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    Home » Recipes » Dinner

    Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

    Published: Mar 27, 2019 · Modified: Dec 3, 2022 by Candi Elm

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    Make this Crockpot buffalo chicken mac and cheese tonight! It’s a simple – and spicy – family dinner idea for busy weeknights.

    This is the perfect comfort food for cool nights. With creamy homemade cheese sauce and a little kick from the buffalo sauce and the extra protein of the chicken, you have a complete meal. Prep time is less than 10 minutes. Try more of our other Crockpot Meals.

    Buffalo Mac and Cheese in a bowl on a table with a glass of milk.

    *This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I get a small commission. Please see my disclosure policy for details

    Jump to:
    • Why This Recipe Works
    • Recipe Ingredients
    • Ingredient Tips
    • Easy Directions
    • F.A.Q’s & Expert Tips
    • What To Serve With It
    • Notes
    • Related Recipes
    • Recipe
    • Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

    Why This Recipe Works

    There are a few flavors that are just so iconic! The spice of buffalo sauce always goes perfectly with chicken. They were made for each other.

    Something else that I discovered is perfect together, is buffalo chicken and macaroni and cheese! It’s incredible how these two flavors mesh.

    Recipe Ingredients

    Buffalo Mac and Cheese Ingredients.

    I made the entire thing from scratch, with all whole ingredients.

    Ingredient Tips

    • Boneless Chicken – use either breast or thigh, either work perfectly. Save time and shred rotisserie chicken instead. If you use a Rotisserie Chicken cut your cook time to one hour in the crockpot on low.
    • Buffalo Sauce – I use Franks Red Hot Buffalo Sauce.
    • Milk – Whole milk works the best. For dairy-free use either almond milk or soy milk
    • Shredded Cheese – cheddar has the best flavor. If you can shred your own cheese it will taste better with no preservatives in it.

    Easy Directions

    How to make Buffalo Mac & Cheese. Process Shots.

    Step 1. Add chicken, broth, buffalo sauce, and seasoning to the crockpot. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8.

    Step 2. Shred fully cooked chicken with forks inside the crockpot. Add uncooked pasta and stir to combine. Cover and cook pasta on high for 30-45 minutes until fully cooked add additional water 1/4 cup if needed during this time and stir.

    Step 3. In a saucepan over medium-high heat melt butter and Whisk in flour. Pour in milk while whisking continuously until smooth. Bring to a simmer for 4-6 minutes until the sauce thickens enough to stick to a spoon. Remove from heat and whisk in cheese until melted and smooth.

    Step 4. Add cheese sauce to crockpot and stir to combine.

    F.A.Q’s & Expert Tips

    I made this dish in the slow cooker, and it couldn’t have been any easier! In fact, I have the entire recipe for you at the end of this post in a printable card.

    First, here are a few tips that are definitely going to help!

    Prep Your Chicken

    Before you even begin putting things in your crockpot, defrost your chicken (if it’s frozen), then clean it and trim off any fat.

    There is nothing worse than biting into a piece of chicken fat!

    Use A Crock Pot Liner

    If you don’t have any cooking spray, use a Crock-Pot liner. This will make clean-up time a breeze!

    How Much Buffalo Sauce To Use

    How spicy do you like your recipes? Start out with 1/2 cup of buffalo sauce and then just keep adding more until you get it to taste how you like it.

    Save Time With Store-Bought Cheese Sauce

    If you are really crunched for time, you can always use store-bought cheese sauce. Believe me, making it from scratch tastes a million times better.

    Make Cheese Sauce While Pasta Cooks

    Speed up your cooking time by making the cheese sauce while the pasta is boiling. Two things at once!

    Optional Toppings for Mac and Cheese

    There are lots of things you can add on top. Have fun and add your favorite herbs and garnishes.

    Try topping it with some blue cheese crumbles and parsley. Yum!

    What To Serve With It

    Serve this pasta dish with a green Garden salad. Since this has an overpowering flavor, serve it with other light ingredients.

