Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

We’ve gotten back to a pretty busy training schedule and subsequently are fairly hungry people. I devised a pasta dish with a twist this week that tastes decadent, but is actually really healthy: Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese.

I already know what you’re going to say: C, there is no way something that sounds that delicious can be halfway healthy. Well, welcome to mac and cheese with a savory twist! This recipe is inspired by the flavors in the Buffalo Chicken Dip I make each fall during football season (sorry, I STILL haven’t been able to make that healthy without losing flavor), and G’s love for mac and cheese.

Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

Ingredients:

8 oz rotini pasta
2 chicken breasts, chopped into bite-sized pieces
salt and pepper
1 Tablespoon olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 Tablespoons flour
1-1/2 cups skim milk
1 small container plain Greek yogurt (between 5 and 6 oz)
4 oz shredded cheddar cheese
1/3 cup light blue cheese
1/4 cup + 2 Tablespoons buffalo wing sauce, divided
1/3 cup panko bread crumbs

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook rotini in a pot of boiling water until just under al dente (about 8 minutes). Drain then set aside.

2) Spray a large skillet over medium-high heat with nonstick spray then add chicken, season with salt and pepper, and then cook until no longer pink. Remove to a plate.

3) Turn heat down to medium then heat olive oil in the skillet, add garlic, and saute for 30 seconds. Sprinkle in flour then whisk until smooth and cook for 1 minute. Slowly pour in milk while whisking then cook until thickened, (this can take 2-5 minutes). Remove the skillet from heat, then add Greek yogurt, cheddar cheese, and blue cheese. Stir until smooth then stir in 1/4 cup buffalo wing sauce.

4) Add cooked pasta and chicken to the skillet then stir to combine. Transfer mixture to an 8×8 baking dish then top with panko bread crumbs and drizzle remaining 2 Tablespoons buffalo wing sauce over the dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and bread crumbs are light golden brown. Serves 4-6.

Hands-down, the best thing about this dish is that it makes excellent leftovers! Win-win, right?

Here’s the nutritional breakdown per serving:

Calories: 381

Fat:  9.3 g

Protein:  28.75 g

Carbs: 41  g

We’ve got a busy, but fun weekend planned, and we look forward to updating you on our training very soon!

Take care,

C

How about you? Tried any great, new recipes lately? Have anyone fun plans for the weekend?