Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese Slow Cooker Recipe

Picture this: a rich, creamy, and wonderfully spicy dish that comes together effortlessly. This Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese is the ultimate comfort food, blending the tangy kick of buffalo sauce with the decadent goodness of melted cheddar cheese, all wrapped around tender pasta and succulent chicken. It’s an explosion of flavor that promises to be irresistible – a dish your family will not just like, but absolutely crave. Perfect for a busy weeknight, a cozy family dinner, or a lively game day feast, this recipe minimizes time in the kitchen and maximizes deliciousness. Serve it alongside your favorite refreshing sides like crisp roasted vegetables or a vibrant green salad for a perfectly balanced meal.

Why You’ll Love This Irresistible Slow Cooker Buffalo Mac and Cheese

This isn’t just another mac and cheese recipe; it’s a culinary experience designed for ease and maximum flavor. Here’s why this Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese is destined to become a staple in your meal rotation:

• Effortless Preparation for Busy Lives: One of the greatest advantages of this recipe is its minimal hands-on time. It’s a true “dump and go” slow cooker meal, requiring very little prep work. You simply combine the ingredients, set your slow cooker, and let it do all the hard work. This frees up your evening, allowing you to spend quality time with your family or tackle other tasks without being tethered to the kitchen. It’s perfect for those chaotic weeknights when you still want a hearty, homemade meal.
• Unforgettable Flavor Profile: The magic of this dish lies in the perfect marriage of bold buffalo sauce and rich, creamy cheddar cheese. The tangy, spicy notes of the buffalo sauce beautifully cut through the richness of the cheese, creating a dynamic and utterly delicious flavor that will tantalize your taste buds. It’s a harmonious blend that elevates classic macaroni and cheese to an exciting new level, making every bite an adventure.
• Customizable Heat Levels and Ingredients: Whether you prefer a mild zing or a fiery kick, this recipe is incredibly adaptable. You have complete control over the heat level by adjusting the amount of hot sauce or cayenne pepper you incorporate. Beyond spice, it’s a versatile canvas for additional ingredients, allowing you to easily personalize it with your favorite cheeses, vegetables, or proteins to suit everyone’s preferences.
• A Complete, Crowd-Pleasing Comfort Meal: This Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese is more than just a side dish – it’s a complete, satisfying meal that truly embodies the spirit of comfort food. Its creamy texture, hearty chicken, and satisfying pasta make it a guaranteed hit with both adults and children. It’s the perfect dish to warm you up on a chilly evening, feed a hungry crowd on game day, or simply enjoy as a cozy indulgence with your loved ones.

The beauty of a slow cooker recipe like this is its ability to transform simple ingredients into a deeply flavorful meal with minimal effort. Imagine setting your ingredients in the morning and returning home to the inviting aroma of a perfectly cooked dinner, ready to enjoy with your family.

Essential Ingredients for Your Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

Crafting this incredible dish starts with a selection of readily available ingredients that combine to create its signature creamy, spicy, and cheesy profile. Quality ingredients are key to achieving the best flavor and texture.

Note: This section provides an overview of the main components. You’ll find the full measurements and detailed instructions in the comprehensive recipe card located at the bottom of this page.

Tools You’ll Need for Slow Cooker Success

One of the many appealing aspects of this recipe is that it requires minimal specialized equipment, making it accessible for almost any home cook. The most crucial tool, of course, is your trusty slow cooker.

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• Slow Cooker: This is the star of the show. A 4-quart or 6-quart slow cooker will work perfectly for this recipe. Its ability to gently simmer ingredients over several hours is what allows the flavors to meld beautifully and the chicken to become incredibly tender, all while you go about your day.
• Large Pot: Essential for cooking your pasta al dente before adding it to the slow cooker.
• Whisk or Fork: For combining your butter and flour slurry to ensure a smooth, lump-free sauce.
• Airtight Containers: For storing any delicious leftovers.

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Quick Guide: How to Make Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

Getting this mouth-watering dish on your table is surprisingly straightforward. The slow cooker does most of the heavy lifting, ensuring a rich and creamy result with minimal fuss. Follow these simple steps for a successful meal.

Note: This is a summarized overview of the instructions. Detailed, step-by-step guidance, including precise measurements, can be found in the printable recipe card at the end of this article.

