New recipe of the week #4!

Buffalo Chicken Macaroni & Cheese

About 6 TBSP unsalted butter, plus more for the dish

1 lb elbow macaroni

1 small onion, finely chopped

3 stalks celery, finely chopped (optional)

3 c. shredded rotisserie chicken

2 garlic cloves, minced

¾ c. Frank’s Hot Sauce, divided

2 TBSP flour

2 tsp dry mustard

2 ½ c. half & half

1 lb yellow sharp cheddar cheese, cut into 1 inch cubes (we used mild cheddar)

8 oz pepper jack cheese, shredded

2/3 c. sour cream

1 c. panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)

½ c. crumbled blue cheese

2 TBSP fresh parsley, chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and butter a 9 x 13 pan. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil; add pasta and cook until al dente, about 7 minutes. Drain.

Meanwhile, melt 1.5-2 TBSP 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 ½ c. hot sauce and simmer until slightly thickened, about 1 more minute.

Melt 2 TBSP butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the flour and mustard until smooth. Whisk in the half and half, then add the remaining ¼ c. hot sauce and stir until thick, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the cheddar and pepper jack cheeses until melted, then whisk in the sour cream until smooth.

Spread half of the macaroni in the baking dish, then top with the chicken mixture and the remaining macaroni. Pour the cheese sauce evenly on top.

Put the remaining 2 TBSP butter in a medium bowl and microwave until melted. Stir in the panko, blue cheese and parsley. Sprinkle over the macaroni and bake until bubbly, 30-40 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes before serving. Serves 8.

Despite this being a total pain in the arse meal to make (and totally unhealthy), it was AMAZING! We dirtied tons of pots & pans (thank goodness Mark agreed to wash them all!) and it's definitely easier to prepare this with 2 people (the cheese sauce needs to be stirred constantly to avoid burning). This meal is pretty spicy and may not be enjoyed by younger kids (Kenna didn't like it). This makes a TON of food...but we were pleasantly surprised that it was still delicious when reheated. Enjoy!