Buffalo Chicken Macaroni and Cheese

I've talked before about TJ's not-so-mild obsession with buffalo sauce; one of his all time favorite snacks are these.  He literally eats it with anything - sandwiches, quesadillas, pizza, pasta - you name it. So, when I'm spending countless hours on Pinterest looking for new recipe ideas, I almost immediately bookmark anything that's got the word "buffalo" in the description. This Buffalo Chicken Macaroni and Cheese has been on my list of things to make for a while now, and I have to say, I'm sorry I ever waited so long! This is comfort food taken to a whole new level, and it's the perfect way to spice up your mid-week dinner menu.

Adapted from this recipe

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons butter substitute
• 1/2 pound bowtie pasta
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp celery flakes
• 1 can shredded chicken
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 cup Buffalo sauce
• 1 tbsp flour
• 1 tsp dry mustard
• 2 cups fat free half & half
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
• 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1 tablespoon parsley flakes

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 350 and spray an 8-by-8 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
  
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil; add the pasta and cook for about 7 minutes. Drain and set aside.
  
• Meanwhile, melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion powder and celery flakes, and cook until soft, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in the chicken and garlic powder and cook 2 minutes. Then add 1/4 cup buffalo sauce and simmer until slightly thickened, about 1 more minute.
  
• In a separate saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Stir in the flour and mustard until smooth.
  
• Whisk in the half-and-half and add the remaining 1/4 cup hot sauce and stir until thick, about 2 minutes.
  
• Whisk in the cheddar and pepper jack cheeses, until smooth.
  
• Combine the chicken mixture, cooked pasta, and cheese sauce and toss to combine.
  
• In a small bowl, stir in the breadcrumbs, and parsley flakes.
  
• Sprinkle over the macaroni and bake until bubbly, 30 to 40 minutes.