Our easy Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese takes the ever-popular buffalo sauce that everyone loves on chicken wings and whips it into a mac and cheese sauce that will have everyone asking for seconds (and the recipe).

Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

I was a late-in-life new fan of Buffalo Sauce. Now, I’m obsessed, and basically, I just look for more and more excuses to make and use it. So it’s no surprise that for Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese, I am partial to using my homemade buffalo sauce, but you can use any variety of buffalo sauce that you have. I won’t yell at ya. Any good buffalo sauce will have the vinegar and heat balanced out so there is a bit of tang and a touch of hot.

I hope you’re ready for your mac and cheese to become even better and more comforting because this is like putting two great comfort foods into one dish!

If you are ready to go all the way in, then I recommend using one of my mac and cheese recipes too. You could do the one-pot style mac and cheese or try my classic mac and cheese recipe. Either one gets you through the pasta and cheese sauce side of the recipe.

This Nashville Hot Chicken would be great in this!

Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese Shopping List

Wondering if you have to hit the store? Here’s the list of items you’ll need to make this recipe. For specific amounts, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

• Milk
• Butter
• Salt
• Dry ranch seasoning mix
• Rotini
• Half and half or heavy cream
• Shredded cheddar or Colby jack cheese
• Buffalo sauce
• Chicken
• Ranch dressing

Try our Traeger Smoked Mac and Cheese too!

What pasta is best for this dish?

Everyone has their own idea of what pasta is perfect for mac and cheese. Some love elbow macaroni, while others prefer penne, shells, or rotini. It doesn’t have to be classic macaroni elbow pasta.

The only difference between penne and elbow is a bit of a curve. Trust me when I say that the curve won’t affect the flavor. But if you think it looks cooler with the elbow curves, then all good. The best choice will be whatever you have handy in the pantry.

I suggest rotini for this dish but go with whatever you like best. I think rotini is great because it is easy to do al dente, and easy to shake off and strain out all the water. That means your cheese sauce will coat the pasta nicely.

Grilled Buffalo Chicken is a great choice here too!

How to make Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

This is just the overview so you can see what you’re actually getting into here. When you are cooking, you’ll want to use the full recipe at the bottom of the page.

You need more PASTA in your life.

Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese FAQ

Why do we use dry ranch dressing mix?

The packet of dried ranch dressing works some serious magic here. Even if you are not the type that prefers your buffalo wings dipped in ranch because you like the blue cheese dip better, the ranch packet adds plenty of flavor.

Dried ranch dressing can be found where you find bottled salad dressing. The dried ranch includes all the herbs and spices that make ranch dressing great. Onions, dill, chives, and a hint of garlic. And it also contains powdered buttermilk, the secret ingredient that provides some tanginess. If you don’t want to go to the store, you might have the ingredients at home! Here’s a recipe for homemade ranch mix to try if you want to make your own. 

The buttermilk, in this case, does double duty. Not only does it create a more exciting flavor overall, but it also adds plenty of creaminess to the cheese sauce too!

Dried ranch sometimes has celery seed in it too. In essence, you get that entire buffalo wing experience, including those celery stalks they always put on the side of your buffalo wings.

Is dark or light meat chicken best for buffalo chicken mac and cheese?

Dark meat is much richer, and this dish is already plenty rich. I recommend cubes of breast meat. Breast meat is easier to cut into uniform cubes. It is not as moist as dark meat but that is not an issue. The cheese sauce and pasta more than compensate for that.

How to Store Leftover Mac and Cheese

You will have to make a lot to have leftovers. This is one of those dishes that typically doesn’t make it to another meal. If you do have a serving or two left, then pop it into a sealable glass or plastic container after it cools a bit. You can store it in the fridge for up to a week.

You can store it in the freezer too, but the noodles get a bit mushy upon reheating. Best to just finish the portions left in the fridge.

Try with our Breaded Chicken Tenders!

More Great Recipes To Love

• Panko Shrimp
• Smoked Sausage Bites
• Smoked Pig Shots
• Smoked Cider-Braised Pork Burritos
• Italian Tortellini Pasta Salad
• Bachan’s Smoked Flank Steak
• Asian Chicken Salad
• Blackstone Pierogies