Ingredients
- 12 ounces frozen breaded chicken tenders, cooked
- 4 tablespoons Frank’s RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 teaspoons ranch seasoning mix, divided
- 1.5 cups water
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 1.5 cups shredded American cheese
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 2 scallions, thinly sliced
Important Tips Before Cooking
To enhance the dish, you can sprinkle crumbled blue cheese over the top before serving.
Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions
Preheat the Oven
Set the oven to 425°F and position a rack approximately 6 inches from the broiler.
Place the chicken on a rimmed baking sheet and bake for about 20 minutes until thoroughly heated.
Prepare the Hot Sauce Coating
In a bowl, combine 3 tablespoons hot sauce, the melted butter, and 1 teaspoon of ranch seasoning.
Cut the cooked chicken into ½-inch pieces and toss them in the hot sauce mixture until evenly coated.
Cook the Macaroni
In a 12-inch skillet that’s broiler-safe, bring the water and milk to a boil over medium-high heat.
Add the macaroni, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and cook until al dente, approximately 5 minutes, stirring once halfway through.
Incorporate the Cheese
Stir in the shredded American cheese, 1 tablespoon of hot sauce, and the remaining teaspoon of ranch seasoning.
Continue stirring until the cheese melts, about 2 minutes.
Remove from heat and mix in the shredded cheddar cheese until it is fully melted, which should take about 2 more minutes.
Broil and Finish
Turn on the broiler.
Evenly spread the chicken pieces over the macaroni and broil until the top is lightly browned, around 3 minutes.
Drizzle with the remaining 1 tablespoon of hot sauce and sprinkle with the thinly sliced scallions.
Serve immediately for best results.
Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese
Ingredients
- 12 ounces frozen breaded chicken tenders cooked
- 4 tablespoons Frank’s RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 2 teaspoons ranch seasoning mix divided
- 1.5 cups water
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 1.5 cups shredded American cheese
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 2 scallions thinly sliced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F; bake chicken on a rimmed baking sheet for 20 minutes.
- Mix 2 tablespoons hot sauce, melted butter, and 1 teaspoon ranch seasoning in a bowl.
- Cut chicken into ½-inch pieces and coat in hot sauce mixture.
- In a 12-inch broiler-safe skillet, bring 1¾ cups water and 1 cup milk to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Stir in macaroni, reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 5 minutes, stirring once.
- Stir in American cheese, 1 tablespoon hot sauce, and 1 teaspoon ranch seasoning until cheese melts, about 2 minutes.
- Remove from heat, stir in cheddar cheese until melted, about 2 minutes.
- Heat broiler; evenly distribute chicken over macaroni and broil for 3 minutes.
- Drizzle with 2 tablespoons hot sauce, sprinkle with scallions, and serve immediately.