    Notes

    • For easy clean up use a crockpot liner.
    • Use thawed not frozen chicken in this recipe.
    • You can use small or medium shells for pasta.

    Related Recipes

    • Crockpot Bacon Ranch Chicken (5 Ingredients)
    • Chicken Broccoli Soup in a Crockpot
    • Crockpot Chicken Verde with 5 Ingredients
    • 5 Ingredients Crockpot Lemon Chicken

    If you loved this recipe and made it can you give it a 5-star review? That will help it be seen more. You can also pin it to Pinterest or share it on Facebook.

    Recipe

    Print Pin
    4.89 from 9 votes

    Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

    A delicious creamy Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese your family will enjoy and finish every bite. 
    Course Main
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 6 hours 40 minutes
    Total Time 6 hours 50 minutes
    Servings 6 Cups
    Calories 465kcal
    Author Candi

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb Boneless Chicken
    • 2 cups chicken broth Organic Preferrably
    • 1/2 cup Buffalo Sauce Either Franks Red Hot Buffalo or Sweet Baby Rays Buffalo Sauce
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 12 oz Pasta Shells Small or Medium
    • 3 Tablespoon butter
    • 2 Tablespoon flour
    • 2 cups milk
    • 2 cups shredded cheese mild cheddar or your choice

    Instructions

    • Add chicken, broth, buffalo sauce and seasoning to crockpot.
    • Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8.
    • Shred fully cooked chicken with forks inside the crockpot.
    • Add uncooked pasta and stir to combine.
    • Cover and cook pasta on high for 30-45 minutes until fully cooked add additional water 1/4 cup if needed during this time and stir.
    • In a saucepan over medium-high heat melt butter and Whisk in flour.
    • Pour in milk while whisking continuously until smooth.
    • Bring to simmer for 4-6 minutes until sauce thickens enough to stick to a spoon.
    • Remove from heat and whisk in cheese until melted and smooth.
    • Add cheese sauce to crockpot and stir to combine.

    Notes

    • Make sure your chicken is completely thawed.
    • Try using a crockpot liner for easy cleanup.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cup | Calories: 465kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 107mg | Sodium: 1312mg | Potassium: 569mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 616IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 331mg | Iron: 1mg
    Save this Recipe! Pin it for Later.Mention @candilandblogs or tag #candilandblogs!

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    Dinner, Recipes

    About Candi Elm

    Candi Elm is a wife and mom who shares how you can simply create a sweet life with weekly encouragement, recipes, household budgeting, and organizing tips. She currently lives in Southern California while blogging, baking, and living life to the fullest.

    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Lydia says

      March 27, 2019 at 12:23 pm

      5 stars
      This sounds really tasty! I often add ketchup to macaroni and cheese but never thought of trying buffalo sauce. Such a great idea. Yum!

      Reply
    2. Anne Lawton says

      March 28, 2019 at 10:37 am

      5 stars
      If Buffalo is involved I’m there with my fork in hand. And I love that this can be made in a slow cooker!

      Reply
    3. Alyssa says

      March 31, 2019 at 8:06 am

      5 stars
      Wow! Everyone loved this so much! A keeper 🙂

      Reply
    4. reesa says

      March 31, 2019 at 8:38 am

      5 stars
      Oh my husband would LOVE this! He loves anything buffalo!

      Reply
    5. Lathiya says

      March 31, 2019 at 4:38 pm

      5 stars
      The Mac and Cheese with buffalo sauce looks incredible. Such an easy and delicious recipe

      Reply
    6. Sarah says

      March 31, 2019 at 7:49 pm

      5 stars
      I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about Buffalo sauce, but this one looks amazing. I’ll have to try it for sure!

      Reply
    7. Christina says

      April 01, 2019 at 8:43 am

      5 stars
      I love the addition of buffalo sauce – it adds such a great flavor!

      Reply

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    I’m Candi, a recipe and all things Tea blogger. I create family-friendly recipes along with sharing encouragement in your daily life.

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