This buffalo mac and cheese is a delicious, easy-to-make meal with a nice creamy sauce that has a nice kick to it and will have everyone at the dinner table coming back for more! This recipe takes the traditional mac and cheese and adds a twist with a buffalo sauce for heat and cream cheese to take the creamy level even further. Plus, it cooks up in no time and can be customized to your liking.
Pasta
In this buffalo mac and cheese recipe, I am using pasta shells because they are great at holding the sauce and have a nice texture to them. You can use any pasta of your choice such as elbow macaroni or penne pasta if you prefer.
Cheese
You can’t have mac and cheese without cheese, right? This recipe uses sharp cheddar cheese, Monterey jack cheese, and parmesan cheese. You can a blend of your favorite cheeses if you prefer but I found that these cheeses work well together.
Sauce
The sauce for this buffalo mac and cheese uses a roux base with butter and flour. This is a technique used in many mac and cheese recipes for the base. I also use cream cheese to add a thicker, creamier texture. The final touch for the sauce is adding your buffalo sauce which gives it that little kick and adds more creaminess.
Buffalo Mac & Cheese
Servings
8
Prep Time
10 Minutes
Calories
360
Cook Time
25 Minutes
Total Time 35 Minutes
*Please note that the nutritional information provided is an estimate only and may vary depending on the ingredients used. Calories listed are per serving.*
Ingredients
- 16 Oz Pasta Shells
- 1 Tbsp Flour
- 1 Tbsp Butter
- 1 1/2 Cups Non-Fat Milk
- 1 Oz 1/3 Less Fat Cream Cheese
- 1/4 Cup Franks Buffalo Hot Sauce
- 3/4 Cup Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
- 3/4 Cup Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese
- 1/2 Cup Shredded Parmesan Cheese
- Salt & Pepper to Taste
*Disclosure, below are affiliate links to products we recommend. We do not include links to products we have not used or honestly recommend*
What Tools You Will Need
Directions
Step 01
Prepare the pasta as directed on the packaging and set it aside when done. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Step 02
Place butter in skillet on low heat to melt. Add Flour and whisk until combined (should have a sand-like texture) and then begin adding the milk 1/2 cup at a time and gradually whisk until all milk is used while whisking to avoid scorching the milk.
Step 03
Add Cream cheese and buffalo sauce and whisk until smooth. Add half of all of the cheeses to the sauce and whisk until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Step 04
Add the cheese mixture to the pasta and mix well. Pour the pasta into a baking dish and add the remaining cheese and some buffalo sauce on top. Bake the prepared baking dish in preheated oven for 8-10 minutes or until the topping cheese has melted. Serve & Enjoy!
Notes
Need More Sauce? If you prefer a lot of sauce with your mac and cheese then you will want to do 1 1/2 the ingredients used to make the sauce.
Not Spicy Enough? If you need more heat, add 2-3 tablespoons of your favorite hot sauce with the buffalo sauce.
FAQ
What Are The Best Cheeses For Mac And Cheese?
This is a matter of preference really. Typically you want cheeses that melt easily and are softer cheeses. Some of the more popular cheeses are Cheddar, Mozzarella, Pepper Jack, and Parmesan but you can use many different blends of cheeses. You can even get fancy with your mac and cheese and use Feta cheese, blue cheese, or soft Gouda cheese.
What Are The Best Pastas For Buffalo Mac & Cheese?
The most common pasta varieties used in mac and cheese are elbow macaroni, pasta shells, and penne. You can get creative and use many other options such as rigatoni, cavatappi or rotini.
Can I make it Buffalo Chicken Mac?
You can easily make this recipe into a delicious buffalo chicken mac & cheese. Simply cook chicken using the method in our buffalo chicken wrap and add it to the pasta before mixing or if you want to make it easy, shred a rotisserie chicken and add it in for a simple and delicious buffalo chicken mac and cheese.
Buffalo Mac & Cheese
Equipment
- 1 Frying pan or saucepan
Ingredients
- 16 Oz Pasta Shells or pasta of choice
- 1 Tbsp Butter
- 1 Tbsp Flour
- 1 1/2 Cups Non-Fat Milk or milk of choice
- 3/4 Cup Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese divided
- 3/4 Cup Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese divided
- 1/2 Cup Shredded Parmesan Cheese divided
- 1 Oz 1/3 Less Fat Cream Cheese
- 1/4 Cup Franks Buffalo Sauce
- Salt & Pepper to Taste
Instructions
- Prepare the pasta as directed on the packaging and set it aside when done. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Place butter in skillet on low heat to melt. Add Flour and whisk until combined (should have a sand-like texture) and then begin adding the milk 1/2 cup at a time until all milk is used while whisking to avoid scorching the milk.
- Add Cream cheese and buffalo sauce and whisk until smooth. Add half of all of the cheeses to the sauce and whisk until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add the sauce to the pasta and mix well. Pour the pasta into a baking dish and add the remaining cheese and some buffalo sauce on top. Bake in preheated oven for 8-10 minutes or until the topping cheese has melted. Serve & Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Summary
Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed this buffalo mac and cheese recipe. If you have any questions or comments go ahead and leave them in the comments below or feel free to email us. What is your favorite mac and cheese recipe? Did this buffalo mac and cheese recipe make it into the list of your favorite recipes? Let us know in the comments below. For more awesome recipes check below.
