Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese Cups
From Erin Cullum, POPSUGAR Food
Notes
Grate your own cheddar cheese, because preshredded cheese often contains starch to keep the shreds from sticking together. Freshly grated cheese melts better.
When cheese is baked, the protein and fat separate, resulting in a gritty texture. Adding a little American or Velveeta cheese helps keep the fat emulsified.
Ingredients
- For the breadcrumbs:
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon Frank's hot sauce, plus more for serving
- For the mac and cheese cups:
Salt
8 ounces elbow macaroni
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons flour
3/4 cup whole milk
1 1/2 cups freshly grated, loosely packed extra-sharp cheddar
2 slices American cheese or 2 tablespoons cubed Velveeta cheese
1 cup shredded chicken, from a store-bought rotisserie chicken or cooked chicken breast
Blue cheese crumbles, optional
Chopped green onion for garnish, optional
Blue cheese dip or ranch dressing, for serving
Directions
- To make breadcrumbs: Heat butter over medium-low heat in a nonstick skillet. Add the breadcrumbs and coat in the butter, stirring frequently until toasty, about 5 minutes. Turn off the heat, stir in the salt, and set in a bowl to cool. Add the hot sauce to the breadcrumbs and stir to combine. Line the wells of a 12-cup nonstick muffin tin with cupcake liners. Spoon a small amount of breadcrumbs into the bottom of each muffin tin, pressing down with your fingers.
- To make macaroni and cheese: Preheat the oven to 425°F. Cook the elbow macaroni in a pot of salted boiling water, drain, and set aside. In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 2 more minutes. Whisk in the milk, whisking constantly, until thickened, about 3 minutes. Whisk in the cheddar until melted, followed by the American cheese. Turn off the heat. Season with salt and pepper. Fold in the cooked macaroni. Fold in the shredded chicken.
- Spoon mac and cheese into each well of the muffin tin, pressing firmly to fill the bottom and sides of the cupcake liner. You will have some left over for a second batch. Sprinkle more breadcrumbs on top of each muffin, and top with a few blue cheese crumbles, if using.
- Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until golden brown and sizzling. Transfer to a serving tray and top with green onions, if using. Serve with blue cheese dip, ranch dressing, and additional hot sauce for dipping.
Information
- Category
- Appetizers, Finger Foods
- Cuisine
- North American
- Yield
- About 15 muffins