Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mac n' Cheese

Serves 11
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Directions

  1. 1Add 3 orange bell peppers and 2 onions, chopped, to a baking sheet.
  2. 2Roast the bell peppers and onions in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 20-25 minutes.
  3. 3Add diced chicken breast, salt, pepper, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, chicken bouillon, and buffalo sauce to the slow cooker.
  4. 4Add the roasted bell peppers and onions to the slow cooker and mix.
  5. 5Cook the chicken mixture in the slow cooker on high for 2-3 hours or on low for 3-4 hours.
  6. 6Once the chicken is done, break it apart using tongs or a similar tool.
  7. 7Add half-cooked pasta (cooked to 50%) to the slow cooker.
  8. 8Pour the blended buffalo cheese sauce over the pasta and chicken in the slow cooker.
  9. 9To make the sauce, blend together 800g 2% cottage cheese, 50g 1/3 fat cream cheese, 100g extra sharp cheddar cheese, 60g Parmigiano Reggiano, 120g buffalo sauce, 300ml milk, 30g honey, salt, and pepper until completely smooth.
  10. 10Cover and cook for another 20-30 minutes.
  11. 11Add 18 slices of centercut bacon to a foil-lined baking sheet.
  12. 12Bake the bacon in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 20-30 minutes.
  13. 13Add chopped chives and crumbled bacon to the mac n' cheese.
  14. 14Mix all ingredients together.

Ingredients

  • 32 oz diced chicken breast
  • 100 g buffalo sauce
  • 30 g Worcestershire sauce
  • 18 g Chicken bouillon
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Garlic
  • 3 orange bell peppers
  • 2 onions
  • 672 g pasta, cooked to 50%
  • 800 g 2% cottage cheese
  • 50 g 1/3 fat cream cheese
  • 100 g extra sharp cheddar cheese
  • 60 g Parmigiano Reggiano
  • 120 g buffalo sauce
  • 300 ml milk
  • 30 g honey
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • 18 slices centercut bacon
  • chopped chives

Equipment

slow cookerbaking sheettongsblenderfoil

Tips

  • For accurate serving sizes, weigh your empty slow cooker before starting. Once everything is done, weigh it again and subtract the "before" weight to get the total weight of the recipe. Divide this by the number of servings (11 in this case) to get the exact serving size.
  • Store everything frozen, no need to thaw, just toss in the microwave with 2-3 tablespoons of milk or water, cover with a paper towel, and microwave for 3-5 minutes until heated through.
  • Make sure to blend the cheese sauce for 2-3 minutes to ensure it's completely smooth all the way through - heating up slightly in the microwave can help with the process.
  • Centercut bacon is much lower calorie/fat than normal bacon - look for one that shows "2 fried slices" at around 50-60 calories (this accounts for drained/discarded grease).