Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese Loaded Curly Fries

Ingredients

• 1 box corkscrew pasta (Cooked according to package directions and drained; one standard 16-ounce box assumed.)
• 3 tbsp butter
• 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1 cup evaporated milk
• 1 cup whole milk
• 0.5 cup heavy cream
• 1 tbsp hot sauce
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 2 tsp paprika (Plus a little more for the topping.)
• 0.5 tsp black pepper
• 1 cup cheddar cheese (Freshly shredded; additional cheddar is used for layering and topping.)
• 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese (Freshly shredded.)
• 1 cup Colby Jack cheese (Freshly shredded.)
• 0.5 cup Oaxaca cheese (Freshly shredded.)
• extra shredded cheese (For layering and topping; estimate about 1 cup (113 g), preferably cheddar or a cheese blend.)
• curly fries (Cook according to package directions; approximately 1 lb (454 g) assumed.)
• boneless buffalo chicken (Cooked boneless buffalo chicken; approximately 1 lb (454 g) assumed.)
• buffalo sauce (For the chicken and/or drizzling; amount to taste.)
• bacon bits (For finishing; amount to taste.)
• ranch dressing (For finishing; amount to taste.)
• green onions (Sliced, for finishing; amount to taste.)

Steps

1. 1

   Cook the corkscrew pasta according to the package directions until just tender. Drain well and set aside. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C), and prepare a baking dish.

2. 2

   Melt the butter in a pot over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring continuously, until the flour is incorporated and the mixture is smooth.

3. 3

   Slowly whisk in the evaporated milk, whole milk, and heavy cream. Continue whisking until the sauce is smooth and free of lumps.

4. 4

   Add the hot sauce, Dijon mustard, paprika, and black pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens enough to coat a spoon. Turn the heat all the way down.

5. 5

   Add the shredded cheddar, Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, and Oaxaca cheeses. Stir over low heat until every cheese is fully melted and the sauce is creamy. Avoid boiling the sauce so it stays smooth.

6. 6

   Fold the cooked corkscrew pasta into the cheese sauce until the pasta is evenly coated.

7. 7

   Spoon half of the mac and cheese into the prepared baking dish and spread it into an even layer.

8. 8

   Cover the first layer with shredded cheese. Add the remaining mac and cheese on top and spread it evenly.

9. 9

   Cover the top with more shredded cheddar or shredded cheese and sprinkle with a little additional paprika. Bake at 350°F (175°C) until the cheese is melted and the top is golden, approximately 20 to 25 minutes.

10. 10

    Cook the curly fries according to their package directions until hot and crisp. Keep them warm while the mac and cheese finishes baking.

11. 11

    Add the curly fries to serving plates. Pile the baked mac and cheese over the fries, then top with the boneless buffalo chicken and drizzle or toss with buffalo sauce as desired.

12. 12

    Finish each serving with ranch dressing, bacon bits, and sliced green onions. Serve immediately while the fries are crisp and the cheese is hot.

Notes

The source does not specify quantities for the extra layering cheese, curly fries, buffalo chicken, buffalo sauce, bacon bits, ranch, or green onions; amounts were estimated only where needed for nutrition. The source also says the full recipe is available through the creator's Substack recipe vault.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• American
• comfort food
• baked
• loaded fries
• buffalo chicken
• mac and cheese
• game day