauce

  • 3 green onions chopped

  • Crumbled blue cheese (optional)