Macaroni and Cheese with Chicken and Buffalo Sauce

Ingredients:

• 7 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus extra for the dish
• Coarse salt
• 450 g of pasta in the form of horns
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 finely chopped celery stalks
• 3 cups finely chopped grilled chicken
• 2 crushed cloves of garlic
• 3/4 cup Buffalo hot chicken wing sauce
• 2 tbsp. premium wheat flour
• 2 tsp dry mustard
• 2.5 cups of low-fat cream (10% fat)
• 450g (about 3.5 cups) yellow sharp cheddar cheese, cut into 2.5cm cubes
• 225g (about 2 cups) coarsely grated Pepper Jack cheese
• 2/3 cup sour cream
• 1 tbsp. panko breadcrumbs (Japanese breadcrumbs)
• 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F) and grease a 23x33cm (9x13in) baking dish. Fill a large saucepan with water, season with salt, and bring to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, about 7 minutes. Drain.
2. While the pasta is cooking, melt 3 tablespoons (45 grams) of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and celery and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the chicken and garlic and cook for 2 minutes, then add 1/2 cup of hot sauce and simmer until thickened, about 1 minute more.
3. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons (30 g) of butter. Add the flour and mustard and stir with a wooden spoon until smooth. Add the cream, then the remaining 1/4 cup of hot sauce and cook, stirring, until thickened, about 2 minutes. Add the cheddar and Pepper Jack, then the sour cream and stir until smooth.
4. Place half the pasta in the prepared dish, spread the chicken mixture on top, then the remaining pasta. Drizzle the cheese sauce evenly over the top.
5. Place the remaining 2 tablespoons (30 grams) butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl and heat until melted. Stir in the breadcrumbs, blue cheese, and parsley. Sprinkle the mixture over the pasta and bake in the oven until the sauce begins to simmer, 30 to 40 minutes. Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before serving.
   
   We suggest you cook macaroni and cheese with bacon.