1. Begin by cooking your chosen pasta until it’s al dente. This is crucial to prevent it from becoming mushy later in the slow cooker. Once cooked, rinse it with cold water to stop the cooking process and set it aside.
2. In a separate small bowl, whisk together melted butter and flour to create a smooth slurry. This will help thicken your sauce.
3. Combine the shredded chicken, dry ranch dressing, buffalo sauce, milk, the prepared flour slurry, cream cheese, and shredded cheddar cheese directly into your slow cooker. Stir everything until it’s well mixed.
4. Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on the LOW setting for 4 hours, or on HIGH for 2 hours. This allows the flavors to meld and the cheese to become wonderfully melted and creamy.
5. Once the cooking time is complete, add the cooked pasta to the slow cooker. Mix it thoroughly with the cheesy chicken sauce, ensuring every noodle is coated. Leave it on the warm setting for an additional 20-30 minutes to allow the pasta to absorb more flavor and the dish to finish thickening.
6. Before serving, taste and adjust the seasoning. If you desire more heat, now is the time to stir in a little extra hot sauce. Serve hot and enjoy!

Customize Your Mac: Exciting Variations and Add-ins

While this Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese recipe is fantastic as written, it also serves as a versatile base for customization. Feel free to experiment with these variations to tailor the dish to your specific taste preferences or available ingredients.

• Spice It Up Even More: For those who love an extra fiery kick, don’t hesitate to incorporate additional hot sauce beyond the buffalo sauce. A dash of cayenne pepper, a pinch of red pepper flakes, or even finely diced fresh jalapeños (seeded for less heat, or with seeds for maximum intensity) can significantly amplify the spice level. Remember, you can always add more, but you can’t take it away!
• Boost the Flavor with Additional Ingredients: Introduce other delicious elements to enhance the complexity of the dish. Crispy bacon bits add a smoky, salty crunch that pairs wonderfully with buffalo chicken. Crumbled blue cheese is a classic accompaniment to buffalo flavors, offering a sharp, tangy contrast. Diced bell peppers (red, green, or yellow) or green onions can provide fresh texture and a pop of color, while also adding subtle sweetness or a mild oniony bite.
• A Cheese Lover’s Dream: Don’t limit yourself to just cheddar! Experiment with different types of cheese to create unique flavor profiles and textures. Monterey Jack will add extra meltiness, while mozzarella can give you a satisfying cheese pull. For a sharper flavor, consider a touch of Gruyere, or even a smoked Gouda for a deep, smoky undertone. A blend of several cheeses can yield a truly complex and irresistible sauce.
• Pasta Perfection: While elbow noodles are a traditional choice for macaroni and cheese, lending themselves well to holding the creamy sauce, feel free to use any shape of pasta you have on hand. Medium-sized shapes like penne, rotini, cavatappi, or even shells would work beautifully. The key is to choose a pasta that can scoop up plenty of that delicious buffalo cheese sauce.
• Make It Lighter: If you’re looking to reduce the richness slightly, consider swapping out some or all of the milk for low-sodium chicken broth. This will still provide a flavorful liquid base for the sauce without adding as much fat, resulting in a slightly lighter, yet still satisfying, mac and cheese.
• Chicken Choices for Convenience: The recipe calls for cooked shredded chicken, offering great flexibility. You can use leftover roasted chicken, easily shred a store-bought rotisserie chicken, or even cook chicken breasts or thighs specifically for this recipe. Whether you prefer the leanness of chicken breast or the rich flavor of chicken thighs, either will work perfectly when shredded.

Other Creamy Pasta Recipes

• You’ll love this Panera Chicken Tortellini Alfredo dinner. Quick and easy, this homemade version is even better than Panera’s!
• Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta is a simple, all-in-one meal that comes together in less than an hour, making it perfect for those demanding busy days.
• Cream Cheese Pasta is another wonderfully creamy pasta dish that is incredibly rich yet so simple to prepare. You only need 15 minutes and a handful of common pantry ingredients.
• Transform game day into a flavor explosion with this hands-off Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Pasta, delivering all the zesty buffalo taste with minimal effort.

Pro Tips for the Ultimate Crockpot Buffalo Mac and Cheese

Achieving the perfect creamy, cheesy, and spicy slow cooker mac and cheese requires a few insider tricks. These expert tips will help ensure your dish is a resounding success every time.

