Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Buffalo Chicken & Jalapeno Jack Macaroni & Cheese

Happy Wednesday all! Since Monday was secret recipe club day, I had to delay my football food post until today. On Sunday, Josh had the guys over for football. I decided to make them something super comforting- macaroni and cheese! I knew I wanted kick it up a notch, so I added buffalo and jalapeno flavors to the mix.

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups shaped pasta
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 3 cups milk
  • 9 ounces jalapeno jack cheese (I got mine at TJs- you could use regular Monterrey jack and add chopped jalapenos)
  • 6 ounces other cheese of your choice (I used an Italian blend)
  • 1/2 cup and 2 tablespoons buffalo sauce divided
  • 1/2 lb. chicken
  • Panko bread crumbs

    Directions:

    Marinate chicken in the fridge in 1/2 cup of the buffalo sauce for 1/2 – 1 full hour.

    Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

    Cook chicken through and dice into bite sized pieces.

    Cook pasta according to package directions. Keep the cook time a little on the low end, so the pasta is al dente.

    Meanwhile, in another pot, melt the butter over medium heat and then whisk in the flour. Cook for about a minute and then add the milk (continue to whisk). Cook for a few more minutes, until mixture has thickened up. Turn off the heat and add the cheeses and buffalo sauce, stirring until the cheeses have melted completely.

    Add chicken and pasta to the milk/cheese mixture and stir to combine. Pour mixture into a 9x13 inch baking dish. Top with panko.

    Bake for 30 minutes until bake is bubbling and panko is browning.

    IMG_2948

    IMG_2949

    IMG_2950

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    I served fruit:

    IMG_2946

    and sun butter cookies with chocolate chunks on the side:

    IMG_2945

    Between three guys, they ate the entire bake! I’d say it was a success Winking smile

    Are you a macaroni and cheese fan? I was …until the lactose issue!

    Two more important items! One, the winners of the NuNaturals giveaway:

    Jo Anna

    Beth

    Heather

    Heather

    Congrats Ladies!

    And second, I’m sure you all have heard about the shape magazine best blogger awards?! I wanted to endorse (? if that’s the right word Winking smile) MizFit for the Fitness Junkies category! I have been reading MizFit for….forever (since I started blogging) and love her positive and informative views on fitness and life. Go MizFit! There are tons of awesome nominees- check it out!

  • 1 comment:

    Unknown said...

    Those cookies look great...though I have yet to find sunbutter! I have a friend who would like that macaroni...he doesn't like ANY vegetables - only potatoes and tomatoes. WOW! I can't imagine.