Buffalo Chicken Mac
on Sep 14, 2024
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Looking for a hearty, flavorful dish that even toddlers will love? This Buffalo Chicken Mac is a delicious, cheesy meal that combines the creamy comfort of mac and cheese with the savory kick of buffalo chicken. Don’t worry—it can be easily made mild, making it perfect for your toddler’s sensitive taste buds! Packed with protein, calcium, and flavor, this meal is sure to become a new family favorite.
Ingredients:
- 2 chicken breasts, diced
- Salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder
- Olive oil (for cooking)
- 3 tbsp butter
- 3 tsp minced garlic
- 1/2 lb pasta (any kind you like)
- 16 oz chicken broth
- 1.5 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup buffalo sauce (use mild if you prefer less spice)
- 1/2 cup cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
Instructions:
- Cook the Chicken:
- In a large pan, heat some olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced chicken breasts and season with salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. Cook for 5-7 minutes on each side until fully cooked through. Set the chicken aside.
- Prepare the Pasta:
- In the same pan, melt the butter and add the minced garlic. Stir for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add the dry pasta to the pan and mix well, then pour in the chicken broth. Cover and cook the pasta according to the package instructions, stirring occasionally until the broth is mostly absorbed and the pasta is fully cooked.
- Make the Creamy Sauce:
- Once the pasta is cooked, stir in the heavy cream and season again with salt, garlic powder, and paprika to taste.
- Slowly add the buffalo sauce, adjusting the amount based on your family’s spice preference. If your toddler is sensitive to spice, opt for a mild buffalo sauce or use less for a subtle kick.
- Add the Cheese and Chicken:
- Stir in the cheddar, mozzarella, and parmesan cheeses until the mixture becomes smooth and creamy.
- Add the cooked chicken back into the mac and cheese, mixing everything together until the chicken is fully incorporated.
- Serve:
- Allow the Buffalo Chicken Mac to cool slightly before serving to your family. The cheesy, mild buffalo flavor is perfect for little taste buds while still being flavorful enough for the entire family to enjoy!
Why This Recipe is Great for Toddlers and Families:
- Protein-Packed: The chicken in this recipe provides an excellent source of protein, which is essential for your toddler’s growth and development. Pairing it with the pasta and cheese makes it a well-rounded, nutritious meal.
- Customizable Spice Level: While buffalo sauce is known for its heat, you can easily customize this recipe to be toddler-friendly by using mild buffalo sauce. It adds just enough flavor without overwhelming sensitive palates.
- Cheesy Comfort: Who doesn’t love mac and cheese? The three types of cheese in this dish—cheddar, mozzarella, and parmesan—create a creamy, indulgent sauce that kids and adults alike will enjoy. It’s a familiar, comforting flavor that even picky eaters won’t be able to resist.
- One-Pan Wonder: This dish is made entirely in one pan, which means fewer dishes and a quicker cleanup for busy parents. It’s perfect for weeknights when you need to get a meal on the table fast.
- Great for Leftovers: Buffalo Chicken Mac stores well, making it an ideal recipe for meal prepping. You can pack leftovers for lunch the next day or freeze portions for future meals.
Storage Instructions:
- Refrigerator: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop with a splash of milk or broth to maintain the creamy consistency.
- Freezer: If you’d like to freeze the Buffalo Chicken Mac, allow it to cool completely before transferring it to a freezer-safe container. It will keep for up to 2 months. To reheat, thaw overnight in the fridge and warm it up on the stove or in the oven with a bit of extra cream or milk.
Buffalo Chicken Mac
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts diced
- salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder
- olive oil
- 3 tbsp butter
- 3 tsp minced garlic
- 1/2 lb pasta, any kind (I use ditalini or macaroni)
- 16 oz chicken broth
- 1.5 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup buffalo sauce, use mild if you prefer less spice
- 1/2 cup cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
Instructions
- In a large pan, heat some olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced chicken breasts and season with salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. Cook for 5-7 minutes on each side until fully cooked through. Set the chicken aside.
- In the same pan, melt the butter and add the minced garlic. Stir for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add the dry pasta to the pan and mix well, then pour in the chicken broth. Cover and cook the pasta according to the package instructions, stirring occasionally until the broth is mostly absorbed and the pasta is fully cooked.
- Once the pasta is cooked, stir in the heavy cream and season again with salt, garlic powder, and paprika to taste.
- Slowly add the buffalo sauce, adjusting the amount based on your family's spice preference. If your toddler is sensitive to spice, opt for a mild buffalo sauce or use less for a subtle kick.
- Stir in the cheddar, mozzarella, and parmesan cheeses until the mixture becomes smooth and creamy.
- Add the cooked chicken back into the mac and cheese, mixing everything together until the chicken is fully incorporated.
- Allow the Buffalo Chicken Mac to cool slightly before serving to your toddler. The cheesy, mild buffalo flavor is perfect for little taste buds while still being flavorful enough for the entire family to enjoy!
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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