• Prevent Mushy Pasta: The golden rule for any mac and cheese, especially one prepared in a slow cooker, is to cook your pasta al dente. This means it should be firm to the bite, not soft. Since the pasta will continue to absorb liquid and cook slightly when added to the hot slow cooker mixture, starting with al dente pasta prevents it from turning into an unappetizing mush.
• Smart Pasta Timing: To further guarantee perfect pasta texture and avoid stickiness, it’s best to cook the pasta separately and add it to the slow cooker only towards the end of the cooking process for the chicken and sauce. If you prefer to cook it ahead of time, ensure it’s rinsed with cold water after draining to halt cooking, and then store it in the refrigerator until the chicken mixture is nearly ready.
• Effortless Cleanup: Slow cookers are renowned for their convenience, and cleanup can be just as easy. To minimize scrubbing, consider spraying the inside of your slow cooker insert with a nonstick cooking spray or, even better, using a slow cooker liner. These simple steps will save you valuable time and effort after enjoying your meal.
• Shred Your Own Cheese: While pre-shredded cheese offers convenience, it often contains anti-caking agents that can prevent it from melting smoothly, sometimes leading to a gritty sauce. For the creamiest, silkiest cheese sauce, we highly recommend shredding your own block of cheddar cheese. It makes a noticeable difference in the final texture of your mac and cheese.
• Chicken Doneness: Since this recipe typically uses pre-cooked shredded chicken (whether leftover, rotisserie, or prepared specifically), you don’t need to worry about checking its internal temperature for safety. The goal is simply to ensure the chicken is thoroughly heated through and, crucially, that all the cheese has fully melted into a luxurious, uniform sauce.
• Slow Cooker Size Matters: This creamy chicken pasta recipe is versatile enough to be made in either a 4-quart or a 6-quart slow cooker. A larger slow cooker might cook slightly faster or allow for a larger batch, but both sizes will yield excellent results, adapting to your family’s needs.

Storage and Reheating: Enjoying Leftovers

One of the best things about a comforting dish like Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese is that it often tastes even better the next day! Proper storage and reheating will ensure you can savor your leftovers safely and deliciously.

Store any leftover Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three to four days. Ensure it cools completely before sealing and refrigerating to maintain freshness and prevent bacterial growth.

When it comes to reheating, you have a couple of excellent options. For a quick reheat, you can use the microwave: place a single serving in a microwave-safe dish, cover loosely, and heat on 50% power for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through, until warmed all the way through. Alternatively, for a more even reheat, transfer leftovers to a saucepan and warm over medium-low heat on the stovetop, stirring frequently. If you find the sauce has thickened or become a little dry during refrigeration, simply add a splash of milk or heavy cream while reheating to restore its creamy consistency.

Regarding freezing, it’s generally not recommended for dairy-heavy pasta dishes like this one. The cheese sauce, due to its dairy content, tends to separate and can become grainy or watery when thawed and reheated, compromising the creamy texture that makes this dish so enjoyable.

Make Ahead Magic: Prep for Future Feasts

Planning ahead can be a lifesaver on busy days, and this Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese is a fantastic candidate for some make-ahead prep. This allows you to get a head start on your meal, ensuring a delicious dinner with minimal fuss when you’re short on time.

If you wish to prepare this dish in advance, you can assemble all the ingredients, with the exception of the pasta, directly into the liner of your slow cooker. Once combined, cover the liner with its lid (or plastic wrap if your lid isn’t airtight) and store it in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to cook, simply place the chilled liner back into the slow cooker unit and cook as directed in the recipe instructions. Remember to account for a slightly longer cooking time if starting with a cold pot and cold ingredients. The pasta should still be cooked fresh and added at the end for the best texture.

Perfect Pairings: What to Serve with Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

While this Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese is hearty enough to be a stand-alone meal, pairing it with complementary side dishes can elevate the entire dining experience. No pasta dish is truly complete without a delightful bread side, and for this, nothing beats the crispy, fluffy goodness of garlic bread.

Consider serving it with Air Fryer Garlic Bread. It’s perfectly crispy on the outside, wonderfully soft on the inside, and slathered in an irresistible garlic butter that makes it the ideal accompaniment for soaking up all that cheesy buffalo sauce. For a lighter, healthier contrast to this rich comfort food, a simple and refreshing salad works beautifully. This Keto Greek Salad recipe offers crisp vegetables and tangy feta, providing a fresh balance to the creamy main course. You can also offer crisp celery sticks and carrot sticks, often served with buffalo wings, alongside a cool blue cheese or ranch dip, to complete the classic buffalo experience.

