This Buffalo Chicken Beer Mac is everything you want when comfort food meets bar food: creamy mac & cheese, shredded buffalo chicken, a splash of beer, and enough heat to wake up your taste buds.

It’s rich, spicy, tangy, and topped with blue cheese crumbles or ranch drizzle — made for tailgates, game days, or anytime your dinner needs a little chaos.

Ingredients

• 12 oz pasta (elbows, shells, or cavatappi)
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp flour
• ¾ cup beer (pale ale or lager — nothing too bitter)
• ¾ cup whole milk or half & half
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp smoked paprika
• 1½ cups shredded sharp cheddar
• 1 cup Monterey Jack or mozzarella
• Salt & pepper to taste

For the Buffalo Chicken:

• 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
• ½ cup buffalo sauce (Frank’s RedHot or your favorite)
• 1 tbsp butter

Optional toppings:

• Crumbled blue cheese or ranch drizzle
• Chopped green onions or celery
• Toasted panko or crushed hot chips for crunch

Instructions

Step 1: Cook the Pasta

Cook pasta in salted water until just al dente. Drain and set aside.

Step 2: Make the Buffalo Chicken

In a skillet, heat 1 tbsp butter and stir in buffalo sauce.

Add shredded chicken and toss to coat. Keep warm.

Step 3: Make the Beer Cheese Sauce

• In a saucepan, melt 2 tbsp butter over medium heat.
• Whisk in flour and cook for 1–2 minutes.
• Slowly whisk in beer, then milk. Simmer until slightly thickened — about 4–5 minutes.

• Stir in mustard, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
• Reduce heat and add cheeses one handful at a time until smooth and creamy.

Step 4: Combine Everything

Fold in cooked pasta and buffalo chicken. Stir to coat.

Serve immediately or transfer to a baking dish and broil for 2–3 minutes with extra cheese on top until bubbly.

Serving Suggestions

• Top With:
  • Crumbled blue cheese or ranch drizzle
  • Green onions or diced celery
  • Toasted panko or spicy chip crumbs
• Serve With:
  • Carrot and celery sticks
  • A side of garlic beer bread
  • A pint of pale ale or cream ale to cool the heat

Beer Pairing

• In the sauce:
  • Pale ale (for citrusy bite)
  • Amber lager (for malt balance)
• In your glass:
  • IPA or pilsner to contrast the richness
  • Wheat beer or cream ale to soothe the spice
  • A sour ale if you want to lean into tangy chaos

Final Thoughts

Buffalo Chicken Beer Mac is spicy, creamy, and a little rowdy — everything comfort food should be when it’s had a few drinks and showed up to the party with hot sauce.

It’s got heat, cheese, beer, and bite — and once you taste it, you’ll never go back to plain mac again.

Cheers to mac that hits like a wing and soothes like a pint! 🔥🍺🧀

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