Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Buffalo Chicken Macaroni and Cheese




I've mentioned before that John rarely makes requests for dinner. In fact if he requests three things a year it's a lot. Yet whenever he does make a request it always involves buffalo sauce. A few weeks ago John got buffalo chicken macaroni and cheese from a food truck by his office (by the way, I'm totally jealous that he works in NYC and eats at cool food trucks, but that's a whole other story) and has been asking me to make my own version of it. Honestly the idea kind of grossed me out. I put it off for about two weeks but then John started asking when it was coming so I decided to bite the bullet. I wasn't sure how to go about it. If you look online there are hundreds of varieties. Most seem to use shredded chicken which just isn't a favorite of mine. Ultimately I came up with this recipe and I have to say I loved it. I tried something different (for me at least) by using the evaporated milk for the mac and cheese part and I'll tell you, it was a great move! This wasn't too heavy all things considered and it was really delicious. John loved it too. He asked that next time I make a breadcrumb topping like they do at the food trucks, but other than that he was happy. I think we'll definitely have this again!

Source: Stephanie Cooks Original

Ingredients:
1 large breaded chicken breast, cooked  (roughly 8 oz)
Buffalo wing sauce
1/2 lb pasta
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp flour
1 can evaporated 2% milk
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp buffalo wing sauce
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese 
1/2 cup Philadelphia Italian herb cooking cream
Green onion (optional)

Directions:
1- Cook pasta according to packaging directions. Preheat oven to 350.
2- Meanwhile, cover the chicken breast with wing sauce. Chop and set aside, keeping covered.
3- In a large pot melt the butter. Add the flour, stirring well until a paste forms. 
4- Whisk constantly, add the can of evaporated milk, garlic powder, and wing sauce. Heat for about 5 minutes. 
5- Stir in the cheddar and cooking cream. Toss in the pasta, stirring well. Transfer to an oven safe dish.
6- Top with chicken. Bake for 15 minutes.
7- Top with green onion and serve hot. 

3 comments:

  1. Made one similar a while back... its a great combo! and I have a new found love of buffalo sauce since having Ryan! lol! I'm actually making buffalo chicken meatballs this week! Great dish Stephanie!

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  2. I am gonna try it! Thanks!

    I have nominated you for a blog award.. CONGRATS!!
    Check it out here: http://www.sifascorner.com/2013/05/100-and-counting.html

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  3. I don't make a lot of requests because you always make something awesome. But this was definitely a delicious dish.

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