Frequently Asked Questions About This Recipe

Here are answers to some common questions about making and enjoying your Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese:

More Buffalo Chicken Recipes You’ll Love

• These Buffalo Chicken Sliders are incredibly simple to prepare and create the best family-friendly meal when you’re craving something hearty and bursting with flavor.
• If you adore buffalo chicken but are seeking a lighter meal option, then be sure to check out this Buffalo Chicken Spaghetti Squash recipe. It’s a delicious and satisfying dish that’s even low-carb diet friendly.
• These Crispy Buffalo Cauliflower Wings are a simple recipe that truly elevates this humble vegetable to the next level. They can be served as a delightful vegetarian meal or as an exciting side dish.

Complementary Side Dishes

• This Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes recipe offers the quickest and easiest way to get perfectly mashed potatoes on your table. It takes less than 30 minutes, requires no draining or peeling, making it incredibly simple!
• Gouda Mac and Cheese is a delicious, extra-creamy twist on the classic mac and cheese recipe. This velvety comfort food boasts a distinct smoky flavor that is sure to satisfy even the most discerning palates.
• The Cheesy Mashed Potatoes recipe is the ultimate comfort side dish for your family meals, especially perfect during the holidays. It offers a gooey texture and a smooth, rich flavor that everyone will adore.

Rich, cheesy, and deliciously spicy, we’re confident you’ll absolutely love this yummy Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese meal! We’d be thrilled to hear your thoughts, so please feel free to share your experience by leaving a comment below.

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Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

This crockpot buffalo Mac and Cheese recipe combines two beloved classics: bold, spicy buffalo chicken and creamy macaroni and cheese. A guaranteed hit with your family and friends, perfect for any occasion.

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Diet: Halal

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 4 hours

Servings: 6 Servings

Calories: 562 kcal

Author: Amira

Ingredients

• 1 pound cooked shredded chicken
• 1 packet dry ranch dressing
• ½ cup buffalo sauce (add more for extra heat lovers)
• 2 cups milk
• 2 Tablespoons butter, melted
• 2 Tablespoons flour
• 1 ¼ cups yellow cheddar cheese, shredded
• 4 ounces cream cheese
• 12 ounces elbow pasta

Instructions

1. Cook pasta al dente according to package directions. Rinse with cold water and set aside to cool.
2. In a small bowl, combine the melted butter and flour, whisking vigorously until a smooth slurry forms. This will help thicken your sauce.
3. Add the shredded chicken, dry ranch dressing packet, buffalo sauce, milk, the prepared flour slurry, cream cheese, and shredded cheddar cheese into the slow cooker. Stir all ingredients together thoroughly to combine.
4. Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on the LOW setting for 4 hours, or on the HIGH setting for 2 hours. The chicken should be heated through and the cheese melted into a creamy sauce.
5. Once the slow cooker cooking time is complete, add the pre-cooked pasta. Mix well to ensure the pasta is fully coated in the creamy buffalo cheese sauce. Leave the slow cooker on the warm setting for an additional 20-30 minutes, allowing the pasta to absorb more flavor and the dish to further thicken.
6. Taste the mac and cheese to check the seasoning and spice level. If you desire a spicier kick, stir in additional hot sauce or buffalo sauce to your preference. Serve hot and enjoy this delicious comfort food.

Notes

• You can easily use leftover chicken, store-bought rotisserie chicken, or even frozen cooked chicken. Just ensure it’s shredded before adding to the slow cooker.
• For the creamiest sauce, it is highly recommended to shred your own block of cheese rather than using pre-shredded varieties, as pre-shredded cheeses often contain anti-caking agents that can hinder smooth melting and result in a gritty texture.
• Feel free to use your favorite brand of buffalo sauce. Frank’s RedHot Buffalo Wings Sauce is a popular choice for its classic flavor.
• If you prefer a different flavor profile, dry blue cheese dressing mix can be used instead of ranch for a more traditional buffalo wing taste.
• Storage: Refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4-5 days. To reheat, use the microwave or stovetop, adding a splash of milk or liquid if the sauce has become too thick.
• Please review our nutrition disclaimer policy for more information.

Nutrition

• Calories: 562 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 50g
• Protein: 36g
• Fat: 23g
• Saturated Fat: 12g
• Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g
• Monounsaturated Fat: 6g
• Cholesterol: 110mg
• Sodium: 947mg
• Potassium: 476mg
• Fiber: 2g
• Sugar: 7g
• Vitamin A: 666 IU
• Calcium: 316mg
• Iron: 2mg