Bacon Buffalo Mac and Cheese

SERVES: 6

SERVING SIZE: 1 cup

COOK TIME: 50 Min

This recipe comes courtesy of Ally from Ally's Sweet & Savory Eats who says, "In an ideal world, we'd all like to eat a restaurant quality meal every night, but in actuality we don't. This simple, easy and unique mac and cheese brings the best of those together - quality and simplicity."

What You'll Need

1/2 pound medium shells
4 strips of bacon, chopped
1/2 red bell pepper, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
8 ounces cream cheese
1 cup wing sauce
1 cup ranch dressing
2 cups shredded Cheddar/Monterrey jack cheese
1 cup panko bread crumbs

What to Do

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish with cooking spray. In a small skillet, cook bacon until crisp. Remove from skillet, drain on a paper towel lined plate. Meanwhile, cook pasta to al dente, then drain.
In a food processor combine cream cheese, garlic, wing sauce and ranch dressing until smooth. In a large bowl mix together cooked pasta, shredded cheese, red pepper, bacon and cream cheese sauce. Toss to combine. Pour into dish. Sprinkle with panko bread crumbs. Bake for 40 minutes until crispy and bubbly.

Notes

Check out more of Ally's fantastic recipes on her blog: Ally's Sweet & Savory Eats!
This recipe was a finalist in our Search for the Ultimate Weeknight Meal Contest!
If you enjoyed this recipe, be sure to check out Easy Pasta Bake Recipes: 24 Ultimate Pasta Casseroles.

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doloreseleeson 392 7811

Oct 01, 2018

This looks delicious. How many servings and size of servings, i.e. 1 cup each or ?

Test Kitchen Team

Oct 02, 2018

Hi there! This is 1 cup per serving for 6 servings. Enjoy!

Morehouse17

Mar 31, 2018

There is not a family function that I have attended that did not have mac and cheese served. Typically it is my Mom's recipe but I want to bring this one to mix it up a little. My family is hesitant to accept change but with this recipe, I think they will make an exception.

Delphine Bryant

Mar 31, 2018

I think I live with the only person in the whole world that does not care for mac and cheese. I love it but because I am the only on in the house to eat it I rarely make it and am relegated to purchase the frozen variety so that it will not go to waist. I can not resist this recipe so I will make it anyway. Has anyone attempted to half the recipe?

Test Kitchen Team

Apr 02, 2018

Hi Delphine! You can cut all the ingredients in half, but the cooking time should be a bit shorter, probably about 25 minutes, so make sure to keep an eye on it. Enjoy!

Delphine Bryant

Apr 30, 2018

I almost found out the hard way about the cooking time. If I had not checked on the mac and cheese half way though, it would have not been very good eats, lol.

lindagrigsby 24795 06

Mar 13, 2015

looks delicious easy

toniretman 5006408

Aug 05, 2014

very good. I also added chicken and used the french fried onions instead

jschneew 2797470

May 27, 2014

Recipe photo looks like it was prepared in an 8x8 pan. Should the recipe be doubled for a 9x13 pan?

Test Kitchen Team

May 29, 2014

Good eye! The recipe calls for a 9 x 13, but we prepared it in an 8 x 8 just for this picture. Normally we would make it in the 9 x 13 using the exact amount of ingredients you see here. No need to double anything. Thank you for your question!

mika2003 5522447

Jan 28, 2014

Very yummy and addictive!! I made a few changes...I added cubed cooked chicken, used blue cheese dressing instead of ranch, used 1 cup Monteray Jack cheese nad 1 cup of cheddar. For the topping, I used French's fried onions instead of the panko crumbs.

north coast

Mar 13, 2015

I don't like ranch dressing, I like your substitute!

jeanpecord 6376419

Jun 04, 2013

Mac cheese looks realy good where do you buy wing sauce.?

nanb642000 7696035

Jun 20, 2013

It's usually in the supermarket near the barbeque sauce. Frank's is a very popular brand.

dcote10 3549814

Jan 15, 2013

I don't see where to add the bacon, but I imagine you toss it in when you add the cream cheese sauce, etc.

Bellerophon

Aug 28, 2013

Exactly. Look at step 2 again, and you'll find the bacon added there.

patissassy36 41102 79

Dec 11, 2012

What and where Wing sauce??????

rwclhs2013 6835706

Dec 19, 2012

This is a buffalo area thing. You can buy it in a supermarket around here, but I prefer to make it homemade. The internet would good place to search the recipe.

meatandtaters

Mar 12, 2015

Go to the Dollar Tree if you have them in your area and get Louisiana Supreme brand. It costs $1 for a 16 oz. bottle of sauce that is VERY hot and delicious. Their steak sauce (A-1 style) is also very good.

bjg6727

Sep 30, 2012

What do you think? Do I need both Chedder & Monterrey cheese- 2 cups of each?

Test Kitchen Team

Oct 01, 2012

It is 2 cups shredded Cheddar/Monterey Jack cheese combination. You can typically buy this mix at your grocery store in the cheese section. Thank you for your question!