Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

 

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, or tenders. 
• enough buttermilk to cover chicken for marinade. 
• 2 cups milk, or as needed to thin out cheese sauce. 
• 2 lbs pasta, like Cellentani.
• 12 oz. hot sauce, like Louisiana. 
• 4 Tbsp. EVOO
• 8 Tbsp. Butter
• 12 oz. Oaxaca cheese. 
• 1 lb Sharp Cheddar cheese. 
• 15 oz. jar Cheese Whiz. 
• Garnish with fresh cherries and Famous Dave's Signature Spicy Pickle Chips. 

Directions for the chicken:

1. The night before, rinse chicken under the tap and transfer it to a large storage container with lid. 
2. Pour the buttermilk over it until it's completely covered. 
3. Cover and refrigerate for 24 hours. 
4. Heat 2 Tbsp. cooking oil in a 6 quart cast iron enamel Dutch oven until oil it hot. 
5. Rinse all chicken well and pat dry. 
6. Cook the chicken in the oil for 3 minutes on each side, or until completely done.
7. Transfer to a plate to cool.

Directions for the buffalo sauce:

1. Leave butter out on the counter until room temperature. About 2 hours. 
2. In a medium-sized bowl, combine hot sauce with softened butter and EVOO and whisk well.   
3. Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces with a cutting board and serrated knife. 
4. Toss the chicken with the hot sauce until well combined. 
5. Store this in a glass container with a lid in the refrigerator until ready to serve. 

Directions for the Cheese Sauce: 

1. In a large pot, fill with 3 inches of water and bring to a boil.
2. Create a double boiler by topping it with a 16 cup glass bowl, or whatever size bowl fits on top of your pot without falling in. 
3. Cut up the Oaxaca and Cheddar into 1 inch cubes and add to the bowl. 
4. Top with Cheese Whiz and 1 cup of milk. 
5. Add remaining milk as needed until sauce is completely melted and has reached desired consistency.
6. Heat until completely melted, stirring frequently - about 20 minutes. 

Directions for the pasta:

1. Cook pasta according to package directions. 
2. Drain and rinse well. 
3. Transfer to a large storage container with lid and leave out on the counter until cheese sauce is done. 
4. Pour cheese sauce over pasta and mix well. 
5. Refrigerate until ready to serve. 

Serving: 

Scoop enough mac and cheese for each person into their own serving bowl. Microwave that for one minute, and then stir it well. Microwave again for 1 more minute. Pour the mac and cheese onto a plate.

Using the same bowl, heat the buffalo chicken in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time for up to 1 minute. Pour chicken over mac and cheese. 

Garnish with fresh cherries that have been rinsed well, and Dave's Signature Spicy Pickles. 

Serves 8 Generously.