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Lightened Up Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

This Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese is crazy creamy without any heavy cream or butter (but with a secret ingredient instead!), and is so bursting with flavor you will be licking your plate! And you can completely customize the heat!
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 12 oz. cellentani pasta (may sub rigatoni penne, etc.)
  • 2 cups cooked chicken or turkey, chopped**
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 1 small red onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 15 oz. can sweet creamed corn
  • 4 oz. 1/3 less fat cream cheese, cubed
  • 1/2 cup lowfat milk
  • 2-5 tablespoons Frank's hot WINGS Sauce not original hot sauce**
  • 1/2 tsp EACH chili pepper, cumin, smoked paprika, salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 cup freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese or more to taste
  • 1 cup freshly grated mozzarella cheese or more to taste
  • 1-3 tablespoons blue cheese optional
  • 4 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled

Instructions

  • Cook pasta until al dente in generously salted water according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
  • Heat one tablespoon olive oil over medium high heat in a large nonstick skillet. Saute onions for 5 minutes or until softened and slightly golden. Add garlic and saute 30 seconds.
  • Turn heat down to medium and stir in creamed corn, cream cheese, 1/2 cup milk, 2-5 tablespoons buffalo hot sauce (see note) and spices. Stir until cream cheese is melted, then stir in cheddar cheese and mozzarella cheese until melted. Add chicken, bacon, blue cheese and pasta and stir until evenly coated, adding additional milk if needed to reach desired consistency. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.

Notes

*If starting with raw chicken (1 pound/2 chicken breasts), this is how I cook mine: Heat one tablespoon olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium high heat. Once very hot, add chicken and cook, undisturbed for 3-5 minutes, or until browned on one side. Flip chicken over, cover, and reduce heat to medium. Cook for approximately 5-7 more minutes (depending on thickness of chicken), or until chicken is cooked through. Remove to a cutting board and let rest 5 minutes before chopping into bite size pieces.
**3 tablespoons is average heat, 4 is if you like things a little spicy (this is what I use) and 5 is for the very spicy lover.